Thailand’s Tourism Authority (TAT) is actively advocating for an expansion of the visa quota allotted to Chinese tourists, citing a surge in demand from China and a gradual recovery of the tourism sector. Presently, the Thai embassy in Beijing and eight consulates located across China can only issue 84,000 visas per month for Chinese tourists through travel agencies.
Chuwit Sirivejkul, the TAT Regional Director of Marketing for East Asia, revealed that TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn is scheduled to meet with executives from the Foreign Ministry in the coming week to address this matter. Chuwit emphasized that the current visa quota of 84,000 would unquestionably fall short of meeting the escalating demand, particularly as Thailand expects Chinese arrivals to soar back to pre-pandemic levels of 1 million visitors per month.
Between January 1 and April 30, Thailand welcomed a total of 843,920 Chinese tourists, constituting approximately 10% of the total foreign arrivals during that period. This trend validates the TAT’s projection of hosting 5.3 million Chinese visitors this year, resulting in an estimated revenue of 446 billion baht for the country. Chuwit further highlighted that the number of arrivals could potentially increase to 7 million if an adequate number of flights are available along with a higher visa quota.
Additionally, Chuwit revealed that from late March to the end of October, a staggering 33,843 flights, offering a total of 6.13 million seats, are slated to operate between Thailand and China. This figure does not even include the significant number of chartered flights anticipated to operate from July to October. In addition to obtaining a visa through the embassy or consulates, Chinese tourists can also opt for a visa on arrival; however, this option incurs a higher cost and limits the duration of their stay to only 14 days. The visa on arrival carries a fee of 2,000 baht, while obtaining a visa from the embassy costs 1,200 baht.
With the tourism industry in Thailand gradually rebounding, the TAT is actively pursuing measures to capitalize on the rising interest from Chinese travelers. By advocating for an increase in the visa quota, the authorities aim to accommodate the growing influx of Chinese tourists, bolstering the country’s economy and reaffirming its status as a premier tourist destination.
