Thailand starts offering free Chinese visas
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Chinese tourists can now enter Thailand free of charge, after the Kingdom started waiving the visa fees for citizens of China and Taiwan.
From 9 August to 8 November 2014, holders of Chinese and Taiwanese passports will be exempt from paying fees for tourist visas to Thailand. The short-term move was implemented by the National Council of Peace & Order (NCPO) as part of a series of measures to revive the Thai tourism in the second half of 2014.
“Thailand and China have very close relations and have much in common in terms of food, cultural and ethnic relationships with many Thai prominent businessmen and political families having roots in China,” said Thawatchai Arunyik, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
“Chinese visitors were selected for the exemption as part of the commemorative activities marking the 40th Anniversary of Thailand–China diplomatic relations. Moreover, this measure is also to help the Thai private sector and the many small and medium sized enterprises to recover.”
China is now Thailand’s largest visitor source market, contributing 4.7 million arrivals to the country in 2013. Thailand’s previous government had considered lifting the visa requirement completely for Chinese tourists, but the new measure will at least provide a short-term boost to the Thai tourism industry ahead of the winter high-season.
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