Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin welcomed Chinese visitors at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok Monday morning to mark the first day of the government's visa-free arrangements for Chinese and Kazakh tourists.

Srettha led a group of ministers and other senior officials at a welcoming ceremony organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand for passengers of Thai AirAsia X flight No XJ761, which landed in Bangkok at 10:15 am from Shanghai.

Easier entry and 30-day visa-free stays for nationals of China and Kazakhstan will start on Sept 25 and end on Feb 29 next year, according to the Royal Gazette last week. The country is aimed at attracting more tourists from China and other countries to help boost its economic recovery.