"This is my second time in China, after the introduction of the Sino-Thai mutual visa exemption policy, it is more convenient to enter China, which saves us a lot of time and costs, and I have the opportunity to come to China. Thai passenger Yuan Yong Viva Wissar, who entered the country by the international passenger train of the China-Laos Railway and passed customs without a visa, said.
On March 1, the police were inspecting the documents of inbound international passengers. Xinhua News Agency (Photo courtesy of Mohan Entry-Exit Border Inspection Station) On March 1, the agreement between China and Thailand on mutual visa exemption for ordinary passport holders officially came into effect. At about 13 o'clock on the same day, a group of 6 Thai tourists organized by the Xishuangbanna Branch of Yunnan International Travel Service arrived at the Mohan Railway Port and became the first batch of Thai passengers to enter the country visa-free by the China-Laos Railway train. On the first day of visa exemption, the Mohan Entry-Exit Border Inspection Station served a total of 210 passengers entering and leaving Thailand, a year-on-year increase of 200%. Since the beginning of this year, the station has inspected a total of 6,048 Thai passengers.
After the implementation of the visa-free policy, it is much easier for Thai tour groups to enter China. When sending the group out of the country, Yubo, a tour guide of the Xishuangbanna branch of Yunnan International Travel Service, said that in the past, after taking the train from Vientiane, Laos to Boten, Laos, the guests had to get off the train and go to the Mohan port in China to apply for a visa on arrival, but now they can take the train of the China-Laos Railway to enter China directly. This policy has reduced the travel cost of Thai tourists and facilitated the overseas Chinese in Thailand to visit relatives and friends in China.
China and Thailand are important sources and destinations for each other's tourism markets. "As a state-level land port with the largest number of Thai tourists entering and leaving Yunnan Province, Mohan Port will usher in a wave of Chinese tourists leaving Thailand and Thai tourists entering China with the introduction of the visa-free policy. Zhong Gui, deputy director of the Mohan Border Inspection Station, said.
Since the signing of the mutual visa exemption agreement between China and Thailand, the Mohan border inspection station has adopted the tidal inspection mode, scientifically switched the "serpentine" and "straight" waiting facilities, opened up the travel inspection channel, added the channel for tour groups, increased the number of professional Thai inspectors to serve as off-stage guides, strengthened coordination and contact with customs, port visa and other departments, timely announced the real-time flow of the port, effectively guided passengers to travel off-peak, created a professional, safe and fast customs clearance environment, and improved the efficiency of port customs clearance.
According to the deputy general manager of Yunnan Xishuangbanna Renda International Travel Agency, after the release of the news of the mutual visa exemption policy between China and Thailand, the consultation of Chinese tourists and Thai tourists in China has increased significantly, and the number of orders received by the company for Thai tour groups has increased by about 50% year-on-year. "The implementation of the mutual visa exemption policy will have a positive and far-reaching impact on people-to-people exchanges and tourism development between the two countries. *Ya said.
**: Xinhuanet
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