Thailand recorded the highest number of Chinese tourists in Southeast Asia in the first quarter of this year, reaching 1.75 million, thanks to visa policies and tourism promotions. Vietnam ranked second, followed by Singapore and Malaysia, based on data from their respective tourism ministries.
In general, Thailand saw significant growth in the first quarter of 2024, with 9.37 million foreign tourists, up 44% year-on-year, and is targeting 35 million tourists this year. Visa-free policies, including an agreement with China since March 1, have supported the increase in tourist arrivals and strengthened bilateral confidence.
The country is also targeting tourism revenues of 3.5 trillion baht (US$95.45 billion), focusing on travel experiences that attract higher spending.
Southeast Asian countries are actively attracting tourists from China, the world's largest outbound tourism market, with visa-free policies. Malaysia and Singapore, for example, have introduced a 30-day visa-free policy for Chinese tourists.
Indonesia is also considering a similar policy for 20 countries, including China. Meanwhile, Vietnam is considering visa waivers for tourists from China and India.
