On March 1st of this year, the visa exemption agreement between China and Thailand for holders of ordinary passports came into effect, marking the official entry into the “visa-free era” for China-Thailand relations.

今年3月1日，中国与泰国互免持普通护照人员签证协定生效，中泰正式迈入了“免签时代”。

According to the agreement, Chinese holders of official passports and ordinary passports, as well as Thai holders of ordinary passports, can enter each other’s countries without a visa. The single stay should not exceed 30 days, and the accumulative stay should not exceed 90 days within every 180-day period.

根据协定，中方持公务普通护照、普通护照人员和泰方持普通护照人员，可免签入境对方国家，单次停留不超过30日，每180日累计停留不超过90日。

The implementation of the visa exemption policy will undoubtedly continue to boost the enthusiasm for mutual visits between Chinese and Thai tourists. In response to this, what specific preferential measures will the Tourism Authority of Thailand introduce? How can Chinese tourists fully explore Thailand? And what should they do if they encounter any security issues? Recently, “Amazing Thailand Roadshow 2024· Zhengzhou Station” tourism promotion event was held, where the Director of the East Asia Department of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Li Wenhua, was interviewed by reporter from Henan International Communication Center.

互免签证政策的实施，无疑将使中泰游客互访热度持续攀升。对此，泰国国家旅游局将推出哪些针对性的优惠举措？中国游客如何玩转泰国？遇到安全问题该如何求助？近日，“2024神奇泰国路演·郑州站”旅游推介会在郑州举行，活动中，泰国国家旅游局东亚司司长李文华接受了河南国际传播中心记者的采访。

"Hello everyone! China and Thailand are as close as family, welcome to Thailand for a visit.” Facing the camera, Li Wenhua actively “showed off” a greeting to everyone in Chinese, smiling. He then went on to discuss Thailand’s latest tourism policies, providing a “strategy” for Chinese tourists heading to Thailand, and envisioning a future of bilateral cultural and tourism exchanges between the two countries.“顶端的朋友大家好！中泰一家亲，欢迎来泰国旅游。”面对记者的镜头，他主动“秀”了一句汉语，微笑着向大家打招呼。随即从泰国最新的旅游政策谈起，为中国游客口述赴泰“攻略”，展望两国文旅双向奔赴的未来。

70% increase in Chinese tourists to Thailand

赴泰中国游客增长70%

Top News: Has there been a noticeable increase in the number of Chinese tourists traveling to Thailand after the bilateral visa exemption measures? What activities and preferential policies will the Tourism Authority of Thailand introduce for Chinese tourists?

顶端新闻：双边互免签证措施后，赴泰旅游的中国游客有明显增加吗？泰国旅游局会为中国游客推出哪些活动和优惠政策？

Li Wenhua: Since the introduction of the bilateral visa exemption measures, we have clearly felt a significant increase in the number of Chinese tourists traveling to Thailand, with the current growth rate approximately reaching to 70%.On July 15th, we introduced a brand new visa-free policy, allowing Chinese tourists to enter Thailand without a visa for a stay of up to 60 days. We hope to attract more friends from Henan, including more Chinese friends, to come and visit Thailand.

李文华：双边互免签证措施推出后，我们明显感觉到赴泰旅游的中国游客数量显著提高，目前增长率达到了约70%。在7月15日，我们又推出了全新的免签政策，中国游客可免签入泰，停留不超过60天，我们希望吸引更多河南的朋友，包括更多中国朋友能来到泰国旅游。

As everyone knows, next year is a special year as China and Thailand will celebrate the important milestone of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. To this end, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has made many preparations for the Chinese market. Starting from September this year, we will successively launch a series of celebration activities.

大家都知道，明年是个特殊年份，中泰即将迎来正式建交50周年这一重要里程碑。为此，泰国旅游局针对中国市场做了诸多准备。从今年 9 月起，我们将陆续推出一系列庆祝活动。

For example, we plan to organize around 100 Chinese internet celebrities and media professionals to travel to Thailand in September to experience Thai tourism; we will launch Mid-Autumn Festival activities on September 17th, and so on. We will also collaborate with many Chinese platforms such as Meituan and Ctrip to offer a series of promotional and discount activities for tourists, covering airfare, hotel accommodations, admission tickets, shopping vouchers for luxury goods in malls and affordable supermarkets. We hope everyone will enjoy this opportunity and visit Thailand more often.

比如我们计划在9月组织100名左右中国网红及媒体达人赴泰采风，体验泰国旅游；在9月17日推出中秋节活动等。我们还将与美团、携程等众多中国平台为游客推出一系列促销优惠活动，涵盖机票、酒店住宿、门票、商场奢侈品及平价超市的购物券等。希望大家抓住这次机会，多多赴泰旅游。

Five "Musts" for Thailand Travel Recommendations

泰国旅游推荐五个“必”

Top News: As outbound travel regains its popularity, have there been any changes in the travel interests of Chinese tourists? For tourists visiting Thailand during the summer vacation, what are some recommended new ways to enjoy their trip?

顶端新闻：出境游重新呈现火热趋势后，中国游客的旅游兴趣有什么变化？针对暑期赴泰的游客，有哪些推荐的新玩法？

Li Wenhua: Nowadays, there has been a significant change in tourists’ consumption habits, with more tourists starting to adopt the “independent travel” model. In this regard, I would like to recommend five “musts” – must-taste, must-try, must-buy, must-seek, and must-see.

李文华：如今，游客的旅游消费习惯有了巨大的改变，更多的游客开始采用“自由行”的模式。对此，我为大家推荐五个“必”——必尝、必试、必买、必寻、必看。

The first is "must-taste." Our fresh fruits are highly popular among Chinese tourists, such as mangosteen, rambutan, mango, durian, and other tropical fruits. Thai cuisine features five flavors: sour, sweet, spicy, salty, and bitter. The sour taste might be something lacking in Henan local cuisine and is very appetizing. For tourists who have not been to Thailand, these fresh fruits and Thai dishes are definitely worth a try.

首先是“必吃”，我们的新鲜水果深受中国游客喜爱，比如山竹、红毛丹、芒果、榴莲等热带水果。泰餐有酸、甜、辣、咸、苦5种味道，其中酸的味道可能是河南本地菜所缺乏的，非常开胃。对于没去过泰国的游客，这些新鲜水果和泰餐很值得尝试。

The second is "Must-try" referring to experience something you’ve never done before. For example, learning Muay Thai and living and studying with real Muay Thai boxers. Thailand holds an annual Teacher’s Day ceremony, where Muay Thai boxers participate in a ritual before their matches. Additionally, there are experiences in Thailand that offer direct contact with animals. For instance, with elephants, you can touch them, feed them, bathe them, interact with them, and even cook for them.

“必试”就是在泰国尝试没有做过的事情。比如学习泰拳，和真正的泰拳手一起生活、学习。泰国每年有拜师大会，泰拳手在进行泰拳比赛前会有拜师仪式。此外，在泰国还有能与动物直接接触的体验。例如大象，我们可以摸到它、给它喂食、洗澡、互动，为它做饭。

Next is "must-buy." Thailand offers a variety of fashionable items, Thai silk, and Thai handicrafts. Thai SPA shops also carry excellent essential oils and related products. You can buy whatever you personally like according to your lifestyle.

然后是“必买”，泰国有众多时尚单品、泰丝以及泰国手工艺品，泰国的SPA店，还有非常好的精油和精油相关产品。根据你个人的生活方式，喜欢什么就可以买什么。

“Must-seek” involves looking for places that are usually hard to find. For example, Thailand’s open-air bars, those small coffee shops, interesting stores, and some restaurants located in alleys and remote corners that people might not usually discover.

“必寻”寻找平时我们难以找到的地方。比如泰国露天的酒吧，那些在大街小巷或巷子深处，平时大家可能找不到的小咖啡厅、有趣的店铺以及一些餐厅等。

"Must-see" means to witness Thailand’s traditional culture and traditional festivals, such as the Loy Krathong and Songkran festivals, to experience the festive culture. You can also experience festival activities that may not be commonly held in China, such as Thailand’s Mid-Autumn Festival worship ceremonies.

“必看”就是要看一看泰国的传统文化、传统节日，比如水灯节、宋干节，体验节庆文化。还可以体验一些在中国可能不太举办的节庆活动，比如泰国的中秋节祭拜仪式等。

The above are the new experiences and new travel directions in Thailand that I highly recommend. I hope everyone can gain more joy from these experiences.

以上是我重点推荐的泰国新体验、新的旅游方向，希望大家能从这些体验中获得更多快乐。

Dial 1155 in case of an Emergency

在泰国遇到紧急情况拨打1155

Top News: For Chinese tourists visiting Thailand, how should they seek help if they encounter some safety issues? What policies does Thailand have in place to ensure that tourists can have fun and stay safe?

顶端新闻：中国游客前往泰国，如果遇到一些安全方面的问题应当如何求助？泰国方面有哪些政策来保障游客能够玩得开心，玩得安全？

Li Wenhua: Thailand has always prioritized safety issues, which is of utmost importance. Surveillance cameras are installed throughout the streets and alleys of Thailand, and there are 24-hour mobile monitoring vehicles patrolling around. At various tourist attractions and during major festivals, there are tourism police to enforce the law.

李文华：泰国一直以来都把安全问题放在首位，这对我们来说至关重要。泰国的大街小巷都安置有监控，且有24小时移动监测车全天候巡逻，在各个旅游景点以及重大节日里，都有旅游警察执法。

At the same time, Thailand invites Chinese individuals who are fluent in both Chinese and Thai and are either traveling or residing locally to become volunteers, providing assistance to tourists.

同时，泰国会邀请在当地旅游或长居的懂中文和泰文的中国人成为志愿者，为游客提供协助。

In case of an emergency, you can seek help through the following channels: First, dial 1155, which is Thailand’s emergency number and also the number for the tourism police, offering Chinese language services. Second, dial 1672, which is the emergency number for the Tourism Authority of Thailand. For particularly urgent cases, you can also dial 191.

当大家遇到紧急情况时，可以通过以下渠道求助：第一，拨打1155，这是泰国的紧急号码，也是旅游警察的号码，提供中文服务。第二，拨打1672，这是泰国旅游局的紧急号码。如果遇到特别紧急的案件时，也可以拨打191。

There is also a safety app called “POLICE I LERT U” that supports Chinese. In the event of an emergency, tourists can use it to send information, including personal details, photos, the time and location of the incident, to the emergency call center at 1155. The emergency center operates around the clock to receive calls and will coordinate and dispatch police officers to the rescue as a top priority.

还有一个安全APP叫“POLICE I LERT U”，它支持中文，遇到紧急情况，游客可以通过它向紧急呼救中心1155发送包括个人信息、照片、事发时间和地点在内的相关信息，急救中心全天接受报警，并将于第一时间协调派遣警务人员前往救援。

Furthermore, we maintain close cooperative relations with the Chinese Embassy in Thailand, providing direct assistance to Chinese tourists. The embassy’s cooperative team includes Chinese police officers who work together with Thai police in law enforcement.

此外，我们还与中国驻泰大使馆保持有密切合作联系，会为中国游客提供第一手帮助，使馆的合作团队中有中国警察，他们会和泰国警察共同执法。

I want to emphasize that we attach great importance to the safety of Chinese tourists. Your safe and enjoyable travelling in Thailand is what brings us the greatest joy and is of the utmost value to us.

我想强调的是，我们非常重视中国游客的安全问题，你们的安全游玩是让我们感到最开心、最有价值的事情。

Familiar with Luoyang, Kaifeng, and Bao Zheng from a Young Age

“从小知晓洛阳、开封府、包拯”

Top News: How many times have you been to Henan, and what is your impression of this province? If you return to Thailand, what would you recommend about Henan?

顶端新闻：这是第几次来河南，对河南的印象如何？如果回到泰国去，会推荐河南的哪些东西？

Li Wenhua: Actually, this is my first time visiting Henan. Although I haven’t been here before, Henan has been a “dream province” for me.

李文华：其实这是我第一次来到河南，虽然我没有来过，但河南是我的梦中“情省”。

Because in Thai culture that I was exposed to and learned many elements of Chinese culture since childhood, whether in novels, television, or movies. For example, Chinese kung fu, qigong, Shaolin Temple, as well as Luoyang, Kaifeng, Bao Zheng, and Zhan Zhao, these are all names that I have known since I was young. So being able to come here, I feel very excited.

因为在我从小接触和学习的泰国的文化里，有很多的中国文化元素，不论是小说还是电视、电影都有很多。比如，中国的功夫、气功、少林寺，以及洛阳、开封府、包拯、展昭，这些都是我从小就知晓的名词，所以能来这里，我感到非常开心。

I specifically spent half a day visiting Luoyang, where I toured the White Horse Temple and the Longmen Grottoes, experiencing the ancient culture of the area. When I return to Thailand, I will introduce these magic places to my Thai friends.

我专门花了半天的时间去了洛阳，参观了白马寺，游览了龙门石窟，体验到了当地古老的文化。回到泰国后，我会向泰国朋友们宣传这些。

The Thai government now has an important policy that not only invites Chinese tourists to travel to Thailand but also aims to recommend that Thai tourists visit China. This is what we refer to as “two-way journey.”

现在泰国政府有一项重要政策，不只是邀请中国游客去泰国旅游，同时也希望推荐泰国游客去中国旅游，这是我们的“双向奔赴”。（中文来源/顶端新闻 记者/孟月 编译/温晓梅）

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