Resort boom: how visa-free regime with China is revitalizing Thailand's tourism industry

The visa-free regime agreement between China and Thailand, which came into force on March 1, will help to revive the tourism industry. This is one of the key sectors of the economy after COVID-19, Thai officials say.

According to them, the agreement offers convenience for both Chinese and Thai travelers. After all, the resort business benefits greatly from the growth in the number of Chinese and European tourists, according to the Vietnam+.

Travel operators emphasize that more and more Thai travelers have booked flights to visit China by the new visa-free policy. Also, a large number of foreign tourists visiting Koh Tao has significantly boosted the local economy.

In turn, the Association of Thai Travel Agents says that many Chinese tour operators have organized roadshows in Thailand, suggesting that they were excited about the visa-free agreement and wanted to attract Thai travelers.

The agreement is also expected to boost bilateral tourism in the future, with about 20,000 Chinese tourists visiting Thailand daily, up from 6,000-7,000 previously. They hope that if the Thai government manages to reach a similar agreement with European countries, it will greatly benefit Thai passport holders and at the same time expand the potential of the country's tourism industry.

As a reminder, the Thai government has reported negotiations with European governments on a visa-free regime agreement. The Southeast Asian country aims to attract 40 million foreign tourists this year, and the government has announced year-round events and festivals to attract more tourists.

It is emphasized that Chinese tourists accounted for more than 25% of the nearly 40 million tourists who visited Thailand in 2019 (about 11 million), but their numbers have fallen as the world has come to a standstill due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, the number of Chinese tourists reached 3.5 million last year, accounting for 12.4% of the total 28.2 million foreign tourists who arrived in Thailand.

Thailand currently offers visa-free travel to tourists from 61 countries and territories, while Thai passport holders can visit 34 countries and territories without a visa.

If you are planning a family vacation to Thailand, read about the best places to stay with kids from TravelWise.