Thailand Welcomes First Batch of Visa-Exempt Chinese and Kazakh Tourists

Strategic Insights -

The prime minister, Srettha, welcomed the first batch of visa-exempt Chinese tourists at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Suvarnabhumi, marking a significant milestone in Thailand's efforts to revive its economy through tourism. The tourists arrived on flight XJ 761, operated by Thai AirAsia X, from Xian, China, and were greeted with a warm welcome and elephant pants as a token gift. This visit is part of a new visa exemption policy that will be in effect from September 25, 2023, to February 29, 2027, for travelers holding passports or travel documents of China and Kazakhstan.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Thai government's visa exemption policy aims to revive the economy through tourism, which is considered a crucial sector for generating income and creating jobs.
  • The policy targets high-potential markets, such as China and Kazakhstan, which have significant growth rates and are crucial for the overall recovery of the Thai tourism industry.
  • China and Kazakhstan are the second-largest and third-largest tourist markets, respectively, for Thailand, with the Kazakhstani market showing a remarkable increase in arrivals since the pre-Covid-19 period.
  • The visa exemption policy is expected to bring around 4.01 million to 4.4 million Chinese tourists to Thailand in 2023, generating revenue of 257.5 billion baht.
  • In the first five months of the policy, around 2,888,500 Chinese tourists are expected to visit Thailand, generating revenue of 140.313 billion baht, representing a remarkable recovery rate of 62% compared to 2022.
  • It is projected that around 150,000 Kazakhstani tourists will travel to Thailand in 2023, and during the same five-month period of visa exemption, approximately 129,485 Kazakhstani arrivals are expected, marking an increase of 49.7% compared to the same period in the previous year.

Statistics:

  • 341 passengers arrived on flight XJ 761, operated by Thai AirAsia X.
  • From January 1 to September 17, 2023, Thailand welcomed slightly over 19 million foreign tourists.
  • 2.34 million Chinese tourists arrived in Thailand during this period, making them the second-largest tourist group after Malaysians.
  • The number of Kazakhstani arrivals to Thailand nearly doubled since the pre-Covid-19 period, from approximately 56,529 arrivals in 2022 to 109,865 in 2023.

Sources:

  • Prime Minister's Office
  • Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
  • Thai AirAsia X
  • Bangkok Post
  • The Nation