BANGKOK — The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is considering reducing the visa-free period for Chinese tourists from 60 to 10-15 days, following concerns over scammer gangs targeting foreign visitors, particularly Chinese nationals, who are being lured into Myanmar.
TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool stated today that while the agency opposes completely eliminating the visa-free policy for Chinese tourists, they are open to reducing the stay duration to better align with typical Chinese tourist behavior, as most visitors stay between 7-10 days.
Thailand initiated visa-free entry for Chinese tourists on September 25, 2023, during Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s administration. Later, Thailand announced a 60-day visa exemption for 93 countries, including China, extending the period from 30 to 60 days, effective from July 15, 2024, to the present.
The agency maintains its 2025 target of 8 million Chinese tourists, up from 6.73 million in the previous year, with the Tourism Ministry setting an ambitious goal of 8.8-9 million visitors.
The impact of recent security concerns has already affected the tourism sector. Thai Hotels Association President Thien Prasit Chaiphatranant revealed that 12,428 room cancellations have been recorded since January, with 4,572 cancellations from Chinese tourists and 7,856 from other nationalities. The cancellations followed a high-profile incident involving Chinese celebrity Wang Xing becoming a victim of scammers.
Bangkok topped the list of cancellations by Chinese tourists, followed by Nonthaburi, Chiang Rai, Chonburi, and Chiang Mai. For non-Chinese tourists, Chonburi saw the highest number of cancellations, followed by Bangkok and Krabi.
Despite these challenges, hotel operators note that the impact on individual travelers remains limited, with group tours being more affected by the current situation.
In response to these challenges, National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Kittirat Panpetch held an emergency video conference today with regional police commanders to address transnational crime and strengthen tourist security measures. He emphasized that Thai tourism authorities were not involved in any scamming operations and announced enhanced surveillance of border areas, particularly in Mae Sot district, where illegal border crossings have been reported.
The police chief assured that law enforcement would focus on ensuring tourist safety from arrival through their entire stay in Thailand, implementing preventive measures rather than just responding to incidents after they occur.
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