Ms. Srisuda Wanapinyosak, Director of the Thailand Tourism Authority’s Eastern Region, Visits Taiwan for Exchange; Visa-Free Travel for Taiwanese Tourists to Thailand May Be on the Horizon

Reported by Chen Tzu-yin / Taipei

Following the return of the travel alert status to normal, the Thai government is actively working to revive its tourism market. Today (18th), Ms. Srisuda Wanapinyosak, Director of the Eastern Region of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, led 40 local industry players to Taiwan for a press briefing and industry exchange with Taiwanese media and businesses.In an interview, Ms. Srisuda stated that the Thai government is actively considering implementing visa-free entry.


▲ Ms. Srisuda Wanapinyosak, Director of the Eastern Region of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (left), and Mr. Shang Song, Director of the Bangkok Office (right), announced today that the Thai government is actively negotiating visa-free entry for Taiwanese travelers. (Photo / Chen Tzu-yin)

Ms. Srisuda said, “After the protests earlier this month, we hope to quickly restore traveler confidence. Initiatives such as ‘Thailand Today’ and ‘Book Thailand Now’ are designed to remind travelers of Thailand as soon as possible and bring them back here.” Regarding the visa-free travel that Taiwanese tourists are hoping for, Ms. Srisuda noted that there is a loyal group of Taiwanese travelers who tend to return to Thailand very quickly after any political unrest or natural disasters.To show appreciation for Taiwanese travelers’ love for Thailand, the Thai government is currently discussing visa-free options, which she believes would be a win-win situation for both Taiwan and Thailand.This would also significantly help boost the market. However, regarding a potential timeline for visa-free entry, Ms. Srisuda explained that the official decision has yet to be finalized.

Last year, over 507,000 Taiwanese visited Thailand. The Tourism Authority of Thailand acknowledged that the early-year unrest affected travel willingness, especially in the group travel segment, where a noticeable decline was observed compared to the same period last year. Nevertheless, Ms. Srisuda remains optimistic about the Taiwanese market, setting a target of 510,000 visitors for 2014, aiming for around a 4% increase from last year.

Additionally, Ms. Srisuda mentioned that next year, Southeast Asian countries will once again collaborate to promote regional tourism, allowing travelers to “visit 10 countries in one trip” and enjoy unprecedented convenience during their journeys.


▲ Ms. Srisuda, along with officials from the Tourism Authority of Thailand and 40 local industry players, visited Taiwan for the exchange. (Photo / Chen Tzu-yin)