Thai authorities fear crime with visa waiver

By Hoang Phong September 7, 2023 | 06:00 pm PT

Tourists visit the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, on January 7, 2023. Photo by Reuters

Thailand's plan to waive visas for Chinese tourists this October has sparked concerns it could lead to increasing international crime in the Southeast Asian country.

Immigration authorities are concerned that the visa-free policy could pave the way for criminals such as call center gangs and other illegal businesses to infiltrate the country, Bangkok Post reported.

Immigration Bureau (IB) Chief Police Lieutenant General Pakphumpipat Sajjapan warned that the policy could lead to an overwhelming amount of work for immigration officers trying to track down such criminal gangs once they enter the country.

The IB has ordered that all immigration check-in counters be fully open during peak hours to alleviate airport crowding.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand estimates the visa-free policy will add 700,000 Chinese arrivals during the peak season.

Thailand has received 2.1 million Chinese tourists so far this year, less than half of the year's 5-million target, according to Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

Before the pandemic, Chinese tourists were the biggest feeder market for Thailand's tourism industry. In 2019, over 11 million Chinese tourists visited Thailand, accounting for more than a quarter of its total foreign arrivals.