Chinese tourism to Thailand lags despite lifted travel restrictions

[webfact]

 

The number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand continues to fall behind predictions, despite China lifting travel restrictions over eight months ago.

 

By September 10, a total of 2.28 million Chinese arrivals had been recorded for the year, with estimates for the end of the year standing between 4 and 4.4 million.

 

This falls short of the initial target of 5 million set earlier in the year, signifying a decline in Chinese tourism.

 

The decline in Chinese tourism to Thailand, which fell by 99% in 2021 from roughly 10 million in 2019 due to China’s borders being sealed, is believed to be due to several factors. Safety concerns, the sluggish Chinese economy, and domestic tourism promotions from the Chinese government have all played a part.

 

Notably, safety concerns have been highlighted as a key issue by both tour operators and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), with the Thai cabinet recently approving a visa exemption for Chinese nationals for five months in an attempt to boost tourism numbers. However, tourism analysts still predict a hesitant Chinese tourism market.

 

by Alex Morgan

Top Photo: Apichart Jinakul/Bangkok Post

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-09-20

 

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[ChipButty]

Are they just tour groups? not many independent travelers at the moment, according to Booking.com Russians are still number one, China is not in the top 5, 

[2baht]

25 minutes ago, webfact said:

This falls short of the initial target of 5 million set earlier in the year, signifying a decline in Chinese tourism.

Could it be that they.............................................! ????

[Callmeishmael]

I think the problem is at the China end.  No matter how easy and attractive a trip to Thailand is, if the Chinese government puts up barriers to international travel because they want to keep the tourist money in their own country, the numbers will not go up.

 

[DonniePeverley]

Do we really need a week by week commentary on how many chinese tourists have come ? For crying out loud. 

 

How about they route at corrupt practises (taxis, etc) and make it a better enviroment for European / Australian / American families to enjoy? But nah .... CHINA. 

 

Being in China, they view Thailand as a budget destination. The real love for well up Chinese is to go to Europe for a holiday. 

 

By sheer numbers they will get millions of Chinese tourists. However, this in turn turns off well spending foreign visitors from other countries. 

[ignore it]

Yep,

TAT's just going to have to give them free flights.

 

Khazak's are going to need food vouchers in addition to free flights. 

[BoganInParasite]

The Chinese economy is showing every sign of imploding. Yes it has been predicted a few times recently and it seems to struggle along, but there are now clear signs the central government is losing control of the situation and doesn't know how to respond. (Apart from no longer reporting certain statistics such as youth unemployment and the bond market it finds embarrassingly negative.) I just don't see the Chinese middle class from having the appetite let alone the money for international travel.

[fallup88]

It’s the same for all other countries, Chinese tourist numbers are down everywhere. Chinas economy is in the gutters, and China still controls the number of group tours going overseas.

 

I was told n Korea this past summer, it was so empty at many tourist sites which was a nice change for once compare to the crowded tour groups in the past.

[RichardColeman]

15 minutes ago, BoganInParasite said:

I just don't see the Chinese middle class from having the appetite let alone the money for international travel.

Think their money is all tied up in their missing un-built house

[Deli]

I don't miss them at all. Peace at 7/11.

[soalbundy]

9 minutes ago, BoganInParasite said:

The Chinese economy is showing every sign of imploding. Yes it has been predicted a few times recently and it seems to struggle along, but there are now clear signs the central government is losing control of the situation and doesn't know how to respond. (Apart from no longer reporting certain statistics such as youth unemployment and the bond market it finds embarrassingly negative.) I just don't see the Chinese middle class from having the appetite let alone the money for international travel.

This will eventually affect America negatively according to many financial analysts on Youtube and could push the US into a recession. Europe is already tightrope walking with a recession so I don't see where all these tourists will be coming from. A worldwide financial turn down, inflation, broken trade links, and political tension is going to affect Thailand just as much, if not more, than the major economies.

[Gold Star]

The problem is likely not Thailand, but in China, and not likely to change.

Unfortunately, Thailand has put all their eggs in the Chinese basket.

Here's a good take on what is going on over there by Peter Zeihan:  

 

[Bepah umayun]

how annoying really! 

[Bangkok Barry]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Notably, safety concerns have been highlighted as a key issue by both tour operators and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT),

So there's more to it than the Chinese feeling a financial pinch. Those closely involved with tourism here say there's another key issue.

[moe666]

I guess they missed the fact that the Chinese economy isn't so hot with a huge youth unemployeement record, realiststate collaspe and many more things that might keep tourist away. Go back to the Americans and Europeans.

[Skeptic7]

Couldn't tell it in Suk/Asok area of BKK. Just spent 5 days there and thought the national lingo had been changed to Chinese❗???? 

[BarraMarra]

How many times were they warned not to ignore Western tourists?

[ThaiFelix]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Notably, safety concerns have been highlighted as a key issue

Yeah funny, it only takes a half a dozen or so being kidnapped for ransom during a holiday to put the fussy buggers all off.  

[Zack61]

Hallelujah!!!

[klauskunkel]

India to the rescue! 

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Are they just tour groups? not many independent travelers at the moment, according to Booking.com Russians are still number one, China is not in the top 5, 

Thailand has had the best years out of China, they came, they saw, they went home... no need to return.

Only the scammers operating outside of China see Thailand as a soft target.

TAT are oblivious to the plight of many in China, due to recession, out of work, up to their necks in debt or floods or many other reasons.

The boom years are over.

 

[cowellandrew]

Oh no the Chinese aren't coming!

☻☻☻☻☻

[Pinot]

I hope the Chinese invasion is over. Now, if we could just ship all the Ruskies home...

[John Drake]

Everybody do your part! Get a Weibo account and upload videos of Chinese being kidnapped.

[DonniePeverley]

2 hours ago, ignore it said:

Yep,

TAT's just going to have to give them free flights.

 

Khazak's are going to need food vouchers in addition to free flights. 

 

Surely the next step after giving the Chinese free flights, would be to pay them to come. 

 

The SHEER effort they put into attracting Chinese tourists is astonishing, compared to how little or nothing they do to attract Europeans, Americans, etc 

[impulse]

October will tell the story.  National Holiday along with Moon Cake Festival means extended time off for a lot of Chinese.

 

Taking stats to date is like looking at Christmas shopping numbers, before Thanksgiving.

[Lingba]

so who will they target next?...

[PETERTHEEATER]

2 hours ago, ignore it said:

Khazak's are going to need food vouchers in addition to free flights. 

And horse boxes.

[Khun Loong]

Still too many.

[Chongalulu]

7 minutes ago, Lingba said:

so who will they target next?...

The "mad monkey ” ????