THAILAND plans to send a government panel to China by the end of the month to convince Chinese officials of a reciprocal visa waiver scheme.
Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara made the remarks after meeting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the eighth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Beijing.
During their meeting, Wang pledged to support Thailand in following a modernization path that will allow the country to play a more important role in the international arena.
Both sides also discussed the possibility of visa exemptions for Thai holders of ordinary passports.
Thailand hopes to attract between 25 and 30-M tourists this year, with about 3.5-M visitors coming from China alone.
To recall, Thailand approved the visa waiver program for Chinese tourists in September. The travel scheme started on September 25, 2023, and ends on February 29, 2024.
