Thailand’s tourism sector anticipates fall as China lifts tour group restrictions

In the wake of China’s announcement to allow tour groups to visit Japan and several other nations for the first time since 2020, Thailand’s tourism industry braces itself for a sharp fall in Chinese tourists. This results from ongoing visa application challenges, in spite of the government’s efforts to simplify the process.

This recent development comes as part of China’s move to lift previously imposed travel restrictions on tour groups. Aside from Japan, other countries including the US, South Korea, and Australia can accept Chinese tour groups. In addition, China has expressed the desire for Japan to consider a visa waiver for Chinese citizens.

The honorary secretary-general of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (Atta), Adith Chairattananon, expressed the potential lure of simplifying the visa application process could be for drawing…