The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) has estimated that Chinese authority may let their citizens travel to Thailand in about one year from now or by late 2022, despite the fact that China is among the 46 low-risk countries from which the travelers can enter Thailand without quarantine from November 1 onward under the government’s plan to reopen the country.

“Two major events that will take place in China between now and late 2022 are the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing and 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou,” said ATTA president Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn on Wednesday. “These events will tell us more about China’s policy in letting people in and out of the country.”

Sisdivachr further added that in 2019, before Covid-19 outbreak, over 11 million Chinese tourists had visited Thailand and were accountable for 27 per cent of total foreign visitors, generating income of more than Bt543 billion.