THE VISA-FREE access to Thailand by Chinese tourists has led a large number of them inquiring and then deciding to undergo plastic surgery, infertility treatment as well as general medical examination here, Matichon newspaper said this evening (Mar. 30).
Mr. Sitthi Panupattnapong, chairman of Synphaet Co. Lt.'s board of directors, said the visa waiver had turned the foreign medical market more lively with Chinese finding it convenient to fly here for treatment.
However patients from Middle Eastern countries usually come here for more difficult treatments including heart problems, cancer, gastrointestinal problems and knee replacement.
He added that of his company's seven hospitals it is Synphaet Srinakarin that treats foreign patients with most of them being from Taiwan and the Middle East.
He is optimistic and the free-visa scheme which makes it convenient for patients to fly here will increase the number of foreign patients by 10% this year.
Moreover patients usually come with their relatives and stay long with this boosting tourism revenue.
Citizens of other countries too want Thailand to open the door for visa-free entry, Sitthi added.
Thailand and China signed an agreement for a mutual visa-free entry for citizens of both countries on January 28, 2024, which officially came into effect on March 1, 2024.
Thailand previously granted temporary visa exemption for Chinese tourists from Sept. 25, 2023 to Feb. 29 2024.
The previous temporary visa exemption scheme for Kazakhstani tourists, which started on September 25, 2023 ended on 29 February 2024, was extended till August 31, 2024.
On October 31, 2023, the visa exemption scheme was extended to India and Taiwan for not more than 30-day stay with this running from Nov. 10, 2023 to May 10, 2024.
CAPTION:
Representative image of Chinese people flocking here for plastic surgery. Photo: Matichon
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