Latest news with #Choengron
Bangkok Post
21-07-2025
- Bangkok Post
Families to get priority at major airports
Thailand is welcoming young travellers and families with a priority check-in channel at airports in major cities during school holidays in China and summer in Europe. The shǔ jià yú kuài tú jìng, or the "Happy Chinese Summer Channel", programme has been launched at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket and Chiang Mai airports, said Pol Maj Gen Choengron Rimpadee, Commander of Immigration Division 2. The initiative aims to boost convenience for travellers from China, as well as those from entering from North America and Europe passing through airport immigration during the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere, and the low season of tourism in Thailand, he said. A dedicated lane will be provided for travellers who come as a family with a clear travel plan, said Pol Maj Gen Choengron. They must be able to declare a return date and accommodation and have no history of visa runs, or short trips made to a neighbouring country to extend their stay, he said. The number of Chinese families travelling to Thailand has increased, and they can look forward to better treatment under this change. In every 1,300 Chinese who arrive in Thailand, 600 of whom are 12 years old or younger, and often travel with their parents or grandparents, said Pol Maj Gen Choengron. About 1,000 travellers of other nationalities who come as a family visit Thailand every day, half of whom are 12 years and younger. The dedicated lane has reduced check-in times from 40 minutes on average down to just 15, he said. Feedback from travellers who have taken part in the programme has been very positive, he added. However, some visitors have complained about the need to fill out the Thailand Digital Arrival Card. Airport immigration has rejected over 10,000 arrivals since January as part of an effort to crack down on foreign criminals, said Pol Maj Gen Choengron.
Bangkok Post
20-07-2025
- Bangkok Post
Immigration expands fast lanes at Thai airports as student tourism picks up
Thai immigration authorities have expanded their fast lanes at the country's international airports to accommodate not only Chinese students and families, but also growing numbers of international school holidaymakers. Pol Maj Gen Choengron Rimpadee, commander of Immigration Division 2, said the extended service comes as more foreign families arrive in Thailand during the summer break – particularly from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada – coinciding with the country's low tourist season. Immigration police recently set up 'Happy Chinese Summer Channel' lanes for Chinese students' families at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, and Phuket airports to welcome them to Thailand during their school holidays. According to Pol Maj Gen Choengron, while the number of Chinese student visitors still forms the largest group — averaging around 1,300 arrivals per day, 600 of whom are children aged under 12 — the number of non-Chinese students and their families is climbing steadily, currently averaging 1,000 daily arrivals, with about 500 of them being children. 'The fast lanes are now being utilised more broadly to support smoother processing for family groups visiting for tourism. Students and their families typically arrive with clear travel plans, confirmed accommodation and return tickets, and have no prior record of visa misuse or 'visa runs'', Pol Maj Gen Choengron said. 'The special lanes have reduced immigration queue times for these family groups from a peak of 40 minutes to just 15 minutes during busy periods. Priority lanes are also being provided for elderly foreign travellers, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities.' The initiative has received positive feedback from the groups, including praise for improved service and perceptions of Thailand as a family-friendly destination. However, they noted some inconvenience with the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) system, prompting plans for further system improvements. Meanwhile, Thai nationals continue to benefit from automated passport clearance and the Thai passport-holders lanes, typically waiting no longer than five minutes. Despite efforts to boost tourism during the low season, Pol Maj Gen Choengron emphasised that border security remains the top priority. Since January, more than 10,000 foreign nationals have been denied entry due to concerns over illegal activities or links to so-called "grey" groups. The fast-lane initiative, he stressed, is aimed at supporting genuine tourism while maintaining strict screening protocols.
Bangkok Post
13-07-2025
- Bangkok Post
Fast immigration lanes for Chinese students' families at Thai airports
Immigration police have set up fast lanes for Chinese students' families at major airports to welcome them to Thailand during their school holidays. Pol Maj Gen Choengron Rimpadee, commander of the Immigration Division 2 which supervises major airports, said on Sunday that tourism-related operators had urged for measures to stimulate the arrivals of Chinese visitors as their numbers had dropped by about 50% from 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic. In response, immigration police set up 'Happy Chinese Summer Channel' lanes for Chinese students' families at Chiang Mai, Don Mueang, Phuket and Suvarnabhumi airports from July to September. The fast lanes limited waiting time for visitors to 15 minutes to complete their immigration processes, down from up to 40 minutes during peak hours, Pol Maj Gen Choengron said. He expected the special immigration channels to serve at least 5,000 Chinese students and family members each day. About 20,000 Chinese visitors arrive in Thailand every day. The airport immigration commander said he met a deputy director-general of Chinese consular affairs and learned that Thailand remained a popular destination among Chinese students' families, after Macau and Hong Kong. Marine attractions in Pattaya and Phuket were their favourite destinations in Thailand, and Chinese authorities had no policy to discourage Chinese people from visiting Thailand, Pol Maj Gen Choengron said. Chinese people increasingly chose domestic trips because their income dropped after the Covid-19 pandemic, the commander said.
