TAOYUAN (TVBS News) — The long-awaited "visa-free" entry for Taiwanese tourists to Thailand commenced on Friday (Nov. 10).
Celebrating this milestone, the Director of the Taipei Tourism Authority of Thailand visited Taoyuan International Airport, presenting gifts to elated travelers.
Taiwanese tourists can now enjoy a visa-free stay of up to 30 days for sightseeing purposes, a policy that will remain in effect until May 10, 2024.
Following the announcement of the “visa-free” policy, travel websites experienced a 30% increase in searches for Thailand-related keywords.
The visa exemption should result in at least a 20% rise in Taiwanese tourists. Currently, we receive about 600,000 visitors, and we expect this number to reach at least 725,000 by the year's end," said Sarima Chindamat, director of the Taipei Tourism Authority of Thailand.
The Thai government intends to assess the visa waiver program's impact and may consider permanent visa-free policies in the future if the results are positive.
Due to ideal weather, November to February is the peak travel season in Thailand, so increased tourism activity is anticipated during these months.
This initiative not only simplifies travel but also bodes well for the tourism sectors of both Taiwan and Thailand.
