As Thailand has introduced a visa waiver program for Chinese tourists, the country's tourism industry is eager to see an increasing volume of Chinese travelers during New Year's Day and the upcoming Spring Festival.

The Southeast Asian country in late September announced its decision to allow visa-free entry for Chinese tourists from September 25 until the end of February 2024, in alignment with the prime minister’s commitment to enhancing Thailand's economy through tourism.
Three months after the introduction of the policy, many visitors from China are seen in Bangkok, the capital and most populous city of Thailand.
"I came to Thailand to spend New Year's Eve. It's now visa-free, so entering the country is really smooth. It took just 15-minutes for me," said a Chinese tourist.
As Chinese travelers increasingly choose international destinations for extended holidays, Thailand expects a rise in Chinese tourists flow, especially around the New Year.
"Safety has become a major constraint on traveling to Thailand. The situation has eased in recent months with the strengthening of security and the attention given to it by officials. Thailand has once again become one of the top five overseas destinations for New Year's Eve on our platform," said Wang Xiaoxue, a senior researcher at Mafengwo Tourism Research Institute.
Thailand was expecting over 4 million Chinese tourists in 2023, but officials say the exact number is likely to reach around 3.5 million.
Looking ahead to 2024, the Thai government has set ambitious goals to attract more Chinese tourists.
"The China market is still a very important market for Thailand. Next year, we have the total target of 35 million tourist arrival in Thailand. In terms of China market, we do hope we can get up to 8 million visitors," said Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of Tourism Authority of Thailand.