タイ首相、中国人観光客を出迎え　ビザ免除措置開始

【バンコクＡＦＰ＝時事】タイで２５日、観光業界の活性化を目指し、ビザ（査証）の取得を免除する新たな措置の適用が始まり、セーター・タウィーシン首相が首都バンコクのスワンナプーム国際空港に出向き、中国からの観光客を歓迎した。（写真はタイ・バンコクのスワンナプーム国際空港で、ダンサーらの歓迎を受ける中国人観光客）
　観光客の一人（３１）は「歓迎式典には驚いたがとてもうれしかった。幸先が良い」と喜んだ。
　また、新婚旅行で同国を訪れたという女性はＡＦＰに対し、「チケットの予約さえすれば、何の心配もなくいつでも旅行に行ける」と話し、その後夫と共にセーター氏と記念撮影を行った。
　新型コロナウイルスの世界的大流行以前には、タイを訪れる観光客が最も多かったのは中国からだった。タイの観光業はＧＤＰの約２０％を占めているものの、コロナ対策で設けられた旅行制限で大打撃を受け、その後の回復も遅れていた。
　ビザ免除措置は、中国が１０月に大型連休を迎える前に始まり、来年２月２９日まで適用される。
　セーター氏は、この措置の下、予約はすでに「１０倍」に上っており、「経済の大きな刺激」になると確信していると述べた。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2023/09/26-17:27）

Chinese tourists received a personal welcome from the Thai prime minister Monday as they arrived in Bangkok under a new visa-free scheme the government hopes will give the kingdom's vital tourism sector a boost.
Traditional dancers accompanied a smiling PM Srettha Thavisin as he greeted visitors arriving from Shanghai at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport, handing out welcome gifts.
I was shocked by the welcoming ceremony, and I'm very happy. It's a great start of my trip, visitor Zhuang Pan, 31, told AFP.
Jin Li, arriving for her honeymoon, told AFP the scheme was great, before she and her new husband grabbed a photograph with Srettha.
I don't need to worry, can go on a trip at any time, just need to book a ticket, she said.
Visitors from China accounted for the largest percentage of Thailand's tourists pre-pandemic, with tourism overall making up around 20 percent of the kingdom's GDP.
Covid-19 travel restrictions hammered the sector and recovery has been slow, stymied by a struggling global economy -- and safety fears stoked by a Chinese blockbuster thriller about a man being kidnapped and forced to work in a Southeast Asian online scam centre.
Zheng Zhengzhou, 36, said he was aware of the dangers of visiting Thailand, referencing No More Bets -- the film that has spooked many tourists.
So it would be a lie to say I don't have any concerns (on safety issues), he said.
Srettha has sought to reassure visitors about their safety before, emphasising that visitor security in the kingdom is a priority.
The safety of tourists from their first step in Thailand to their departure when they leave must be safe and spectacular from all sides, he said.
Chinese visitors were greeted by tourism police officers and informed of the details of a 24-hour police hotline.
The visa-free scheme was launched in time for China's Golden Week holiday period in October, and runs until February 29.
Srettha said that under the scheme bookings had already increased tenfold, and that he was confident it would significantly stimulate the economy.
Today marks a good day for Thailand and we hope our other policies will continue to stimulate the economy, he added.