(ECNS) -- Visitors with Chinese passports can head directly to Thailand without having to apply for a visa, as the Thai government extends a visa policy that was to expire on Feb. 28.
Policies covering free visas or visas-on-arrival with a 50 percent discount for 22 countries and regions, including China, will be extended to the end of August. The cost of a visa on arrival is 1,000 THB ($28) after the discount.
The Thailand tourist administration is also planning a national tourist festival from Feb. 15 to 19, which will introduce visitors to 24 new not-to-be-missed destinations in the country.
Chinese tourists to Thailand have continued to increase in recent years. Major media outlets in the South East Asian country reported that 32.58 million people visited last year, an 8.91 percent increase from the previous year, generating tourism revenue of 1.64 trillion THB, a 12.64 percent increase.
Chinese tourists to Thailand increased 1.1 million in 2016 compared with the previous year, to 8.7 million. It is expected that more than 9 million Chinese will visit the country this year.
Thailand has been the most popular overseas destination for Chinese tourists since 2016, surpassing other Asian countries including Japan, the Philippines and South Korea, said Wang Xiaosong, the CEO of Lvmama, an online travel agency.
Chinese people have developed a greater understanding of Thai culture as some Chinese movies, such as Lost in Thailand, have been screened in China. Thailand's world renowned islands and beautiful landscapes also attract many tourists. The country's friendly visa policies are another reason for its popularity as a destination, Wang said.
