STORY: "Visa-free era" brings closer exchanges between China, Thailand
SHOOTING DATE: March 1, 2024
DATELINE: March 2, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:08
LOCATION: Bangkok
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of tourists
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Thai): ADISORN SANGKRAJANG, Thai tourist
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Thai): BUNSUK WITHANWATTANA, Thai tourist
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Thai): KAVISARA CHAROENPORN, Thai tour operator

STORYLINE:

Mutual visa exemption between China and Thailand takes effect on Friday. 

Chinese holders of ordinary official passports and ordinary passports and Thai holders of ordinary passports will be allowed to enter and stay in each other's country visa-free for up to 30 days, or no more than 90 days per 180 days. 

SOUNDBITE 1 (Thai): ADISORN SANGKRAJANG, Thai tourist
"Exciting! Visa-free makes it convenient. China is a country with a rich culture, which I've always longed to experience."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Thai): BUNSUK WITHANWATTANA, Thai tourist
"This will be my second trip to Zhangjiajie. I have been there before and enjoyed the beautiful scenery and pleasant climate."

China and Thailand signed an agreement on mutual visa exemption in late January. Since then, the booking of tours between the two countries has increased.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Thai): KAVISARA CHAROENPORN, Thai tour operator
"Previously, we were running chartered flights about twice a week in January and February. Since the 'visa-free' policy took effect, we've seen an increase in bookings for March, so we've decided to increase the frequency of flights to three times per week."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Bangkok.
(XHTV)