Chinese tourists to return to Thailand - but not until late 2022

[webfact]

File photo: REUTERS

 

Despite Thailand being just days away from reopening the country to international tourists, it could be almost another year before Chinese tourists return, a leading industry body has said.

 

According to the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), Chinese tourists are not expected to return to Thailand until late 2022.

 

The prediction comes despite China being listed as one of the 46 low risk countries eligible to enter Thailand without quarantine from November 1.

 

Chinese tourists visiting Thailand will be dependent on Beijing’s policy of allowing people in and out of the country, said ATTA president Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn.

 

Mr Sisdivachr said that two events - the 2022 Winter Olympics due to be held in Beijing and the 2022 Asian Games due to be held Hangzhou - will give a clearer indication on the country’s policy with regards to people travelling in and out. 

 

Pre COVID-19, the Chinese accounted for the largest number of foreign tourists to visit Thailand, with approximately 11 million tourists visiting from China annually, accounting for 27 percent of the total number of foreign tourists arriving in Thailand. 

 

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[mokwit]

Bad news for prawn farmers.

[Geoffggi]

At last, some Good News ............!!!! ...............LOL

[Somtamnication]

No spitting in malls, no pushing and shoving at 711s. Heaven!

[RichardColeman]

The chinese wont be stepping foot on thai soil until all restrictions are dropped. They will not put up with the thai quarantine, testing, insurance, vaccine proof claptrap for a coach holiday,

 

That said it could be an indicator of  abandoned incoming requirements for next year - here's hoping

[Willy Wombat]

Can we make it 2222 ?

[itsari]

Bad news for all the ignored participants in the tourist trade , such as bar girls . taxi drivers , tour guides , bus drivers , airport workers , room cleaners , laundry workers , street cleaners , street food sellers ,immigration staff , masseurs , building maintenance workers . The list could go on yet there is little said about the real unemployment caused by the pandemic .

[steven100]

no Chinese for a year   !!    i'm gunna throw a party   !  

[cyril sneer]

28 minutes ago, Somtamnication said:

No spitting in malls, no pushing and shoving at 711s. Heaven!

no sh!tting on the pathways

[thai006]

Finally a good news about Chinese ????????????

[Chris.B]

No trying to get in the hotel lift when you are trying to get out!

 

[BKKTRAVELER]

Then it will be another difficult year for the tourism industry. Although it was relatively expected, this is a hard blow for many dependent on these Chinese tours.

 

Like all of you, I don't mind not seeing them for another year though.

[hioctane]

50 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

The chinese wont be stepping foot on thai soil until all restrictions are dropped. They will not put up with the thai quarantine, testing, insurance, vaccine proof claptrap for a coach holiday,

 

That said it could be an indicator of  abandoned incoming requirements for next year - here's hoping

Thai restrictions are the least of their worries. They have UK level restrictions when going home. 

[RafPinto]

Best news of the day.

Can we make it 2059, please.

[spidermike007]

Correct. They will return in 2022. Around 200,000 of them. Maybe. Tourism here is essentially finished. 

[itsari]

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

no Chinese for a year   !!    i'm gunna throw a party   !  

Hope you enjoy your party alone as you deserve with such a curt remark 

[geisha]

Well, air pollution will be much better with those thousands of buses off the streets, and the airports friendlier immigration queues without people pushing forward and shouting! The Chinese weren’t there a few years ago, and sorry, not racist at all, Thailand was a much better place all round.

[Stefanix]

This promises a peaceful vacation with less crowded places mid of next year.  Looking forward to it!

[PoorSucker]

1 hour ago, itsari said:

Bad news for all the ignored participants in the tourist trade , such as bar girls . taxi drivers , tour guides , bus drivers , airport workers , room cleaners , laundry workers , street cleaners , street food sellers ,immigration staff , masseurs , building maintenance workers . The list could go on yet there is little said about the real unemployment caused by the pandemic .

Bad news for all the ignored participants in the tourist trade , such as bar girls . taxi drivers , tour guides , bus drivers , airport workers , room cleaners , laundry workers , street cleaners , street food sellers ,immigration staff , masseurs , building maintenance workers.

 

There, I fixed it for you.

Think street cleaners are happy.

[flyfrog]

Who cares????

[HappyExpat57]

I doubt ANY Chinese other than wealthy businessmen will be traveling ANYWHERE any time soon. They are no longer issuing passports and appear to be using Covid as a reason to place further restrictions on their already downtrodden people. And let's face it, when they visit, they tend to spend their money on Chinese-owned businesses in Thailand.

 

"They want to clamp down on the movement of their citizens and prevent Western ideological imports from influencing them"

 

https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/curbs-08062021095546.html

[Jimbo2014]

Gives them one year to brew up another plague to spread.  Also time to invade Taiwan.  ????

[Kinnock]

1 hour ago, itsari said:

Bad news for all the ignored participants in the tourist trade , such as bar girls . taxi drivers , tour guides , bus drivers , airport workers , room cleaners , laundry workers , street cleaners , street food sellers ,immigration staff , masseurs , building maintenance workers . The list could go on yet there is little said about the real unemployment caused by the pandemic .

Chinese style tourism does not benefit many outside of the closed circle of Chinese businesses.  

[sammieuk1]

Reports are they are struggling with their own disease probably due to their own ineffective vaccine the day gets better and better with this report????

[Wandering druid]

Finally some good news please make to 2025!

[vandeventer]

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

The chinese wont be stepping foot on thai soil until all restrictions are dropped. They will not put up with the thai quarantine, testing, insurance, vaccine proof claptrap for a coach holiday,

 

That said it could be an indicator of  abandoned incoming requirements for next year - here's hoping

When they do come will they be bringing a new virus with them. Because like all of us, we are sick of the masks, sick of not finding most places open. My barber hasn't opened for months and my hair is almost down to the middle of my  ass. So please don't let them in.

[mommysboy]

Optimistic I'd say. China does not intend to 'live with the virus' at all.  

[nobodysfriend]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Chinese tourists are not expected to return to Thailand until late 2022.

Good time to buy a hotel now ...

[candide]

7 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

I doubt ANY Chinese other than wealthy businessmen will be traveling ANYWHERE any time soon. They are no longer issuing passports and appear to be using Covid as a reason to place further restrictions on their already downtrodden people. And let's face it, when they visit, they tend to spend their money on Chinese-owned businesses in Thailand.

 

"They want to clamp down on the movement of their citizens and prevent Western ideological imports from influencing them"

 

https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/curbs-08062021095546.html

Right. Most Chinese are simply not allowed to go anywhere, I.e. not in Europe. I am not sure it is because they fear some ideological contamination as argued in the paper. I noticed that China mainland citizen are usually completely immunized from it.

I think the main reason is likely economic. At a time of crisis, It's better to have Chinese people spend money in China rather than abroad.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Chinese tourists visiting Thailand will be dependent on Beijing’s policy of allowing people in and out of the country, said ATTA president Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn.

Chinese not coming, Indians given the cold shoulder, I guess that leaves the Russians.