Thailand prepares for influx of Chinese tourists

[snoop1130]

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - Government officials will be convening on Thursday to consider the most appropriate protocols for visitors from China, following the Chinese government’s decision to lift its international travel restrictions this Sunday.

 

Officials in Thailand are now anticipating an influx of visitors from China this year, as the Chinese government is lifting its restrictions on international travel that have effectively prevented its citizens from spending holidays abroad.

 

With the restrictions to be lifted on 8 January, visitors from China will start arriving in large numbers from 15 January.

 

Around 50,000 tourists from China are expected to visit Thailand in January. The number is expected to reach 300,000 per month in the first quarter, provided that more flights resume, while the overall visitor number from China this year is expected to be around 5 million, which is less than the pre-pandemic number of 11 million.

 

The Thai officials will be meeting this Thursday to consider whether to implement any measures specifically for travelers from China, due to reports of widespread COVID-19 transmissions.

 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul said the Department of Disease Control has been in discussion with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and the Ministry of Transport on this matter.

 

He said the measures applied for visitors from China would be similar to the existing measures, adding that the visitors would already be subject to exit regulations imposed by Chinese authorities, which include RT-PCR tests, and a record of 3 doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

 

The Minister of Public Health said visitors from China may be asked to show their record of full vaccination upon arrival, without the need of taking another COVID-19 test, adding that any measures imposed will need to strike a balance between public health and economic opportunities.

 

Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG230104100346838

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2022-01-04

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

[StayinThailand2much]

Yes, I get it that (some) Thais are very excited about the Chinese coming, but why are there such posts and articles about twice a day for the past two weeks now?

[whiteman]

you will be sorry when you let them in

[AgentSmith]

Vaccinations don't stop the spread. And if we learned something the past 2 years it's that a virus can't be stopped by  man-made borders. The virus is already in circulation around the globe and this so-called Chinese influx won't change that. Extra measures for Chinese travelers won't matter. Just let people travel. Covid is here and it's here to stay. Let it go.

 

Id be much more worried about the bird flu pandemic that just keeps going. It has already started to infect mammals and it's only a matter of time before people start getting it too. But for some reason no one seems to care. If bird flu jumps over to people this covid pandemic will seem like child's play.

[StayinThailand2much]

2 minutes ago, whiteman said:

you will be sorry when you let them in

My prediction too. Less income than they expect, but many more unwelcome repercussions...

[AgentSmith]

20 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

My prediction too. Less income than they expect, but many more unwelcome repercussions...

Such as?

[mikeymike100]

From the article: "adding that any measures imposed will need to strike a balance between public health and economic opportunities"

 

Its pretty obvious that the 'economic opportunities' will take precedence over anything else?

[bang saen guy]

2 minutes ago, AgentSmith said:

Such as?

Many Indians are cancelling due to testing upon return to India because of Thais allowing Chinese in without testing. May have to choose between the Indians and Chinese

[jak2002003]

10 minutes ago, bang saen guy said:

Many Indians are cancelling due to testing upon return to India because of Thais allowing Chinese in without testing. May have to choose between the Indians and Chinese

They will choose Chinese over everything else some reason. 

[AgentSmith]

9 minutes ago, bang saen guy said:

Many Indians are cancelling due to testing upon return to India because of Thais allowing Chinese in without testing. May have to choose between the Indians and Chinese

These situations are usually only temporary. Sooner or later the countries that were quick to implement measures will relax again. Give it a month and we won't be talking about it anymore.

[StayinThailand2much]

21 minutes ago, AgentSmith said:

Such as?

Chinese (and Thai) Covid patients at hospitals. Possibly a lockdown, school closures, restrictions due to higher Covid numbers, economic impact...

[StayinThailand2much]

10 minutes ago, jak2002003 said:

They will choose Chinese over everything else some reason. 

They love the Chinese. If they come, no more emphasis on Indian visitors.

[proton]

How do you prepare for crowds shouting, spitting, queue jumping and food grabbing? ???? 

[AgentSmith]

13 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Chinese (and Thai) Covid patients at hospitals. Possibly a lockdown, school closures, restrictions due to higher Covid numbers, economic impact...

Covid is already circulating here. There's nothing new that the Chinese can bring with them. Except money..

[ezzra]

Thailand fears China very much and it is in China's pockets, thus will not to anything to alienate and upset China, but when the hospitals in Thailand will be overrun with Covid sick Chinese the Thai government will come out to decree that from now on all visitors will need PCR tests before entering the country...

[proton]

15 minutes ago, AgentSmith said:

Covid is already circulating here. There's nothing new that the Chinese can bring with them. Except money..

As well as more covid ????

[StayinThailand2much]

30 minutes ago, AgentSmith said:

Covid is already circulating here. There's nothing new that the Chinese can bring with them. Except money..

The possible emergence of new variants and subvarients in China, thanks to 500 million and more infected has been discussed in international news items.

 

As for the money, it tends to benefit only few businesses in Thailand.

Edited January 4, 2023 by StayinThailand2much

[placnx]

13 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Thailand fears China very much and it is in China's pockets, thus will not to anything to alienate and upset China, but when the hospitals in Thailand will be overrun with Covid sick Chinese the Thai government will come out to decree that from now on all visitors will need PCR tests before entering the country...

Rapid tests and swabs of the positives for sequencing could make up somewhat for the lack of transparency on the Chinese side. Thailand could be the sentinel for the dangerous variant the proves the exception to the rule of decreasing lethality.

 

Chinese refusal to accept mRNA vaccines from the EU is very shortsighted considering the inadequately vaccinated population and insufficent facilities to treat serious cases.

[jacko45k]

42 minutes ago, proton said:

How do you prepare for crowds shouting, spitting, queue jumping and food grabbing? ???? 

Oh we get all of that from some of the other guests that were cheered off the planes onto red carpets.....  nothing new here except they cover all the bases in one,

Edited January 4, 2023 by jacko45k

[CANSIAM]

"Economic Opportunities" over health, Thailand at its best....... 

[newnative]

4 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

The possible emergence of new variants and subvarients in China, thanks to 500 million and more infected has been discussed in international news items.

 

As for the money, it tends to benefit only few businesses in Thailand.

     In 2019, Chinese tourists in Thailand spent over 500 billion baht.  One site pegged the figure at 543 billion baht, another said 532 billion.  With either figure, it was the most, by far, of any country.  Over 6 million of the nearly 11 million Chinese tourists were traveling independently, not in tour groups, budget or otherwise.  To compare, UK tourists were less than a million in 2019.   Any hard statistical data to back up your statement that only a 'few businesses' benefitted from that 500+ billion baht?  

[jacko45k]

4 minutes ago, newnative said:

     In 2019, Chinese tourists in Thailand spent over 500 billion baht.  One site pegged the figure at 543 billion baht, another said 532 billion.  With either figure, it was the most, by far, of any country.  Over 6 million of the nearly 11 million Chinese tourists were traveling independently, not in tour groups, budget or otherwise.  To compare, UK tourists were less than a million in 2019.   Any hard statistical data to back up your statement that only a 'few businesses' benefitted from that 500+ billion baht?  

So they spent on average about 46,000 baht each? It actually doesn't seem that much.

[StayinThailand2much]

32 minutes ago, newnative said:

     In 2019, Chinese tourists in Thailand spent over 500 billion baht.  One site pegged the figure at 543 billion baht, another said 532 billion.  With either figure, it was the most, by far, of any country.  Over 6 million of the nearly 11 million Chinese tourists were traveling independently, not in tour groups, budget or otherwise.  To compare, UK tourists were less than a million in 2019.   Any hard statistical data to back up your statement that only a 'few businesses' benefitted from that 500+ billion baht?  

How reliable are such numbers? They probably are derived from interviewers asking travellers 'how much they spent during their stay', with the latter inflating such expenditure figures. (I know, cause I went through such an interview by Tourism Malaysia years ago.) - I guess, it's a bit like a bloke being asked 'how big is your member'. He will (most of the time) say that it is bigger than it actually is.

 

In the past I've seen plenty of Chinese tour groups around the world, in Europe, Down Under, Hong Kong, and Thailand. And they always seem to spend money at the same hotels, restaurants and tour companies. 

Edited January 4, 2023 by StayinThailand2much

[Mavideol]

many countries are preparing to impose restrictions before their arrival but Thailand doesn't appear concerned and so far no restrictions..... the old saying "" be careful with what you wish for""

Edited January 4, 2023 by Mavideol

[newnative]

26 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

So they spent on average about 46,000 baht each? It actually doesn't seem that much.

   Yes, it's less per person than other groups.  For example, European tourists spent, if I remember correctly, around 68,000 baht per tourist.  Tourists from the Middle East spent the most with around 72,000 baht.  So, why does Thailand want Chinese tourists if they don't spend as much?  Well, if you're Thailand, heavily dependent on tourists, would you want:

    10.9 million Chinese tourists spending 532 billion baht, or:

    857,000 Germans spending 59 billion

    100,000 from the Middle East spending 7.2 billion

532 billion baht might not 'seem that much' to you but it sure beats 59 billion, or 7.2 billion.

[newnative]

43 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

How reliable are such numbers? They probably are derived from interviewers asking travellers 'how much they spent during their stay', with the latter inflating such expenditure figures. (I know, cause I went through such an interview by Tourism Malaysia years ago.) - I guess, it's a bit like a bloke being asked 'how big is your member'. He will (most of the time) say that it is bigger than it actually is.

 

In the past I've seen plenty of Chinese tour groups around the world, in Europe, Down Under, Hong Kong, and Thailand. And they always seem to spend money at the same hotels, restaurants and tour companies. 

     The higher figure was from the Statista website, the lower figure was posted by another member and I can't remember the website, feel free to search it out.  In any case, if you feel the numbers are inaccurate, please post your hard statistical data backing up your claim, not nonsense about tool sizes.   Seeing 'Chinese tour groups around the world', while perhaps interesting, isn't relevant and doesn't back up your claim in any way.  And, remember, the majority of Chinese tourists to Thailand in 2019 were not in tour groups.  Again, provide some hard data, not personal observations.

     With 6 million Chinese tourists traveling around Thailand independently in 2019, it seems physically impossible that they could have all stayed at the 'same hotels, restaurants and tour companies.'    Did the 6 million all get together and say 'let's all stay at this Chinese-owned hotel and eat at this Chinese-owned restaurant'?   Again, it seems ludicrous that 6 million independent tourists, not to mention the other 4 million in tour groups, would benefit just a 'few businesses', as you claim.

[John Drake]

2 hours ago, jak2002003 said:

They will choose Chinese over everything else some reason. 

Quote

The powerful Chinese–Thai businesses that control much of the Thai economy, such as the Charoen Pokphand Group, are close to China. The CEO of Charoen Pokphand Group Dhanin Chearavanont goes by the name Xie Guomin in China and is president of the China Federation of Overseas Chinese Businessmen — a United Front Work Group affiliate.  https://aseannow.com/topic/1281532-chinese-illicit-influence-scandals-in-thailand/#comment-17804765

 

From an earlier article posted to Aseannow

 

[anchadian]

Thai Dep-PM and @thaimoph

 

Anutin Charnvirakul insists tourists from “all nations will be treated equally” when they arrive in #Thailand as China is set to relax its #COVID19 restrictions on Sunday, effective allowing individual outbound tourism. (Cont.)

 

Mr. Anutin also says that authorities will be monitoring wastewater from arriving airplanes for possible #COVID19 mutations and require travelers to be vaccinated at least twice and have health insurance as he expects Chinese tourists to arrive gradually over the year.

 

https://twitter.com/SaksithCNA/status/1610530685684682752

 

[John Drake]

2 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

They love the Chinese. If they come, no more emphasis on Indian visitors.

According to The Thaiger, Indian tour groups are cancelling "in their droves."

[Screaming]

3 hours ago, bang saen guy said:

Many Indians are cancelling due to testing upon return to India because of Thais allowing Chinese in without testing. May have to choose between the Indians and Chinese

That might be a very, very difficult choice as both the Indians and Chinese are "Quality Tourists."