Thailand, China to waive visa requirements from March 1

[reader]

From The Nation

Both Thailand and China have decided to waive visa requirements for their citizens permanently from March 1, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced on Tuesday.

He was speaking after the Cabinet acknowledged China’s gesture and agreed to reciprocate in kind.

“China's move has helped boost relations and offers opportunities for tourists of both countries," Srettha said.

He added that the Public Relations Department and related agencies have been tasked with publicising that Thailand is ready to welcome Chinese tourists.

[Marc in Calif]

3 hours ago, reader said:

He added that the Public Relations Department and related agencies have been tasked with publicising that Thailand is ready to welcome Chinese tourists.

Are there also requirements for Chinese tourists to behave appropriately while in Thailand?

They should have to pass an exam showing that they know how to be responsible and courteous visitors. 

The same requirements should apply to any country that Chinese tourists enter. 

[vinapu]

7 hours ago, Marc in Calif said:

Are there also requirements for Chinese tourists to behave appropriately while in Thailand?

They should have to pass an exam showing that they know how to be responsible and courteous visitors. 

The same requirements should apply to any country that Chinese tourists enter. 

apparently money doesn't smell, ask Vespasianus

[macaroni21]

I trust that other members of this board are aware that if one substituted the word "American" for "Chinese" in the above comment, they would make exactly the things that locals in many Asian countries would say too.

[Riobard]

9 hours ago, macaroni21 said:

I trust that other members of this board are aware that if one substituted the word "American" for "Chinese" in the above comment, they would make exactly the things that locals in many Asian countries would say too.

Chapeau! It’s difficult to be unaware when obnoxious chatroom Sinonegativist ‘othering’ is shoved up one’s sinus. 

[vinapu]

4 hours ago, Riobard said:

Chapeau! 

Swearing is prohibited here on the forum mind you

[Marc in Calif]

Here's just a sampling of comments from members of these very forums:

I recall a couple of years ago when I was walking around Kenrokuen, one of the 3 great Japanese-style gardens. I was enjoying the serenity when suddenly large numbers of huge tour buses turned up all at once and disgorged a tsunami of Chinese tourists. The serenity disappeared, as did the views, because everywhere you looked you just saw people. They all wanted the photo with the famous stone lantern; the problem is, they don't just take 1 photo and move on so that others can have a turn; they have to take multiple shots going through a series of poses.

In Cambodia the locals complain a lot about the Chinese tourists.

If you have ever followed a Mandarin tour group, you will have noticed the distinct lack of manners, pushiness, spitting, and general inability to relate to others.

80 percent of 2,200 Chiang Mai residents polled by the university in February said they were highly displeased with Chinese behavior. The survey and numerous comments on Thai social media blamed Chinese for spitting, littering, cutting into lines, flouting traffic laws and allowing their children to relieve themselves in public pools. Some restaurant owners complained of Chinese filling up doggy bags at buffets.

The low point in local-tourist relations here in Thailand's second-largest city was likely a photograph widely seen on the Internet of a person, purportedly Chinese, defecating in the city's ancient moat.

"Unfortunately, right now, the feeling is very anti-Chinese. In order to bring out such strong feelings in Chiang Mai people, it must be really bad. Generally, Chiang Mai people are quite tolerant of foreigners," says Annette Kunigagon, Irish owner of the long-established Eagle Guesthouse.

 

[Riobard]

A classic example of counting on denominator neglect in constructing perspective. The rare occurrence of a tsunami or somebody egregiously relieving self in the local fountain is so compelling that its probability as a phenomenon of Mother Nature or representative of a particular classified subgroup based on a single member is vastly overestimated.

An unimpressive, futile attempt to shape the narrative by repeating the same drivel as if it’s believable and could eventually prevail within the broader consciousness here. Cowering pathetically behind similarly xenophobic expressivity as if these quotes buttress your opinion. It’s sad that you don’t grasp your limitations and don’t realize when you’re done, quitting before being left further behind. You come across as a trickle with enormous toxic waste potential. 

[Marc in Calif]

9 minutes ago, Riobard said:

A classic example of counting on denominator neglect in constructing perspective.... 

How angry and bitter you are that I copied a few comments posted by actual members of these forums!

How else can I provoke you? 🎯

[Riobard]

Whoever isn’t “triggered” by a sad angry offensive clown attempting to legitimize his xenophobia by scratching around for obscure references made by others to the same category of people is asleep at the wheel. Period. The assertion that somebody is triggered, as if it represents some kind of flaw, is the typical feeble go-to lazy language choice made by a troll anxiously trying to gain ground in a debate. You would never have come up with it but for matriculation from the troll academy. In fact, there is no debate. 

Some entry visas, to chat platforms, should be subject to review. I might add that it’s small-t trigger; quite small potatoes, you. The predominant reason you would publish your outlandish comments about a specific nationality here is that you elicit little more than eyerolls in the real world, measuring your significance according to the degree to which you do successfully piss others off. Get help.

[macaroni21]

38 minutes ago, Riobard said:

Some entry visas, to chat platforms, should be subject to review.

I agree.