Thai tourism bodies urge government to rebuild confidence with Chinese tourists

[webfact]

 

The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) and the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) called on the government to restore confidence in Chinese tourists via mainland tour agents, emphasising that this approach can guarantee tourist safety.

 

TCT president, Chamnan Srisawat, suggested that the government should exercise caution before deciding on a permanent exemption from visas for the Chinese market. The impact of the five-month exemption that concludes in February next year should be assessed first, he proposed.

 

Chamnan highlighted the potential benefits of the visa-free policy to the tourism industry if it was accompanied by additional efforts to motivate tour operators in China to produce tour packages for their clients.

The visa exemption, he argued, should be a motivator for tour operators to propose more tour programmes, a suitable option for Chinese tourists who are hesitant to visit Thailand due to rumours of crimes against tourists.

Chamnan considered the recent signing of a letter of intent between the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and eight Chinese companies as a positive move, as the online channels operated by these large corporations should gradually help to eliminate negative content about Thailand.

 

by Alex Morgan

Photo: Bangkok Post.

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-10-27

 

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[daveAustin]

Just send him out to shake hands and smile with every touristy; he enjoys doing stuff like that apparently. 

[ThaiFelix]

 

15 hours ago, webfact said:

guarantee tourist safety

What about introducing a police force?  Seems to work in other countries.

[ChipButty]

My experience with Chinese they are well aware of all the scams and double pricing in Thailand, we farang complain but it gets worse for Chinese, most of the ones I have met prefer to travel alone and stay away from the tour groups, 

[spidermike007]

1. We absolutely insist there is no kidnapping here, no such thing as slavery, human trafficking, or other moral transgressions. 

 

2. There are no call centers here, so you do not have to worry about being trafficked into one. 

 

3. Mass shootings are very rare here (which is actually true). It was kind of a tough break that one of your own was killed during that last one. We promise that won't happen again. 

 

4. We have some of the best police in the world, they are top forensic experts, very skill detectives, and some of the most brilliant minds in the law enforcement field anywhere, so you never have to worry about security in Thailand, and if something happens it will be resolved promptly. You have our word. Which means alot. Trust us. 

[chilli42]

Are they not understanding that it’s the economic conditions in China that are having the biggest impact on tourism spending?  Do they think that the Chinese public is focused on events in Thailand? I would be it would not even make the news

[hotchilli]

16 hours ago, webfact said:

The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) and the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) called on the government to restore confidence in Chinese tourists via mainland tour agents, emphasising that this approach can guarantee tourist safety.

Yeah okay.... nothing is guaranteed in Thailand.

Plus, it's not just the shock of deaths in Thailand, either through shootings, road accidents, drownings etc etc

it's also the threat of kidnapping and extortion.

And not forgetting China had huge domestic economic troubles back home which is affecting would-be tourism.

Thailand has lost it's appeal to the Chinese market

[Spock]

3 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Yeah okay.... nothing is guaranteed in Thailand.

Plus, it's not just the shock of deaths in Thailand, either through shootings, road accidents, drownings etc etc

it's also the threat of kidnapping and extortion.

And not forgetting China had huge domestic economic troubles back home which is affecting would-be tourism.

Thailand has lost it's appeal to the Chinese market

If the indiscriminate shooting of a Chinese tourist is enough to deter a whole population of people away, how are they going to cope with fear if they find themselves thrust in a war situation? Seems that when courage was dished out, these people missed out. They have no trouble instilling fear prior to killing into the 10 to 20 million dogs and cats that grace their dinner tables each year. I'd have though an isolated shooting by a crazed kid would be water off the back for mainland Chinese.

[hotchilli]

1 minute ago, Spock said:

If the indiscriminate shooting of a Chinese tourist is enough to deter a whole population of people away, how are they going to cope with fear if they find themselves thrust in a war situation? Seems that when courage was dished out, these people missed out. They have no trouble instilling fear prior to killing into the 10 to 20 million dogs and cats that grace their dinner tables each year. I'd have though an isolated shooting by a crazed kid would be water off the back for mainland Chinese.

Like I said, it' more than just the shooting.

[Spock]

Just now, hotchilli said:

Like I said, it' more than just the shooting.

I had read before that many were deterred by that shooting. I don't see why it would evenly remotely figure in the minds of anyone planning a trip to Thailand.

[sammieuk1]

The bodies is the problem 🤔

[2baht]

28 minutes ago, chilli42 said:

 Do they think that the Chinese public is focused on events in Thailand?

 

       Isn't the whole world focused on the Centre of the Universe??? 🤔

[jacko45k]

1 hour ago, ThaiFelix said:

 

What about introducing a police force?  Seems to work in other countries.

Does in China, so should not bother the tourists any!

[observer90210]

Build all the bridges one may dream with the Chinese, but don't expect them to spend anyplace other then chinese run establishments in Thailand,  that their flag tooting guides are well drilled to introduce and induce.

[Accidental Tourist]

It's not the government which can provide tourist safety; and not even the police can do that fully. Accidents, disasters and crime are happen all over the world; and you can't fully prevent it. Scams are going on for centuries in Thailand, and the operator which are now complain are never learn and change. Tourism are shifting all the time and there is NO guarantee this will last forever 

[Cake Monster]

The Chinese mistrust and apprehension with Thailand's Tourist Industry has not only just started after the mall Shooting a few weeks ago.

Thailand has had many, many incidents of deaths caused by neglect, abductions and scams over many years now

With a record such as this, its no wonder the Chinese Tourists are looking elsewhere to spend and Thailand will only pick up stragglers who cannot afford to go elsewhere

Self inflicted wounds have little sympathy

[10baht]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

hamnan Srisawat, suggested that the government should exercise caution before deciding on a permanent exemption from visas for the Chinese market.

Exactly, don't trust the Chinese with anything, They are not good customers.

[RichardColeman]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) and the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) called on the government to restore confidence in Chinese tourists via mainland tour agents, emphasising that this approach can guarantee tourist safety.

Guarantee their safety ? One got shot and killed the other week, there are kidnappings , robberies, etc. Talk about bull of a guarantee with a gun heavy nation out of control just as a girl talks to a man !

 

Better idea would be to send any killer or robber of Chinese to China to sentence 

[10baht]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

We have some of the best police in the world,

555,555,555- OMG I just wet my pants🤪

[10baht]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Thailand has lost it's appeal to the Chinese market

Thank Buddha!

[kinyara]

Part of the problem for Thailand is the Chinese tourists that are coming here at the moment are more of the younger independent travellers as opposed to the perhaps older generation tour groups. The youngsters are tech savvy, so while the Thai govt has teamed up with several large Chinese media corporations to try and control / (sugar coat ?) the narrative, I doubt it's going to stop the reality of people's holiday experiences getting out there via other social media channels. 

 

Judging by the Chinese arrival numbers to Oct 22nd mentioned the other day they must be seriously worried that their easing of visa restrictions is having little to no impact so far in the lead up to a crucial few months.

[newnative]

2 hours ago, observer90210 said:

Build all the bridges one may dream with the Chinese, but don't expect them to spend anyplace other then chinese run establishments in Thailand,  that their flag tooting guides are well drilled to introduce and induce.

Not true, of course, but even if it was, the majority of Chinese do not travel in tour groups to Thailand.

[ChipButty]

1 hour ago, kinyara said:

Part of the problem for Thailand is the Chinese tourists that are coming here at the moment are more of the younger independent travellers as opposed to the perhaps older generation tour groups. The youngsters are tech savvy, so while the Thai govt has teamed up with several large Chinese media corporations to try and control / (sugar coat ?) the narrative, I doubt it's going to stop the reality of people's holiday experiences getting out there via other social media channels. 

 

Judging by the Chinese arrival numbers to Oct 22nd mentioned the other day they must be seriously worried that their easing of visa restrictions is having little to no impact so far in the lead up to a crucial few months.

I know of one flight that was cancelled Friday evening from Shanghai to Phuket somebody I know was booked on it, the reason I don't know yet, if they will get here today im not sure, 

[arick]

It won't happen  thousands of Chinese have lost money in fraud property projects.  Loads of property agents scamming them off and cheating them on the rental contracts.  The Chinese problems starts at the core of Thailand 

[Hardcastle P]

Is this an admission that visa free for the Chinese tourists hasn't worked out as expected,well I'll be blowed who would have thought it. 

Thailand don't you think it time to start looking after your foreigners on retirement visas before they up and leave and you loose their lucrative income.  

[Datsun 1200]

This is a tad ironic and certainly won't help....

 

IH

[mberbae]

With PM Srettha applauding the 24 hour Chiang Mai Airport operating hours,

the myopic PM fails to realize that Burning Season will start soon and the

runways will become invisible.  That and the arriving passengers will see all

the pollution while on descent and take the next flight out.

[DJ54]

IMO a lot has to do with the economic situation in China… 

[Caldera]

Are they even sure that this is primarily a trust issue? My money is always on the economy being the biggest factor. 

[Jumbo1968]

Isn’t the Chinese economy in decline, maybe that’s why they are not coming, they don’t have any money.