Government urges China to increase flights to Thailand.

Chatrudee Theparat

Tourism

Government urges China to increase flights to Thailand.

Chinese government is urged to increase flights to Thailand to increase the flow of visitors between the two nations.

Prime Minister Sreetha Thavisin said China agreed with the idea and will increase additional flights from China to Thailand for tourism promotion between the two countries

“Currently, there are 1,200 flights per month from China to Thailand, against 2,000 flights per month in pre-Covid era. I asked Chinese government to increase additional flights because travel demand is likely to increase between the two nations,” Mr Sreetha said.

Mr. Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, pays a courtesy call on Prime Minister at the Government House (January 28).

Mr Sreetha said the Thai government expected to see the growing number of Chinese to visit Thailand after the introduction of visa exemption between two countries in March.

China and Thailand signed on Sunday (Jan 29) on a mutual visa exemption agreement, which will come into effect on March 1, 2024. The signing, which coincides with the ongoing wave of visa exemption agreements between China and other Southeast Asian countries, demonstrates China's commitment to expand its openness.

Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that the agreement would not only benefit tourism in Thailand and Chinese tourists but also enhance mutual understanding between the two peoples.

Mr Wang said on Sunday that as both countries have entered the "visa-free era," it is believed that it will usher in a new peak in people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

Mr Sreetha also said both parties agreed to solve problem on depo of Sino-Thai Rail project.

A depot with a light maintenance centre will be built in Nong Khai's Natha district while the key maintenance centre will be in Ayutthaya's Chiang Rak Noi. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is working on an environmental impact assessment (EIA).

The second phase of the Thai-Chinese high-speed train project is expected to be operated by 2028 while the first phase is likely to start by 2026,

The 356km second phase, estimated to cost 300 billion baht, features a 185km ground track and a 171km elevated track with five stations -- Bua Yai, Ban Phai, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, and Nong Khai.

“The government invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit Thailand next year in order to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Thailand diplomatic relations,” Mr Sreetha said.