Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed the Tourism and Sports Ministry to plan for the return of Chinese tourists as about 300,000 are expected to arrive in the first quarter of next year.

Gen Prayut on Thursday met Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Yuthasak Supasorn and officials from other agencies for talks after Beijing decided to lift travel curbs, which will take effect on Jan 8.

Mr Yuthasak said after the meeting the PM stressed the need to take care of Chinese tourists as well as ensure the health and safety of Thai people.

"The TAT expects Chinese tourists would start arriving from Jan 5 and about 300,000 will arrive in the first quarter of next year, which would help the tourism sector during the low season," he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Thursday he did not expect a sudden influx of Chinese arrivals because the Chinese government still imposes some travel conditions, including RT-PCR tests for Covid-19 for both inbound and outbound travellers.

He also said Thailand won't require Chinese visitors who are fully vaccinated to take a Covid-19 test before or after they arrive. Most Chinese citizens have received at least three doses of Covid-19 vaccine, while many others have developed antibodies from past Covid-19 infection.

Chinese visitors will only be required to comply with measures which are imposed on all foreign arrivals, such as buying health insurance, he said.

Officials are planning to offer AstraZeneca vaccines to Chinese visitors who have had three shots of Sinovac and are willing to pay for a booster jab, Mr Anutin said.