PINASALAMATAN ng Thailand ang unang Chinese visitors na dumating sa visa-exempt flights mula China.
Tinatayang 341 bisita ang dumating mula sa Shanghai sa Suvarnabhumi Airport kung saan binati ito ng mga bulaklak at palakpak mula sa bagong punong ministro na si Srethha Thavsin at ilang senior Thai officials.
“The government and everyone here have played their part to make today a significant one for Thailand. I hope that there will be more ways to boost the economy under the policies of this government,” Prime Minister Srethha Thavsin stated.
Kamakailan lamang ay inanunsiyo ng Thailand ang desisyong ito na payagang pumasok ng visa-free ang mga Chinese mula Setyembre 25 hanggang katapusan ng Pebrero sa 2024.
“I think everything is easy, because we just went through the ‘All Passport’ part making it just like a 2 minute or 3 minute thing,” according to Ma Shutian, Chinese tourist.
Ayon sa huling datos mula sa Tourism authority ng Thailand, mula Enero 1 hanggang Setyembre 17 ngayong taon, ang Thailand ay nakapagtala ng higit dalawang milyong Chinese tourists.
Sa tulong ng scheme na ito, nadoble ang bilang ng turista sa bansa kung saan inaasahan na aangat sa higit apat na milyon ang Chinese visitors sa buong taon.
“From the moment visa-free travel for Chinese tourists begins, we will make sure there are enough flights available. We will make the process as smooth as possible upon their arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport. We think the number of Chinese tourists will increase to 700,000, bringing to the total of visitors this year to around 4.2 million,” ayon kay Suriya Juangroongruangkit, Thai Minister of Transport.
“After COVID-19, we received international tourists from all over the world for three full months. When international tourism declined in February, the influx of Chinese visitors greatly softened the blow. It was like a gift from God. If more Chinese tourists come, I will have two more vessels ready. I will be able to clear my debt in three years” saad ni Pichit Kulkeatdech, President of Grand Pearl Company.
Sa kaparehas na araw, ang mga flight mula sa Kunming, Changsha at Nanning ay nag-landing din sa kapital ng mga sikat na tourist city sa bansa gaya ng Cuang Mai at Phuket at binati rin ang mga ito ng Thai-style welcome ceremonies.
