With the May Day holiday approaching, Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, which have achieved two-way visa-free travel with China, are gearing up to welcome Chinese tourists.
Mayor of Bangkok, Thailand: Chinese tourists are welcome, we are like brothers and sisters
On March 1 this year, the agreement between China and Thailand on mutual visa exemption came into effect. The mayor of Bangkok, Thailand, Chacha Sidtibun, told reporters before the May Day holiday: "We welcome Chinese tourists very much, and the Chinese people are our good friends, and we are like brothers and sisters." Thailand is always ready to welcome Chinese tourists. ”
Chacha said that Thailand has made preparations in terms of aviation and ground transportation, and will ensure the safety of Chinese tourists and provide convenience in all aspects, so that Chinese tourists "can have a pleasant time in Bangkok as long as they can come."
Chen Jinsheng, Minister Counsellor of the Thai Embassy in China, said that since the visa-free policy came into effect on March 1 this year, about 2 million Chinese tourists have come to Thailand by the end of April. In the past, Chinese tourists mainly used to "group tours", but now more and more people choose "independent travel".
Tourists visit the Temple of Truth in Pattaya, Thailand, March 29. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Teng
Chen Jinsheng said that the visa-free policy has greatly benefited the people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, from the original plan before the trip to now as long as you have a passport, you can "just go", "it makes us closer like brothers and sisters, as long as we miss each other, we can go directly." Because of the ease of travel, more Thais are also traveling to China. "People-to-people exchanges are an important part of promoting relations between the two countries. ”
Chacha believes that the increasing number of Chinese tourists arriving in Thailand is conducive to Thailand's economic development and the enhancement of friendship between the two peoples. At the same time, Thai tourists are also visiting China, which is beneficial to both countries. "People-to-people ties are very important, not only for entertainment, but also to strengthen cooperation between the two countries. ”
Director-General of Tourism Promotion Board of Malaysia: We should give Chinese tourists a pleasant experience
Mano Haran, director of the Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board, told reporters that since the implementation of the visa-free policy in December last year, the number of Chinese tourists has increased significantly, and some Chinese second- and third-tier cities have also opened new direct flights to Malaysia. "Chinese tourists love to shop, and most of the high-end products in shopping malls sell well during the Chinese New Year holiday. ”
This is the Petronas Twin Towers photographed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on January 1, 2019. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhu Wei
Manohalan said that at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and most other entry points with direct flights from China, help desks have been set up and Mandarin-speaking staff have been hired to help and facilitate Chinese tourists in filling out electronic arrival cards, among other things. "The airport is the first stop for Chinese tourists. We don't want any unpleasant experience for Chinese tourists, we want to give them a very pleasant and silky experience. ”
The proximity and convenience of language is also a great attraction for Chinese tourists in Malaysia. "We have a large number of Chinese who speak Mandarin or Cantonese, and that familiarity will immediately become a tourist feature regardless of the language," Manohalan said. "In addition, Malaysia's unique cuisine, clear blue waters, and laid-back island scenery are also attractive to Chinese tourists.
Manohalan said that many Malaysians also want to travel to China, which is very attractive to Malaysian tourists, and it is also a way for them to learn about Chinese culture and lifestyle.
Singapore Tourism Board: Family-friendly
On February 9 this year, the visa exemption agreement between China and Singapore came into effect. According to statistics, in the first quarter of this year, Singapore received 4.35 million international tourists, of which about 786,000 were from China, making China the largest source of tourists in Singapore.
The Singapore Tourism Board told Xinhua News Agency that Singapore tourism has always been known for being family-friendly and safe, and the gradual enrichment of tourism products in recent years has also strengthened Singapore's tourism attractiveness. Air transport between China and Singapore has returned to pre-pandemic levels this year. As Chinese outbound travel and flights continue to recover, it is believed that the number of Chinese tourists visiting Singapore and spending will also increase.
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) also encouraged local tourism operators to digitally empower the tourism industry through WeChat mini-programs and live streaming, and signed MoU with institutions such as WeChat Pay and UnionPay International to better meet the travel and spending needs of Chinese tourists.
Visitors watch a light fountain show at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore on April 28, 2022. Xinhua News Agency (photo by Deng Zhiwei)
Mr. Lee, a Chinese tourist who recently visited Singapore, said that the city is clean, the transportation is convenient, there are no barriers to communication, and the use of WeChat and Alipay is high, and the travel experience is very good.
"Since the visa waiver, there has been a significant increase in tourists from China, especially individual tourists. We have recently launched a number of affordable landing and customized small packages suitable for families and children to meet the different needs of Chinese customers. Gong Yaqiong, head of Singapore Summer Travel Co., Ltd., said.
(Authors: Chen Qianci, Wan Houde, Li Ji, Mao Pengfei, Wang Yi, Cheng Yiheng, Tana, Zuer, Xu Xinyu)
Source: Xinhua News Agency