PHOTO: Chinese travellers in Thailand are mostly FIT now

 

According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand governor, Yuthasak Supasorn, airfares for flights connecting China and Thailand have remained high despite a decrease in average airfares from last year.

 

For March and April, the prices to and from every Chinese city are still higher than pre-pandemic levels. The fares for key cities in China, such as Shanghai, Chengdu and Guangzhou, have increased 1.5 times, ranging from 14,000 to 24,500 baht. Meanwhile, ticket prices for secondary cities have surged 200% due to the reopening of direct flights only this year.

 

Despite the high travel costs, Chinese travelers are still visiting Thailand, with the number of seats from eastern China totaling 17,308 per week in February. Shanghai, in particular, secured the largest capacity of 10,000 seats with more than ten airlines operating flights to Phuket, Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

 

Moreover, Chinese travellers’ spending habits have shifted, with per-person spending increasing as a result of expensive travel costs, prompting them to consider longer stays of 5-10 days. They now prefer travelling with a small group of family or friends and seeking new experiences as FIT (free and independent travellers) rather than travelling with a tour group.

 

The average spending per trip, according to Dragon Trail research, has increased to 60,000-150,000 baht from the pre-pandemic average of 50,000 baht.

 

The TAT believes that Chinese travel preferences will continue to shift towards individual trips or bespoke tours put together by travel agents. These individuals and small family tour groups are expected to dominate Chinese travellers’ travel patterns in Thailand this year.

 

Source: https://phuket-go.com/phuket-news/phuket-travel/chinese-flights-to-thailand-remain-high-swing-to-more-independent-travellers/

 

-- © Copyright Phuket GO 2023-03-02

 

- 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.

 

The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

12 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

The average spending per trip, according to Dragon Trail research, has increased to 60,000-150,000 baht from the pre-pandemic average of 50,000 baht.

Rabbit out of a hat figures. They magically appear.

Many will be suggesting there's a Yellow Peril and associated mentality at work. 

Beware. 

But China said it would send the tour groups, what happened?

 

What some dare call tourism, others call cashing in and getting the yuan out.

 

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Moreover, Chinese travellers’ spending habits have shifted, with per-person spending increasing as a result of expensive travel costs, prompting them to consider longer stays of 5-10 days. They now prefer travelling with a small group of family or friends and seeking new experiences as FIT (free and independent travellers) rather than travelling with a tour group.

What's happening is the more affluent Chinese person is still travelling and spending as they did before.

However the lower end tour groups are not returning en-mass as expected, due to the higher travel costs.

Chinese to a large extent, have quietly take Thailand over, in commerce, real estate investments, tourism related businesses and probably in politics too in not too small numbers, and all under the radar.

13 hours ago, ukrules said:

But China said it would send the tour groups, what happened?

 

Here on Phuket the Russians have all but disappeared back 'ome but my cleaner is now complaining about Chinese tour busses, so who knows? Either way, they'll all be gone by end of the month. Lousy weather and insanely high prices will see to that.

On 3/2/2023 at 4:31 AM, snoop1130 said:

Despite the high travel costs, Chinese travelers are still visiting Thailand, with the number of seats from eastern China totaling 17,308 per week in February. Shanghai, in particular, secured the largest capacity of 10,000 seats with more than ten airlines operating flights to Phuket, Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

It's like a second home.

Got blasted the last time I posted Air Pollution in Perth: Real-time Air Quality Index Visual Map (aqicn.org)

"Chinese flights to Thailand remain high,"

 

A good idea I would say. Low "terrain following " flying is one thing for military aircraft, great fun for Biggles up the front, and entertaining making the troops in the back sick; but not really the thing for civil airliners. Helps with seeing them on Radar as well don't you know!

 

 

 

Edited March 5, 20233 yr by herfiehandbag

On 3/2/2023 at 8:31 PM, snoop1130 said:

The fares for key cities in China, such as Shanghai, Chengdu and Guangzhou, have increased 1.5 times, ranging from 14,000 to 24,500 baht. Meanwhile, ticket prices for secondary cities have surged 200% due to the reopening of direct flights only this year.

This is a world-wide development, but one would think that ticket prices from major Chinese cities are still more affordable than those from North America or Europe.

On 3/2/2023 at 8:44 PM, Pouatchee said:

Rabbit out of a hat figures. They magically appear.

If TAT officials interviewed me at the airport about my spending habits, I'd tell them '1.5 million'... - When Tourism Malaysia staff interviewed me years ago, I made up the numbers too. (Partly because I was embarrassed having stayed only two days, and partly because I couldn't recall all the numbers.)

Edited March 5, 20233 yr by StayinThailand2much

On 3/2/2023 at 3:40 PM, ezzra said:

Chinese to a large extent, have quietly take Thailand over, in commerce, real estate investments, tourism related businesses and probably in politics too in not too small numbers, and all under the radar.

Been the standard for a couple of centuries to date. 

Not a contemporary phenomena. 

Simple observations and historic comprehension might fly right by some. 

Chinese and India are the only ones that can breath the air this time of the year... Personally I and anyone with any brain matter or lung vacates Thailand. It's a s&&it hole behind belief.

Edited March 5, 20233 yr by Gknrd