China and Thailand agree on visa waiver program

China and Thailand have reached the agreement of permanently waive visa requirements for each other’s citizens from March.

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced this measure and has stated that this visa waiver program will upgrade the relationship between the two countries. Back in September, Thailand started to allow Chinese tourists to enter the country visa free. Without visas, Chinese tourists can travel to Thailand for 30 days until February.

Wang Wenbin, the spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, stated that the two countries are still discussing further details of mutually exempting visa requirements. We are still waiting on the specifics of this recent agreement between China and Thailand, but one thing is for sure: Thai tourists will be able to visit China more easily and comfortably than before. 

Why has China announced visa waivers for 8 countries?

In the span of two months, China has announced visa waivers for more countries other than Thailand. Currently, due to China’s trial program, visitors from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia can enter the country visa-free for 15 days. This is expected to last 12 months, until November 2024. 

China has also agreed on a reciprocal agreement with Singapore allowing 30 days of visa-free travel between tourists of both countries.

Experts say that these travel measures are to lure back foreign tourists and boost the Chinese economy after almost 3 years of harsh measures due to Covid. China has not been an easy country to travel to due to periods of self-imposed isolation, complicated visa rules and the dominance of Chinese e-payment apps that are not friendly for foreign payment cards.

Thailand now becomes another country that is going to benefit from a foreign and travel policy that is showing great numbers. The visa waiver program with the other countries has shown some increase of foreign tourists entering China. It is believed that, during December, 118,000 travelers from those six nations entered China without a visa. These visitors were mainly for tourism and business purposes.  

Is it easy for Americans to travel to China?

Although American citizens must apply for a visa for China, China has simplified the visa application process. Starting this year, citizens form the United States don’t need to show proof for round-trip air tickets, hotel reservations, their itinerary or have an invitation letter to apply for a tourist visa.

Thailand easies up some measure to increase tourism

Thailand is also looking forward to welcoming more tourists. Now, Thailand plans to attract more tourists by simplifying the process for tourists to obtain value-added tax refunds on items bought in Thailand. 

Tourists will be able to purchase goods for up to 20,000 baht ($580) without being required to present them to customs officials during the refund process. The limit until now was 5,000 baht ($144).

One of the measures in 2023 was to allow Chinese tourists without a visa for 30 days.  

Thailand welcomed almost 28 million foreign tourists in 2023 and 3.5 million arrivals were Chinese tourists. Chinese tourists were the second largest visitors into Thailand, after Malaysia.