(Yicai) July 5 -- A delegation of more than 200 Chinese business leaders visited Bangkok on the 49th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand to promote interactions and exchanges between the two countries.

"The visit aimed to develop the cultural tourism industry in China and Thailand and promote tourist destinations so that more Chinese tourists can travel to Thailand and vice-versa," Pansy Ho, vice chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and head of the delegation, told Yicai in an exclusive interview.

On March 1, China and Thailand implemented a mutual visa exemption policy, which significantly boosted both countries' tourism.

"With the implementation of favorable measures, it will be more convenient for tourists to travel between China and Thailand, which will help achieve win-win and mutual benefits," Ho noted.

About eight million Chinese tourists are expected to travel to Thailand this year, bringing about THB320 billion (USD8.7 billion) in consumer revenue, according to Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

China should use more high-tech tools to attract even more inbound tourists, Ho said. The country already has a good hardware platform for tourism services, but new technologies could still be used to better tell foreigners China's story, she added.

"We also hope that private companies from China and Thailand can seize the opportunities brought about by the mutual visa-free policy, strengthen cooperation, and jointly build the China-Southeast Asia market," Ho pointed out.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Futura Costaglione