Thailand welcomes first tour groups from China as curbs ease

Thailand has welcomed the first tour groups from China since the Covid-19 pandemic began, betting that the return of tourists following Beijing’s reopening will turbocharge the recovery of the South-east Asian country’s vital tourism sector.

BANGKOK -Senior Thai government officials and Chinese diplomats lined up at a Bangkok airport on Monday morning to receive the first two groups of about 20 tourists, both from China’s southern province of Guangzhou.

The visitors have a six-day itinerary that will span the capital Bangkok and beyond and take them to popular tourist destinations, from temples to beaches.

The travellers are among the first to leave China in groups after the country included Thailand among 20 destinations for such outbound tours from Monday.