Thailand has lifted border restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus and is now expecting foreign tourists to return.

Thai authorities lifted a state of emergency on Friday. The measure had been in effect for two and a half years.

People arriving from overseas are no longer required to show proof of vaccination or a negative test result.

Nationals from some countries, such as Japan, are not required to obtain visas to enter Thailand. The period of stay for those nationals has been extended to up to 45 days.

About 40 million foreign tourists visited Thailand per year before the pandemic.

The owner of a souvenir shop at the Wat Arun temple in Bangkok said that she expects the number of visitors to increase. She added that she believes sales at her shop will return to pre-pandemic levels.

A firm, whose ships cruise along the Chao Phraya River in the capital, plans to start catering more to tourists from India, as opposed to those from China.

Chinese people were previously the company's main customers, but the firm does not know when tourists from China will be able to visit Thailand again.

The president of the company said that most of his customers are from India now.

He said tourists from China are still unable to travel abroad, due to COVID restrictions.

The president expressed hope that foreign tourists from all over the world will be able to return soon.