The month of September saw a massive drop off of tourism arrivals into Phuket, especially Chinese visitors. September, reliably the lowest month for tourism on the island, delivered a 242,780 visitors compared with 309,253 the month before.

 

Total Chinese visitation dropped from 64,674 to 37,343, comparing August to September.

 

But from September 25 Thailand has introduced a visa-waiver for Chinese (and Kazakh) visitors so a quick recovery of Chinese visitors is expected.

 

By Peter Roche

PHOTO: Sunset at Phromthep Cape in Phuket

 

Full story: PhuketGO 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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So the article says that September is reliably the lowest month for tourism on the island, but the headline states that tourist arrivals drop to 2023 low! 

In other news, the sun will be rising in the east tomorrow!

But from September 25 Thailand has introduced a visa-waiver for Chinese (and Kazakh) visitors so a quick recovery of Chinese visitors is expected.

 

Wow. A visa waiver will solve every problem the nation faces, with regard to tourism. Do not fix anything. Do not address any of the multitude of issues Thailand was facing long before covid. Do not take into account the economic woes in China, nor around the world, the taxi mafia issues, the road hazards, the corrupt cops, the government instability, nor the rising airfares.

 

After all, Thailand is the COTU (center to the known universe), so how can they resist us?

No wonder, even serious Swiss newspapers write about the "Russian takeover" of Phuket...

i just came back from Bali and its packed

Over 40,000 Russians land in Phuket in September 

Maybe the PM can have another publicity day at the airport handing out free flight tickets to the Chinese arrivals ?