Thailand’s airports are bracing for a mini-boom after the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reported an average of 30,000 mainland Chinese arrivals per day in the run-up to Lunar New Year. On 17 February, officials staged a ceremony at Suvarnabhumi Airport to hand out “lucky orange” gift bags to passengers on Thai Airways and Spring Airlines flights from Shanghai. TAT projects 241,000 Chinese visitors between 13 and 22 February, building on the 770,427 arrivals logged since 1 January. (en.thairath.co.th)
The rebound is being powered by a mutual 30-day visa-exemption agreement that entered force last March and by aggressive airline capacity growth—seat supply on China–Thailand routes is now 95 percent of pre-Covid levels. The uptick offers a vital lifeline for Thai retailers and tour operators that saw Chinese numbers collapse during the pandemic and only partially recover in 2025.
For Chinese outbound travellers, Thailand remains one of the easiest destinations: no pre-departure Covid tests, on-arrival e-gates at major airports, and widespread acceptance of Alipay + and WeChat Pay reduce friction. Business travellers can piggy-back on the leisure surge: Bangkok hotels are reviving corporate meeting packages, and the Eastern Economic Corridor board is fast-tracking business-visa endorsements at U-Tapao Airport.
![Thailand Greets 30,000 Chinese Tourists per Day as Lunar New Year Peak Begins]()
If you need help deciphering the latest Thai entry rules—or securing paperwork for onward travel—VisaHQ’s China portal (https://www.visahq.com/china/) can handle the details. The service offers clear checklists, expedited submission options and real-time tracking, letting travellers focus on booking flights and hotels instead of queuing at consulates.
Companies moving staff between the two countries should, however, account for crowding at immigration counters and tight hotel availability in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket. Peak-season airfare premiums of 15–25 percent apply this week; travel managers may find better inventory via secondary airports such as Chiang Rai or Hat Yai.
Economists will watch whether the New Year momentum carries into the second quarter, when Thailand’s new 60-day visa-free regime and Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) are slated to launch. Sustained Chinese demand could lift Thailand closer to its 35-million-visitor target for 2026 and cement the corridor as one of Asia’s busiest business-leisure routes.
The rebound is being powered by a mutual 30-day visa-exemption agreement that entered force last March and by aggressive airline capacity growth—seat supply on China–Thailand routes is now 95 percent of pre-Covid levels. The uptick offers a vital lifeline for Thai retailers and tour operators that saw Chinese numbers collapse during the pandemic and only partially recover in 2025.
For Chinese outbound travellers, Thailand remains one of the easiest destinations: no pre-departure Covid tests, on-arrival e-gates at major airports, and widespread acceptance of Alipay + and WeChat Pay reduce friction. Business travellers can piggy-back on the leisure surge: Bangkok hotels are reviving corporate meeting packages, and the Eastern Economic Corridor board is fast-tracking business-visa endorsements at U-Tapao Airport.
If you need help deciphering the latest Thai entry rules—or securing paperwork for onward travel—VisaHQ’s China portal (https://www.visahq.com/china/) can handle the details. The service offers clear checklists, expedited submission options and real-time tracking, letting travellers focus on booking flights and hotels instead of queuing at consulates.
Companies moving staff between the two countries should, however, account for crowding at immigration counters and tight hotel availability in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket. Peak-season airfare premiums of 15–25 percent apply this week; travel managers may find better inventory via secondary airports such as Chiang Rai or Hat Yai.
Economists will watch whether the New Year momentum carries into the second quarter, when Thailand’s new 60-day visa-free regime and Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) are slated to launch. Sustained Chinese demand could lift Thailand closer to its 35-million-visitor target for 2026 and cement the corridor as one of Asia’s busiest business-leisure routes.
