Thai tourism preps for Chinese arrivals – but rules out COVID tests

The Chinese are coming, and while COVID tests have been ruled out, health and tourism officials said they will discuss preparations.

Millions of Chinese travelers are expected after unrest forced Beijing to drop its zero-COVID policy, and Thai officials said they would meet Thursday to talk about how to accommodate them before COVID-related travel restrictions are lifted Sunday. They did not mention any proposals.

Thai tourism upgraded its forecast for Chinese arrivals to around 5 million people after widespread December protests there prompted the government to announce the imminent end of a national travel lockdown that had stretched three years.

In January alone, about 50,000 are expected to arrive in Thailand, according to Yuthasak Supasorn of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Before the pandemic, Chinese travelers accounted for 28% – nearly a third –…