On the banks of the Chao Phraya River, many tourists came to visit King Cheng's Temple in Bangkok, Thailand, under a clear sky in the afternoon. Yu Fan from Zhejiang Province, dressed in traditional Thai clothes and wearing a Thai hairpin of the same color, looked for the best angle on the steps to take pictures. She told reporters that she purposely took advantage of the visa waiver to travel to Thailand. "I've already visited Siam Square and Watergate Temple in Bangkok, and I'm going to visit Phuket in the next two days."

    On March 1 this year, the China-Thailand mutual visa waiver agreement officially came into effect, and the heat of mutual visits between Chinese and Thai tourists has continued to climb. Data from Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports show that as of March 31, Thailand has received a total of more than 9.37 million foreign tourists so far this year, generating revenues of about 454.7 billion baht (RMB 1 = 5.13 baht), of which more than 1.75 million are Chinese tourists, firmly at the top of the list. The arrival of Chinese tourists has boosted the recovery of Thailand's tourism industry. Zhang Zhechen, a hotelier in Pattaya, Thailand, has clearly felt the continued warming of the local tourism industry since March this year. He said, "Since March, the occupancy rate of our hotel has exceeded 90%, and there are many more Chinese tourists on the streets and beaches of Pattaya." Adi Chairadhananon, secretary-general of the Tourism Association of Thailand, said that Chinese tourists to Thailand, which numbered about 3.5 million in 2023, are expected to increase to 6 million to 8 million this year, boosted by policies such as mutual visa exemptions between Thailand and China.

       In February, Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports, in cooperation with the National Institute of Emergency Medicine under the Thai Ministry of Public Health, announced the allocation of 50 million baht in medical funds to be used as travel insurance payouts for foreign tourists traveling in Thailand. Tapeni, Director General of the TAT, said, "China has always been a major source country for Thailand. We hope to show Chinese tourists Thailand's continuous efforts to improve tourism safety standards and the country's unique appeal as an ideal tourist destination."

      The mutual visa exemption between China and Thailand has also led to a surge in enthusiasm among Thai tourists to travel to China. Data shows that in March this year, the number of Thai arrivals at Xishuangbanna Airport port in China's Yunnan Province increased by 1,183.87 percent from a year earlier. on the afternoon of March 1, Thai tourist Santhidi posted a photo of his passport cover for smooth entry into China on social media, which attracted tens of thousands of views and likes. Sangthidi said that the mutual visa exemption between Thailand and China is a great thing for people like him who like to travel to China.

      Thai Tourism Association President Xu Narin said the mutual visa waiver agreement will boost tourism and promote business between Thailand and China.

     Kung Thaparangsi, former deputy prime minister of Thailand and president of the Thai-Chinese Friendship Association, said the implementation of mutual visa exemption between Thailand and China reflects the further enhancement of the friendly relations between the two countries, which will bring more benefits and opportunities for the two countries. More convenient exchanges between Thai and Chinese people will drive the growth of tourism revenue, promote exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in the fields of economy and trade, culture, education, etc., which will help deepen the understanding and friendship between the people and lay a solid humanistic foundation for the long-term development of the relationship between the two countries.