Chinese travellers positive outbound travel sentiment set to drive return of Thailand’s position as a global tourism destination

New market research released on Thailand’s appeal as a post Covid-19 holiday market

 

Flightradar24: China’s regional and low-cost airlines have quickly taken to the skies.

 

BANGKOK: A comprehensive new survey of consumers in China’s first tier cities has concluded that 53% of respondents would like to travel overseas within 2020.  Moreso, the most popular months for trips abroad for the remainder of the year are August, October and December. 

 

Thailand is one of the most impacted travel markets by Covid-19 in Asia. The country hosted 39.8 million international visitors last year with China accounting for nearly 11 million arrivals. The expanded Thai tourism, hotel and travel sector contributes between 12-15% of GDP to Southeast Asia’s second largest economy.  

 

The newly released China Thailand Travel Sentiment Survey 2020, conducted in mid-April by C9 Hotelworks and Delivering Asia Communications, focused on key demand factors in the country’s reopening of the tourism economy.  A strong positive message from the research is that 71% of Chinese consumers said they would like to visit Thailand. 

 

Using the China survey as a forecasting tool for the hotel industry, an interesting shift in a segment traditionally leveraged in the mass market is that 83% of potential visitors would choose independent travel versus a group tour. This leads into ‘what are the preferred booking channels for Chinese travellers to Thailand’?  The top five in order are Ctrip (61%), Fliggy (16%), hotel websites (9%), Booking.com (5%) and WeChat (5%).  

 

Moving inside the data, another key insight of the report is breaking down destination preferences within Thailand.  Respondents’ most popular holiday locations in order of popularity are Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui and Pattaya. Over 75% of demand was pinpointed in the top three destinations. 

 

Commenting on the road to tourism recovery C9 Hotelworks Managing Director Bill Barnett said: “We expect Thailand’s reopening trajectory to initially be dominated by the domestic storyline but move quickly into inter-regional travel punctuated by the outbound China sector who are ready and willing to visit the country as demonstrated by the survey results.” 

 

Taking a forward-looking view of the impact of Covid-19 and dynamics are play for the remainder of the year, airlift is a critical enable of the travel sector as you can’t stay there if you can’t get there.  A quick indicator of airline activity on Flightradar24 clearly reflects how China’s considerable regional and low-cost airline (LCC) sector has gotten back into the air. 

 

While undoubtedly there will be a lingering global fear factor for travellers in the wake of the virus outbreak, Thailand’s favourable door to door flying time and vast network of approved routes to the Mainland supports lead indicator. Another is the appreciation of the Chinese Yuan (RMB) against the Thai Baht. After reaching lows in Q3 and Q4 of last year, driven done by an economic slowdown and trade war, the currency has continued on an upward rise in 2020, which equates to greater value for Chinese tourists to Thailand. 

 

Rounding out the survey results Delivering Asia Communications CEO David Johnson, added the demographics of travellers from China were changing. “The new China traveller is younger, more independent and more digitally influenced than ever. Covid-19 has had a profound impact on travel consumer mindsets and this generation has a burning desire to experience the world and new digital strategies are needed to reach them.”

 

To download the China Thailand Travel Sentiment Survey, click on the link below:

https://www.c9hotelworks.com/downloads/china-thailand-travel-sentiment-survey-2020-04.pdf

 

 

This is pure delusion.

 

The only way it will happen is when COVID disappears completely and China stops quarantining inbound international travelers for 14 days when they return to China.

 

 

 

Well, if true, we need more tissues to clean up all the spit around us.

Be interesting to know if the requirements for a Chinese tourist to enter the country will be the same as those of a farang to enter. Somehow I think non thai, non chinese are about to become 3rd tier

If Thailand needed any more bad news. Why don't the en-masse Chinese P off somewhere else? ... like the moon!

If I owned a hotel I would order a new Mercedes gonna be a good year

????????

There’s a difference between what people want and what Covid decides. 

A post using a trolling video has been removed. 

I have a feeling that it won't matter what the situation is in a few weeks, the baht wants what the baht wants.

what people say they want is not the same as what people can, I would like to tour South America, but I can't afford it.

Not gonna happen. The Chinese were the first to be "banned" from Thailand. Do they really think that slight will not be forgotten? There are simply too many other nations to compete for the tourist dollar, and most are doing a better job. The Chinese will return, but I suspect the numbers will be far lower than before. You know what they say about putting all of your eggs in one basket? Thailand had been warned of the dangers of becoming too dependent on China for years. Now, after you have made your bed, you get to sleep in it. You have alienated all tourists but Indians and Chinese.

 

And as for the Western tourists? Not gonna happen either. Why? Quality Western tourists are declining here, in a big way, for a dozen very good reasons. You insulted us. You demeaned us. You accused us of being evil, and you accused us of being criminals. You mounted campaigns touting us as bad for the nation. You demonstrated deplorable amounts of racism and xenophobia, and fear of the outside world. Some of your officials even went as far as saying we prefer to have tourists that look more like us! And now you want us to come back? Really? How soon you forget. Sorry, but we have not forgotten what was done and said. Neither have the Chinese forgotten their ban. Not saying it was not the right thing to do. But, that does not necessarily make it less offensive to them. 

 

What alot of tourists worldwide have forgotten is the nation named Thailand. There are too many alternatives now, and they are not only trying harder, they actually have competent people in charge! Surprise!

Hordes of Chinese tour groups at the train market Ratchada and coaches/taxis blocking up the Ratchadapisek road outside Esplanade coming soon.

Any Country on the Planet would be insane to allow freedom of travel to their Countries without a Vaccine against Covid19 being readily available.

To do so would potentially open the floodgates to a Second, wave of the Virus Globally.

11 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Not gonna happen. The Chinese were the first to be "banned" from Thailand. Do they really think that slight will not be forgotten? There are simply too many other nations to compete for the tourist dollar, and most are doing a better job. The Chinese will return, but I suspect the numbers will be far lower than before. You know what they say about putting all of your eggs in one basket? Thailand had been warned of the dangers of becoming too dependent on China for years. Now, after you have made your bed, you get to sleep in it. You have alienated all tourists but Indians and Chinese.

 

And as for the Western tourists? Not gonna happen either. Why? Quality Western tourists are declining here, in a big way, for a dozen very good reasons. You insulted us. You demeaned us. You accused us of being evil, and you accused us of being criminals. You mounted campaigns touting us as bad for the nation. You demonstrated deplorable amounts of racism and xenophobia, and fear of the outside world. Some of your officials even went as far as saying we prefer to have tourists that look more like us! And now you want us to come back? Really? How soon you forget. Sorry, but we have not forgotten what was done and said. Neither have the Chinese forgotten their ban. Not saying it was not the right thing to do. But, that does not necessarily make it less offensive to them. 

 

What alot of tourists worldwide have forgotten is the nation named Thailand. There are too many alternatives now, and they are not only trying harder, they actually have competent people in charge! Surprise!

What Europeans think of Thailand is beside the point. Europe is in the throws of a total economic collapse and the viral outbreak is yet to peak as the UK is fast catching up with Spain, France and Italy. Travelling Europeans to anywhere will be a rarity for years to come.

 

Thailand can thank the lucky stars they have China to fall back on.

They are already here!

7 minutes ago, tropo said:

What Europeans think of Thailand is beside the point. Europe is in the throws of a total economic collapse and the viral outbreak is yet to peak as the UK is fast catching up with Spain, France and Italy. Travelling Europeans to anywhere will be a rarity for years to come.

 

Thailand can thank the lucky stars they have China to fall back on.

When there is a proven cure, the tourists will come back - also from Europe.

 

People have a deep urge to travel, and would rather skip their big steaks and red wine in order to be able to travel for a holiday.

28 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Quality Western tourists are declining here, in a big way, for a dozen very good reasons

These tourists from US anyway, go to Hawaii or Mexico for a beach type holiday.

Much closer and some of the resorts put anything here to shame.

Mostly sex tourists will still come here though.

https://forum.thaivisa.com/announcement/36-are-you-in-thailand-and-feeling-low-need-someone-to-talk-to-help-is-at-hand/

 

Seriously thinking of giving them a call.

Many countries will not be allowing their citizens OUT for discretionary travel for at least 12 months.

The Chinese will travel, and will carry "fit to travel" papers.

Thailand want the income and since they have dodged the first bullet, they will be hoping the amulets will assists the next bullet to miss them.

 

 

Based on the preferred Thai travel destinations for Chinese travelers, the best place to live in  Thailand is OTHERS

NO Thanks !!!

mom, let's go to Thailand....low cases!!!

 

December:  OMG mom, why is everyone Chinese.  Ah..... 

shhhhhh, son, ah......... wear your mask.  remember, i'm old.  

 

I've spoken with enough Thais, and EVERYONE knows where this virus came from.  It will take MUCH more than money to get them to be smiling if see 100 Chinese.  if no vaccine, you have a slightly better chance of dying.  well, think about that.  yes, i feel horrible for people from China.  sorry, but the world will not be kind for awhile.  

 

Let's say I'm from Australia and the virus started in my hometown.  Ah, would I go running around the globe drinking and walking around? no

 

can you imagine what will happen in the next year???  OMG, there will be fireworks around the world.  

 

i'm glad i'm getting old.  these humans give me a headache.  

there where hordes of chinese before, they are the preferred visitor to thailand they where here on mass in janurary Thailand didnt get what europe got so they will be welcomed back with their even more preferred traveler

The govt would sell its soul to china has already outed filthy farangs so we will continue to be second.

Won't be many Chinese tourists when all the Japanese and American and Australian and Western European companies shift production out of China...

I don't believe any of the mumbo jumbo,the world's most respected countries are worried even to return to normality, shutting down even further down the line to prevent rebounds,I just read up the survey...it doesn't say how many people participated?? Which parts of China? Read. CNN's article

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/china-travel-recovery-domestic/index.html

 

 

16 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

Many countries will not be allowing their citizens OUT for discretionary travel for at least 12 months.

I don't know where you came up with that, most countries today allow people to go out, and restrict only non nationals on the way in, plus quarantine for nationals.

 

That quarantine will be lifted gradually and people will fly based on certificates.

 

The risk is further minimised at the beginning by the very low initial number of travellers, but you have to kickstart it somehow.

 

So don't worry, flights will restart with conditions such as empty middle seat, masks inside, certificates and so on.

Should be perfect for 2nd Wave 

here comes the rebound ,,are they ready

19 minutes ago, SkyFax said:

Based on the preferred Thai travel destinations for Chinese travelers, the best place to live in  Thailand is OTHERS

This is a rather misleading story, just because they ticked a box of preferred destinations "in Thailand" doesn't mean Thailand is their preferred destination, I'd like to see the full survey published were their actual preferred destination is - I'll bet it's not Thailand

Bill Barnettt and C9 Hotelworks are, as usual, coming out with what their clients want to hear.

 

Whether the Chinese want to travel or not is to a certain extent irrelevant. I want to take a trip to the UK later this year but am fully aware that it might not happen. There are so many factors to take into account.