Thai tourism embraces easier visa rules, faster approvals for Chinese tourists

In a move geared towards promoting Thai tourism, the government has implemented policy changes that lessen the rules for obtaining a tourist visa and slashes approval time for Chinese visitors.

Chinese travellers emerged as the majority of international arrivals over the past week, the deputy government spokeswoman, Rachada Dhnadirek, confirmed yesterday. Statistics displayed that 95,581 visitors from China arrived in Thailand during this period, far outstripping the numbers from Malaysia (73,810), South Korea (37,754), India (27,707), and Vietnam (25,717).

In line with the renewed visa norms, Chinese tourists applying for Thai visas will now need to submit only six forms of documentation. These include their passport, three photographs, an airline ticket, proof of their accommodation in Thailand,…