Flights from China to Thailand almost full amid visa waivers, Thai Airways says

[webfact]

 

The airline says it’s seen ‘significant growth in terms of Chinese traffic’ since visa rules for visitors from China were temporarily relaxed

Tourism-dependent Thailand is banking on Chinese visitors to lead a spending recovery as it tweaks policies and adds new airport infrastructure

 

Flights from China to Thailand have been more than 90 per cent full, Thai Airways International Pcl says, after Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy temporarily relaxed visa rules for visitors.

“We have seen significant growth in terms of Chinese traffic into Thailand,” the carrier’s Chief Commercial Officer Korakot Chatasingha said in an interview on Monday.

 

Thailand is banking on Chinese visitors to lead a spending recovery as policy tweaks and new airport infrastructure bolster the tourism-dependent nation. Bangkok’s busiest airport just last week opened a new terminal.

 

Thailand rolls out red carpet for Chinese tourists on visa-free scheme

 

Thai Airways, which is going through a debt restructuring after Covid, said last month it plans to increase its flights to five Chinese cities to 56 a week, up from 49, starting from December 1.

 

Chinese tourists from September 25 to February 29 can enjoy visa-free entry to Thailand as the popular holiday destination seeks to boost flagging tourist numbers from Asia’s biggest economy. Eight months into 2023, arrivals from China are only about 50 per cent of pre-pandemic volumes, Korakot said.

 

While Korakot said he remains confident in the long-term recovery of Thailand’s largest source of foreign tourists, the airline is weighing whether to further increase China flights to pre-Covid levels,

 

by Bloomberg

 

TOP picture: A Thai Airways Boeing 777-300ER takes off from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. The airline says it plans to increase its flights to five Chinese cities to 56, up from 49 a week, starting on December 1. Photo: Reuters

 

Full story: SCMP 2023-10-03

 

- 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.

 

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[likerdup1]

Thailand is getting to be less and less attractive as a retirement destination than ever before. Sigh.... I don't like to stereotype people or sound prejudice but I find most Chinese and Russians ill mannered, loud and unsympathetic to Thal culture. Thai's will put up with this for the cash... But me? I'm looking at alternate destinations.. South America is a contender.

[SmartyMarty]

25 minutes ago, likerdup1 said:

Thailand is getting to be less and less attractive as a retirement destination than ever before. Sigh.... I don't like to stereotype people or sound prejudice but I find most Chinese and Russians ill mannered, loud and unsympathetic to Thal culture. Thai's will put up with this for the cash... But me? I'm looking at alternate destinations.. South America is a contender.

Colombia has a very similar climate to Chiang Mai and cost of living is also close to Thailand. Good infrastructure in the major cities but outside of these it rapidly deteriorates.

[BenStark]

45 minutes ago, likerdup1 said:

I'm looking at alternate destinations.. South America is a contender.

Yeah sure, South America is the place to be.

 

I've been in Costa Rica, considered the safes country in S America, and when we arrived at the guest house in San Jose, which we had booked online, it had a heavy steel entrance gate.

The reception told us, you take key of the entrance door with you. If you forget the key, after 10pm you can ring the bell as much as you want, but nobody will open.

 

Every second street block there would be a security guard all night with a big long wooden stick.

 

McD had armed guards with bulletproof vest, in the middle of the day.

 

I only can imagine how the rest of S America is

 

 

[likerdup1]

1 hour ago, SmartyMarty said:

Colombia has a very similar climate to Chiang Mai and cost of living is also close to Thailand. Good infrastructure in the major cities but outside of these it rapidly deteriorates.

Big place and many climates. Bogota is actually quite cold during it's winter. Where in Colombia have you lived? What's been your experience there?

[likerdup1]

42 minutes ago, BenStark said:

Yeah sure, South America is the place to be.

 

I've been in Costa Rica, considered the safes country in S America, and when we arrived at the guest house in San Jose, which we had booked online, it had a heavy steel entrance gate.

The reception told us, you take key of the entrance door with you. If you forget the key, after 10pm you can ring the bell as much as you want, but nobody will open.

 

Every second street block there would be a security guard all night with a big long wooden stick.

 

McD had armed guards with bulletproof vest, in the middle of the day.

 

I only can imagine how the rest of S America is

 

 

Sounds like the Philippines. Armed guards at all banks. First time I ever visited a place where guards with shot guns stood out front of each bank.

[BenStark]

2 minutes ago, likerdup1 said:

Sounds like the Philippines. Armed guards at all banks. First time I ever visited a place where guards with shot guns stood out front of each bank.

They not only stood at banks, but at about every multinational business, including Mc Donald's and H&M

[NorthernRyland]

 

4 hours ago, likerdup1 said:

Thailand is getting to be less and less attractive as a retirement destination than ever before. Sigh.... I don't like to stereotype people or sound prejudice but I find most Chinese and Russians ill mannered, loud and unsympathetic to Thal culture. Thai's will put up with this for the cash... But me? I'm looking at alternate destinations.. South America is a contender.

There are specific destinations which are on their radar so once you know where those are it's pretty easy to avoid them, which you should, like the plague!

[Bim Smith]

They are only talking Chinese tourists and some on here want to up sticks. The solution is don't live in a tourist area. I have never seen a Russian or Chinese. Thailand has plenty to offer other than Gogo bars and prostitution 

[arick]

Yes they're almost full because only one third of the flights from China are flying cuz no Chinese airlines are flying yet of course they're full

[LALes]

Food in South America blows.  Chile has good, cheap, Haas avocados in abundance.  They even put them in hot dogs.  Place is a dead ringer for California.  Vina Del Mar looks like Santa Monica and Valparaiso looks like San Francisco.  No real falang community, however.

[stix40]

I'll stick with Thailand thanks, been to Guatemala, Honduras fecking dangerous! 

 

Hooray more Chinese ????

[adrin]

4 hours ago, likerdup1 said:

Thailand is getting to be less and less attractive as a retirement destination than ever before. Sigh.... I don't like to stereotype people or sound prejudice but I find most Chinese and Russians ill mannered, loud and unsympathetic to Thal culture. Thai's will put up with this for the cash... But me? I'm looking at alternate destinations.. South America is a contender.

same as the illmannered american, australian and european boomers in th

[Taboo2]

Oh well, problem solved, the economy is going to rebound and life is great again.  China to the rescue!

[blazes]

5 minutes ago, LALes said:

Food in South America blows.  Chile has good, cheap, Haas avocados in abundance.  They even put them in hot dogs.  Place is a dead ringer for California.  Vina Del Mar looks like Santa Monica and Valparaiso looks like San Francisco.  No real falang community, however.

You mean Valparaiso has loads of homeless (sorry, "unhoused") on the streets defecating, urinating and shooting up,  and daylight robbery is....er....daylight robbery?

[Dogmatix]

3 hours ago, BenStark said:

Yeah sure, South America is the place to be.

 

I've been in Costa Rica, considered the safes country in S America, and when we arrived at the guest house in San Jose, which we had booked online, it had a heavy steel entrance gate.

The reception told us, you take key of the entrance door with you. If you forget the key, after 10pm you can ring the bell as much as you want, but nobody will open.

 

Every second street block there would be a security guard all night with a big long wooden stick.

 

McD had armed guards with bulletproof vest, in the middle of the day.

 

I only can imagine how the rest of S America is

Costa Rica and Panama have a similar security feel to them -relatively safe - but Guatamala, Honduras, El Salvador and Belize in Central America felt much more dangerous to me. I didn't go to Nicaragua.  Mexico looks safe but isn't. So does Brazil.  Colombia I was hassled on the streets a lot.  Cuba is quite safe but no retirement options I don't think. 

[Dogmatix]

The availability of flights is a serious limitation to this policy of being so reliant on low end Chinese tourism for economic growth while booting out the long stay well heeled expats and regular retirees with unfriendly tax policies. By the time there is sufficient flight capacity the visa waiver will be over.  It's only for 5 months.

[goldenbrwn1]

9 minutes ago, adrin said:

same as the illmannered american, australian and european boomers in th

Boomers?? Lol…Do you have any idea how old a boomer is or even what it is? Typical label politics for the us v them mentality. If you love labels that much, I would hazard a guess you would be looking for my generation , Gen X and prob a drunk one at that. 

[spidermike007]

This is one airline, and we don't even know if they are being honest about this. Tourism and Chinese arrivals are way down. They need some good PR. Say anything. Don't admit the truth. 

[TheFishman1]

I lived inBelize for about three years. I’ve never saw any crime whatsoever. It just depends on where you live there. I would not live in Belize city because there’s a lot of crime there, but all the old islands in the center of the country is north of the country very safe very relaxed atmosphere people are amazingly

[lapamita]

3 hours ago, likerdup1 said:

Sounds like the Philippines. Armed guards at all banks. First time I ever visited a place where guards with shot guns stood out front of each bank.

philippines are a safe place , very safe place compare to most SA countrys.

the SA countrys was very bad 20-30 years ago , and today most are more worse

Columbia as an exception , 20 year ago it was  the most unsafe and for normal touris not travelable , today its just unsafe as  the rest , but thats a milestone improvment

 

i speak perfectly spanish , but there was never the idee to settle there.  you must be very poor , or very rich in this countrys ( protected by guards or so poor that they cant take anything) , the middle is in the worst situation

[Khun Loong]

Sad news.

[Khun Loong]

4 hours ago, likerdup1 said:

Thailand is getting to be less and less attractive as a retirement destination than ever before. Sigh.... I don't like to stereotype people or sound prejudice but I find most Chinese and Russians ill mannered, loud and unsympathetic to Thal culture. Thai's will put up with this for the cash... But me? I'm looking at alternate destinations.. South America is a contender.

Spot on.

[ThaiFelix]

3 hours ago, BenStark said:

They not only stood at banks, but at about every multinational business, including Mc Donald's and H&M

Same years ago in Hong Kong but inside the bank with shotguns.  The message loud and clear was "one false move and everybody gets it, guilty or not!"

[AhFarangJa]

4 hours ago, BenStark said:

McD had armed guards with bulletproof vest, in the middle of the day.

Was that to keep the customers in, and eating.....................sorry, one of those days.....

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

“We have seen significant growth in terms of Chinese traffic into Thailand,” the carrier’s Chief Commercial Officer Korakot Chatasingha said in an interview on Monday.

All billionaires wanting to go straight to the nearest mall and spend everything.

[koolkarl]

Covid cases, with new variants, will likely be soaring.  And many can't wait to get to the front doors of Central Festival...

[PETERTHEEATER]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

This is one airline, and we don't even know if they are being honest about this. Tourism and Chinese arrivals are way down. They need some good PR. Say anything. Don't admit the truth. 

(.....sounds of Thai shrimps breathing sighs of relief.....)

[Toby1947]

What happened to the new visa regulations talked about by this new PM for real money spending tourist. 

[Gknrd]

6 hours ago, likerdup1 said:

Thailand is getting to be less and less attractive as a retirement destination than ever before. Sigh.... I don't like to stereotype people or sound prejudice but I find most Chinese and Russians ill mannered, loud and unsympathetic to Thal culture. Thai's will put up with this for the cash... But me? I'm looking at alternate destinations.. South America is a contender.

  I'm in Colombia now (Cali). Prices are about as cheap as Thailand.  I am in an apartment here that there is no way I could get in Thailand for the price. 500/mo. Modern upscale apartment with full kitchen, living room, Bathroom and bedroom.  Of course with air.. Fully furnished with a modern washer in the apartment. Ohhh, and I have razor wire around the walls of my apartment and three keys to get into the open patio area.   

  The main difference for me is the women. They are in the same mind set as Thai and SE Asian women in general. But, at my age most are so fat and ugly. Like I am back home in the US. Actually it reminds me of the US years ago.. Easy but so homely for me. Basically the same gold diggers and rip offs as in Thailand. But, same as in Thailand, some very very nice and sweet gals.

   China is trying to push its way in, but without much success. I see a lot Indian (India) motorcycles here.

 Really the only thing I see from China here are some cars that are trying to break into the market.

  Personally I have seen no foreigners here at all. Including Westerners.  If the Chinese were to live here I don't think they would like It. And they would be targets. Like painting a target on your back saying rob me. The culture shock would be to much for them IMO.

   I just left a small town called Minca. Was there for a month. And just like in Thailand very safe ,  the Europeans and Westerners were overrunning the place. Hundreds daily pouring in. Mostly  young backpackers. I was there for a month carrying a 6 thousand dollar camera and lens, no problems. Here in Cali I would not be long for the world if I did that.

  Was in Cartagena for a month, reminded me of Pattaya as far as tourist rip offs go. Not safe!. And, verrrry expensive.

 As far as beauty goes, there is really no comparison. Thailand is so dirty and filthy it is disgusting in so many ways. Hear the natural beauty , if into that?  Is over the top. 

  Another stomping ground of mine is Mexico. I prefer it to Colombia. Strictly for the size and diversity. And it is right across the border from my home in the US. 

  I am heading to the Philippines next. All the years living in Thailand in the golden days. I never visited the Philippines. But, if I had to imagine living somewhere permanently, for me it would be Mexico.

 Personally I will never go back to Thailand because of the retirement changes. Can I afford it? Yes. 

But, when countries start tracking me, and have their hand in my pocket I don't like it, and will never go back. 

 

 

Edited October 3, 2023 by Gknrd