Suvarnabhumi International Airport is preparing to welcome an influx of vacationers from China and Kazakhstan following the announcement of a brand new visa-free policy, efficient from next week. The Immigration Bureau (IB) is set to bolster its officer presence on the airport in anticipation of the elevated arrivals.
The visa-free policy, permitted on Wednesday, September 13 and publicised within the Royal Gazette yesterday, offers nationals from both nations hassle-free entry. The coverage might be in action from Monday till February 29 of the next year.
In gentle of the anticipated surge in tourist numbers, Deputy Police Commissioner Thatchai Pitaneelaboot held a meeting with officers from Immigration Division 2 at the airport to evaluate and assess their readiness to handle the incoming wave of vacation makers in the course of the excessive vacationer season.
Thatchai projected that the arrival of tourists, particularly from China, will see a notable increase after the visa-free policy implementation. The current determine of 300,000 Chinese tourists per month is predicted to surge to 500,000.
The airport is all set to handle this surge with about a hundred and fifty immigration law enforcement officials able to function all 119 immigration counters during peak hours, ensuring swift service. The peak instances for flights from China and Kazakhstan are usually before daybreak and noon. Thatchai assured that every visitor’s visa queue time would be underneath 20 minutes.
In addition to the regular immigration checkpoints, there might be particular ones for tour teams. Officers proficient in varied languages will be assigned to immigration areas to help visitors if needed, reported Bangkok Post.
Addressing Classified concerning the potential misuse of the visa-free coverage scheme by Chinese nationals linked to shady companies, Thatchai acknowledged that the Immigration Bureau has robust screening and background examine methods in place to prevent such individuals from getting into Thailand.
According to the Tourism and Sports Ministry, from January 1 to September 18 this year, Thailand welcomed 19,000,988 international tourists, contributing around 795 billion baht to the country’s economic system. Just final week, the country welcomed 470,708 international vacationers.
Follow extra of Thaiger’s latest stories on our new Facebook web page HERE..