Thailand expects a big jump in tourists from China

[webfact]

Ti Gong

Thai performers

 

by Hu Min

 

Thailand has revised its forecast upward for the number of inbound Chinese tourists in 2023, following a strong recovery in China's tourism market.

 

Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of Thailand's Tourism Authority, said the figure has been raised by 2 million from the previous estimate of between 5 and 6 million. Thailand is now expecting between 7 and 8 million Chinese visitors.

 

He made the remarks in Shanghai on Monday at the "Amazing Thailand, Amazing New Chapters Roadshow to China 2023."

As of February 2, Thailand had received 99,429 Chinese visitors this year, compared with 286,511 for the entire period last year.

 

Supasorn said that the Thai government has devised policies such as high-quality service standards and public health measures to boost travelers' confidence.

 

"There were more visitors than we had expected," said Nonglux Yooyendee, director of Thailand's Shanghai Office of Tourism Authority. "More and more are on the way."

 

"After three years, everyone in Thailand misses Chinese people," she told Shanghai Daily.

 

Full story: https://www.shine.cn/news/metro/2302216437/

 

-- 2023-02-22

[ThailandRyan]

Upward re-forecast yet another OP says unexpected low arrivals so far.

[actonion]

They never give up,  giving more false hope to the natives

[StayinThailand2much]

8 minutes ago, actonion said:

They never give up,  giving more false hope to the natives

If the natives suffer due to failed economic policies, there are usually two ways of giving hope: cash streams (preferably from abroad), or war...

Edited February 22, 2023 by StayinThailand2much

[nigelforbes]

Just now, StayinThailand2much said:

If the natives suffer due to failed economic policies, there are usually two ways of giving hope: cash streams (preferably from abroad) or war...

Ummm, what failed economic policies might those be?

[StayinThailand2much]

17 minutes ago, nigelforbes said:

Ummm, what failed economic policies might those be?

Reliance on exports (esp. agricultural products) and international tourism. Overvaluation of currency (due to excessive foreign currency/ gold reserves), affecting exports and tourism. Lack of (qualified) labour (e.g. tourism industry), and underinvestment in infrastructure and education. Uncontrolled price increases and price manipulation. Overindebtedness of households, and lower living standards. Still widening economic inequality between a handful of families and 'the rest'. Corruption as a permanent drag on economy and society...

Edited February 22, 2023 by StayinThailand2much

[JoePai]

The number of Chinese tour groups travelling to Thailand remains unexpectedly low

 

So who is telling porkies ?

[ikke1959]

Another article quotes that the real tours of Chinese don't meet the expectations... so the only way is up with the new tourists and down with the expectations...   

[ChipButty]

We have had a couple of inquiries recently from previous Chinese guest hopefully pick up in the low season, 

[nigelforbes]

1 minute ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Reliance on exports (esp. agricultural products) and tourism. Overvaluation of currency (due to excessive foreign currency/gold reserves) affecting exports and tourism. Lack of (qualified) labour, e.g. tourism industry, and underinvestment in infrastructure and education. Uncontrolled price increases and manipulation. Overindebtedness of people and lower living standards...

I agree that there is an over reliance on exports which are approaching 70% of GDP, it's very dangerous, I think. (Note: International Tourism is an export).

 

There is no reliance on agricultural exports, they are way down the list. 

 

International Tourism is only 12% of GDP.

 

"The country mainly exports manufactured goods (86 percent of total shipments) with electronics (14 percent, vehicles (13 percent), machinery and equipment (7.5 percent) and foodstuffs (7.5 percent) being the most important. Agricultural goods, mainly rice and rubber, account for 8 percent of total shipments".

 

https://tradingeconomics.com/thailand/exports#:~:text=The country mainly exports manufactured,8 percent of total shipments.

 

The Baht is valued according to the value of USD, BOT cannot influence that value to any great extent. Fair value is in a range of 31 to 34, currently it's 34.xx.

 

Consumer Lending is Debt is major issue, I agree.

 

 

 

 

[nigelforbes]

11 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Reliance on exports (esp. agricultural products) and international tourism. Overvaluation of currency (due to excessive foreign currency/ gold reserves), affecting exports and tourism. Lack of (qualified) labour (e.g. tourism industry), and underinvestment in infrastructure and education. Uncontrolled price increases and price manipulation. Overindebtedness of households, and lower living standards. Still widening economic inequality between a handful of families and 'the rest'. Corruption as a permanent drag on economy and society...

A better way perhaps to display the agricultural side of GDP:

 

https://www.statista.com/statistics/331893/share-of-economic-sectors-in-the-gdp-in-thailand/#:~:text=This statistic shows the share,sector contributed about 56.69 percent.

[StayinThailand2much]

1 minute ago, nigelforbes said:

A better way perhaps to display the agricultural side of GDP:

 

https://www.statista.com/statistics/331893/share-of-economic-sectors-in-the-gdp-in-thailand/#:~:text=This statistic shows the share,sector contributed about 56.69 percent.

Yet, in political decisions and news, a lot of emphasis is placed on rice exports and exports of other agricultural products (e.g. to China).

[nigelforbes]

4 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Yet, in political decisions and news, a lot of emphasis is placed on rice exports and exports of other agricultural products (e.g. to China).

I imagine that's because rice is the product that the vast majority of the poorer rural population is interested in and can relate to, as opposed to electronics and petroleum products, hence it's a media and readership interest consideration, but not a major GDP factor.

[sammieuk1]

How nice we can look forward to all the isles being blocked in Makro again ????

[userabcd]

Welcome all, a good boost for the Thai tourism and condo building sales.

[gearbox]

13 minutes ago, userabcd said:

Welcome all, a good boost for the Thai tourism and condo building sales.

The reopening of China coupled with growth of the Indian and the Middle East markets could beat Thailand's pre-covid tourist numbers as soon as the next year.

[Geoffggi]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

"After three years, everyone in Thailand misses Chinese people," she told Shanghai Daily.

Errrm not quite everyone .......................LOL

[TravelWhileAble]

Reportedly, approximately 25.8 million tourists visited the capital city of Thailand; 11 million came from China and 4.2 million from Malaysia. Though these figures are way far from their average number of visitors in 2019 with 39.9 million tourists. When the travel restriction has been lifted, Thailand was able to recover quickly. Hence, ranking the 8th most popular tourist destination in the world.

 

Reference: https://gowithguide.com/blog/thailand-tourism-statistics-2023-all-you-need-to-know-5250

 

 

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand has revised its forecast upward for the number of inbound Chinese tourists in 2023, following a strong recovery in China's tourism market.

So no surprises there then.

China allows freedom, Chinese use it to go abroad.

[vandeventer]

3 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

Errrm not quite everyone .......................LOL

I wonder what the Chinese are running away from this time? First Covid-19 now???

[John Drake]

There will be another upwards revision next week, when it will be announced that one billion Chinese are now expected to visit Thailand and hand out 1000 baht notes on every street corner.

[Gknrd]

If they can breath the air this time of the year they are welcome to it. 

[watchcat]

1 hour ago, vandeventer said:

I wonder what the Chinese are running away from this time? First Covid-19 now???

Xi ?

[ignore it]

Yeah, we are all missing you. 

[vandeventer]

2 hours ago, John Drake said:

There will be another upwards revision next week, when it will be announced that one billion Chinese are now expected to visit Thailand and hand out 1000 baht notes on every street corner.

Of course they will be fake notes, like the fake eggs. prawns. rice and other things we haven't discovered yet.

[madmitch]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Supasorn said that the Thai government has devised policies such as high-quality service standards and public health measures to boost travelers' confidence.

 

Looking forward to seeing how these things have improved. 

[Tropposurfer]

Ahh ... the future looks so rosy ???????????????????? Yes yes they're coming with much 'quan' to share. We will all be blissfully happy, rich, and content.

Meanwhile the 1% will rob the country blind.

[Mavideol]

the daily contradictory "expectations" post from TAT are back to their standards.... yesterday they were worried today excited, wonder what will be tomorrow   555

 

Thailand expects a big jump in tourists from China