In the wake of China’s announcement to allow tour groups to visit Japan and several other nations for the first time since 2020, Thailand’s tourism industry braces itself for a sharp fall in Chinese tourists. This results from ongoing visa application challenges, in spite of the government’s efforts to simplify the process.

 

This recent development comes as part of China’s move to lift previously imposed travel restrictions on tour groups. Aside from Japan, other countries including the US, South Korea, and Australia can accept Chinese tour groups. In addition, China has expressed the desire for Japan to consider a visa waiver for Chinese citizens.

 

The honorary secretary-general of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (Atta), Adith Chairattananon, expressed the potential lure of simplifying the visa application process could be for drawing tourists at a time when competitors are welcoming tour groups.

 

Despite the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s attempts to streamline the necessary paperwork for Chinese tourist visas and shorten the approval procedure to seven days, a comprehensive strategy to rejuvenate these market shifts remains nebulous.

 

by Alex Morgan

Picture courtesy of Prachachat

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/business/thailands-tourism-sector-anticipates-fall-as-china-lifts-tour-group-restrictions

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-08-12

 

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Japan is one of the most expensive countries in the world I bet they will keep coming to Thailand. 

LOL. So, they admit that there are other destinations that might be as, or even more attractive than Thailand...

3 hours ago, webfact said:

This results from ongoing visa application challenges, in spite of the government’s efforts to simplify the process.

This gvernment doesn't do simple processes.

Who in the whole world can be so stupid that they rather travel to China than Thailand. Talk about out of the ashes and into the fire.

Thailand better get the ball rolling and keep ahead of the rest if they want the Chinese to come in greater numbers. China is in a deflation environment with mass youth unemployment and declining exports. People are not spending in China now. Internal consumption is incredibly low.

Edited August 12, 20232 yr by Gknrd

Top tier Chinese tourists don't want to come to Thailand. They yearn to travel to Europe, USA, etc