Monday was a sweet and sour day for Chinese tourists pouring into Bangkok under the brand spanking new visa-free scheme launched by the Thai government. PM Srettha Thavisin, brandishing his best ‘I’ve-had-six-cups-of-coffee’ grin, rolled out the red carpet at Suvarnabhumi airport for tourists coming from Shanghai. An array of traditional dancers – all brimming with more flexibility than an overstretched rubber band- were strutting their stuff left, right, and center as flight after flight of tourists arrived, all the while getting roped into a welcome scene right out of a Thai B-movie. One of the elated, yet visibly startled tourists, Zhuang Pan, 31, exclaimed, “I was shocked by the welcoming ceremony, and I'm very happy. It's a great start of my trip." you could practically see his confusion sandwiched between pure horror and amusement as he sought to comprehend what he'd just stepped into. In a hilarious, yet not so far-fetched incident, a tourist stepped off the plane holding a peacock (yes, you read that right, a PEACOCK) in one hand and shaking hands with the over-enthused Prime Minister with the other. Sadly for him, the peacock quickly joined the list of prohibited inflight carry-ons. "Sorry, sir. Peacocks are not covered in the carry-on allowance!" an airport staff member was overheard telling the flabbergasted tourist amidst his protests that Charlene, the peacock, was 'just his emotional support bird’. The Thai government is banking on the visa-free scheme to add some spice and stir-fry to their tourism sector. The initiative is set to ensure that AI-powered massage parlors stay busy, local bazaars sound like a relentless cacophony, and tuk tuks continue to threaten pedestrian safety. Will this daring move pay off? We will have to wait and see. Until then, make sure your peacocks are all checked in and brace yourself for some unexpected Thai hospitality!