Thai tourist numbers set to soar with anticipated visa exemption for China

The Thai tourism industry is poised for a significant boost, as an anticipated visa exemption for Chinese travellers could trigger a surge in foreign tourists, according to Chinese government-owned Thai brokerage, CGS-CIMB Securities (Thailand). However, the firm predicts that the arrival figures for tourists from China will still lag behind the 2019 statistics due to the economic challenges faced by the mainland.

The slow visa application process has been identified as a primary barrier to Thailand’s tourism recovery this year by the brokerage, which is 75% owned by China Galaxy International Financial Holdings.

The firm suggests that eliminating the visa requirement may prompt a large influx of foreign tourists, particularly group travellers. The brokerage stated in a research note that now is the time for action.

“As regional competition…