Thailand's tourism bureau estimates nearly 1.5 million fewer visitors from China in 2023 than had originally been expected at the beginning of the year. Changing travel trends and economic problems in China are to blame.

 

Chinese tourist arrivals in Thailand are set to be lower than forecast in 2023, according to estimates by the Thai tourism bureau.

 

Thailand had expected a bump in tourist arrivals from China following the reopening of borders after the coronavirus pandemic. The tourism bureau initially predicted 5 million visitors from China in 2023.

 

However, arrivals from China before December numbered around 3 million, and the year-end total is now estimated to be around 3.5 million visitors.

 

Changing trends in Chinese tourism

Vincent Zhuang, a journalist from China and former editor at the Robb Report, a luxury-lifestyle magazine, said Chinese travel trends are changing.

 

"The Chinese tourist has changed a lot," Zhuang told DW. He added that Chinese tourists are traveling more domestically as air fares and hotel prices remain high elsewhere in Asia.

 

by Tommy Walker in Bangkok

TOP: There are fewer Chinese tourists in Bangkok's Chinatown this year. Image: Tommy Walker/DW

 

Full story: DW 2023-12-06

 

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2 minutes ago, webfact said:

The Chinese tourist has changed a lot," Zhuang told DW. He added that Chinese tourists are traveling more domestically as air fares and hotel prices remain high elsewhere in Asia.

 

But do they have shrimp buffet?

The thrill is gone!

I don't know why but long may it continue! 

 

I've heard Russia is nice this time of year....

24 minutes ago, webfact said:

Changing travel trends and economic problems in China are to blame.

 

Economic problems change travel trends. This could last longer than Wuhan Flu did.   

Chinese tourist arrivals in Thailand are set to be lower than forecast in 2023, according to estimates by the Thai tourism bureau.

 

what data was the forecast based on? anyone can come up with a figure, the question is; is it an achievable objective?

 

they could have forecast 2.5 million tourists and would have exceeded forecast!

 

they probably need to look at their data modelling.

35 minutes ago, 2baht said:

The thrill is gone!

 

Maybe word got around that Thailand holidays, for the known reasons, aren't always so great. And, as others have mentioned, economic downturn and rising diseases keep many from travelling. And the ones who still travel abroad have discovered other destinations.

They need to stop making predictions. They are always wrong. Too many variables. And they keep forgetting two things. 

 

1. Thailand is not the center of the known universe. 

2. Thailand needs foreign tourists 100x more than they need Thailand. 

3. When extreme cowards keep a county closed for far longer than they needed to, out of fear of the zombie apocalypse, it takes time to restore the industry. 

4. Whitewashing and homogenizing a nation, engaging in fake purity campaigns, ridding the nation of street vendors, shutting down the nightlife and putting millions out of work, while favoring cronies, is not smart, and the end result is a less interesting place to visit. 

3 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

They need to stop making predictions. They are always wrong. Too many variables. And they keep forgetting two things. 

 

1. Thailand is not the center of the known universe. 

2. Thailand needs foreign tourists 100x more than they need Thailand. 

3. When extreme cowards keep a county closed for far longer than they needed to, out of fear of the zombie apocalypse, it takes time to restore the industry. 

4. Whitewashing and homogenizing a nation, engaging in fake purity campaigns, ridding the nation of street vendors, shutting down the nightlife and putting millions out of work, while favoring cronies, is not smart, and the end result is a less interesting place to visit. 

They are never wrong, ask any of them! 

Keep killing them and they won't come back is my guess 🤔

Troubles getting passports, added expenses, and this foolish administration with egg all over its face.  

This ain't rocket science kids.  

Could it be that Thailand used to be the flavour of the month but now not so much? in any case, I'm not going to lose sleep over it...

negative image because of scams, crime and accidents.

They heard that Thailand has run out of shrimp.

 

47 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

They need to stop making predictions. They are always wrong. Too many variables. And they keep forgetting two things. 

 

1. Thailand is not the center of the known universe. 

2. Thailand needs foreign tourists 100x more than they need Thailand. 

3. When extreme cowards keep a county closed for far longer than they needed to, out of fear of the zombie apocalypse, it takes time to restore the industry. 

4. Whitewashing and homogenizing a nation, engaging in fake purity campaigns, ridding the nation of street vendors, shutting down the nightlife and putting millions out of work, while favoring cronies, is not smart, and the end result is a less interesting place to visit. 

Your figures are (intentionally) as bad as TAT's. I agree with BOTH of your points.

But , free visa on arrival.

 

1 hour ago, bob smith said:

I don't know why but long may it continue! 

 

I've heard Russia is nice this time of year....

Any time of year Russia is an absolute pit of desolation. I would need a sponsor to come up with $75,000 cash, to even consider a visit to that God forsaken land. 

1. China is having their own economic problems.

 

2. Outbreaks of respiratory illness. 

26 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Any time of year Russia is an absolute pit of desolation. I would need a sponsor to come up with $75,000 cash, to even consider a visit to that God forsaken land. 

I know.

 

would be better if the chinese went there instead of here though.

Whatever is happening, keep up the good work.

Why are fewer Chinese tourists visiting Thailand?

 

****ing hell.......don't jinx it.

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Any time of year Russia is an absolute pit of desolation. I would need a sponsor to come up with $75,000 cash, to even consider a visit to that God forsaken land. 

And run the risk of being taken hostage by Putin on any number of imaginary trumped up charges. 

I think the commenters here pretty much hit the nail on the head. Times change, attitudes change, and most importantly, economic conditions change. And now it's impossible to put the genie back into the bottle. (Although Barbara Eden still looks great at 92, let's ask her) I used to be able to fly Chinese airlines round trip from NY to BKK for $450 US, now there are no Chinese flights and for those that remain it's about $600 one way. I don't know specifics about the airline market within China, but if rates are similarly high, that would be enough to kill it in and of itself. 

I also think that any economy that depends too heavily on tourism is fundamentally on shaky ground and bound to implode sooner or later. 

If Thailand was expecting 5 million Chinese tourists in 2023 and only 3.5 million showed up (as projected to the end of 2023). that's 1.5 million less chances of that new virus coming to Thailand.

A silver lining perhaps. A blessing in disguise.

"Vincent Zhuang, a journalist from China and former editor at the Robb Report, a luxury-lifestyle magazine, said Chinese travel trends are changing.

"The Chinese tourist has changed a lot," Zhuang told DW. He added that Chinese tourists are traveling more domestically as air fares and hotel prices remain high elsewhere in Asia."

 

I think Vincent has it summed up correctly !

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Changing travel trends and economic problems in China are to blame.

 

Bizarre post. It asks why fewer Chinese are visiting and then promptly answers their own question in the first paragraph. So let's change the headline for them:
Why are fewer Chinese tourists are visiting Thailand?

6 hours ago, it is what it is said:

Chinese tourist arrivals in Thailand are set to be lower than forecast in 2023, according to estimates by the Thai tourism bureau.

 

what data was the forecast based on? anyone can come up with a figure, the question is; is it an achievable objective?

 

they could have forecast 2.5 million tourists and would have exceeded forecast!

 

they probably need to look at their data modelling.

You know how they base their forecasts on a roll of the dice

Wealthy Chinese are still traveling in numbers, it’s the group tours that are down. This is due to bad economy, and Chinese government approving less group travels aboard.

Usual TAT hype.

They never get it right.

Another waste of money.

TAT is funded from the taxes applied to incoming tourists.