Chengdu: For Akenarong Suksupakit, the chic cafes in Shanghai, the bustling Hongya Cave commercial district in Chongqing and the giant panda base in Chengdu, Sichuan province, are no longer just destinations on a map — they are key stops for his travel business.
Having lived in China for four years, the 33-year-old Thai entrepreneur, also known by his nickname Ake, is witnessing firsthand the conducive effect of the visa-free travel agreement between China and Thailand.
Thailand is one of the three countries that signed a mutual visa-free agreement with China in the first half of this year. The other two are Singapore and Georgia.
The policy change has not only opened doors for curious Thai tourists eager to explore China’s vast cultural landscapes, but has also injected fresh energy into Ake’s travel agency back in Thailand.
The agreement with Thailand, which came shortly after a similar agreement between China and Kazakhstan took effect in November last year, is part of the ongoing efforts of the world’s second-largest economy to stimulate its tourist market and bolster its opening-up efforts.
Repeatedly voicing its eagerness to welcome foreign tourists, the Chinese government has adopted a series of measures to make cross-border travel more convenient. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
