(Yicai) Jan. 2 -- China and Thailand will implement a reciprocal visa-free scheme from March to simplify travel and boost trade and economic development. The Thai government has already set its sights on receiving double the number of Chinese tourists this year.

Thailand and China will permanently exempt their citizens from visas from March, China Media Group reported today, citing Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisi. This is an extension of a temporary visa-free entry policy that the Southeast Asian country introduced in September last year that was due to expire on Feb. 29.

With the visa-free entry, Thailand is hoping to welcome eight million Chinese tourists this year, up from 3.4 million last year. And it has increased its expected haul from foreign visitors in 2024 to THB3.5 trillion (USD102.4 billion) from THB3 trillion.

Last year Thailand met its target of welcoming over 27 million international tourists, most of whom came from Malaysia, followed by China, according to Thai government data. In 2024, the Thai government has set its sights on receiving 35 million visitors from overseas.

Many people travel between China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Zhou Shixin, an associate research fellow at the Asia Pacific Research Center under Shanghai Institute for International Studies, told Yicai. By making entry requirements easier, it will boost many areas of the economy, not just tourism.

Thailand is the latest country in the region to simplify entry requirements for Chinese citizens. Since Dec. 1, 2023, Malaysia and China no longer require travellers who plan to stay for less than 30 days to apply for a visa. And Singapore and China rolled out visa-free entry for stays under 30 days for each other’s citizens the same month.

Editors: Dou Shicong, Kim Taylor