Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia tourism shine with visa-free access

Saturday, February 10, 2024

Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia offer visa waivers to attract Chinese tourists during Spring Festival, aiming to boost post-pandemic tourism.

Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia are banking on their visa waivers to entice a wave of Chinese travelers gearing up for the Spring Festival holiday. Wei Meng, a 44-year-old Chinese engineer and aviation enthusiast, epitomizes the ideal visitor these countries are vying for.

Since Singapore waived visas for Chinese citizens, Wei promptly altered his plans, swapping Australia for a six-day sojourn in Singapore instead. While considering trips to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, both offering visa-free stays for Chinese nationals, he settled on Singapore due to the upcoming Singapore Airshow, slated to open its doors to the public on February 24.

As the Spring Festival heralds the first major holiday season since China lifted pandemic-related travel constraints last year, Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia are banking on these unprecedented visa waivers to attract a significant chunk of outbound Chinese tourists, vital for their economies.

Chinese travelers often grumble about the cumbersome visa application process, as reflected by their passport’s ranking of 62nd on the Henley Passport Index, which rates passports based on the number of visa-free destinations.

Previously, Chinese tourists constituted a substantial revenue stream, contributing to over a quarter of Thailand’s holiday arrivals in 2019 and being the top spenders in Singapore, splurging more than S$4 billion ($3 billion) that same year.

Despite reduced travel post-pandemic, Chinese visitors remain a dominant force in Thailand, especially since the launch of its visa waiver program in September. Tourism officials anticipate a surge in Chinese arrivals during the Lunar New Year holiday, tripling the figures from 2023.

Similarly, Malaysia initiated visa-free entry for Chinese citizens in December, aiming to attract 5-7 million visitors from China this year, nearly doubling pre-pandemic levels.

To capitalize on the Lunar New Year festivities, hotels, including properties under The Ascott Limited group, are rolling out promotions such as discounts and special activities tailored to the occasion.

Benefiting from its status as a key air traffic hub in Asia, Singapore leads the pack in welcoming Chinese visitors with a nearly 5% increase in direct flights from mainland China compared to the same period in 2019.

In contrast, Malaysia and Thailand lag behind in direct flight numbers, with reductions of 33% and 17% respectively compared to 2019 levels, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.

« Back to Page

• Kuala Lumpur Workshop Explores Business Events Societal Impact and The Future of The Event Industry

• Rainforest World Music Festival returns to Sarawak in Malaysia

• Batik Air launches new flight route to Guilin, China

• FATA appoints new president for term 2024-2026

• Malaysia is a budget-friendly alternative to pricier Europe