Sky-high tourism boom: Thai-Chinese flights to double

[webfact]

Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Co Ltd (Aerothai) announced a dramatic increase in flights between Thailand and China. The number of annual flights is expected to double from under 100,000 to a staggering 200,000, thanks to a new mutual permanent visa waiver policy.

 

The policy, which began in March, allows Chinese and Thai passport holders to enjoy visa-free holidays and transits for up to 30 days. Aerothai president Nopasit Chakpitak revealed that four major routes: Macao-Hong Kong, Hainan-eastern China, Laos-Vietnam-China, and Yunnan-western China are responsible for 60% of all flights to China and currently constitute 20% of Thailand’s international flights.

Nopasit estimated that the total flights to China this year will reach around 86,150, marking a 126% year-on-year increase.

 

“As passenger airlines and the air logistics industry recover from the Covid-19 crisis, more operators are restoring routes to China and applying to open new ones to economically important destinations.”

Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, is particularly popular, with 5,896 flights from Thailand in the past eight months.

 

“We estimate flights to Chengdu will exceed 8,850 this year, a 265% year-on-year jump.”

 

To address congestion, Aerothai is discussing with authorities in China and Laos to open parallel aviation routes. This aims to ease the bottleneck on the current flight path set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in northwestern Laos, reported The Nation.

 

“These routes will accommodate more flights from Thailand to Chinese economic cities such as Chengdu, Tianfu, Kunming, Guiyang, Chongqing, and Xi’an. We expect them to open by 2026 to support up to 200,000 flights per year.”

 

In related news, the majority of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand in the second quarter of this year were lured by the country’s delectable cuisine and exotic fruits, according to the Tourism Council of Thailand.

 

The Council’s report, published on July 4, surveyed 205 Chinese nationals. The participants included 44% from Mainland China, 24% from Hong Kong, 18% from Taiwan, and 14% from Singapore. It unveiled intriguing insights into their spending habits and preferences.

 

by Puntid Tantivangphaisal 
Photo courtesy of The Nation

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-07-25

 

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[DonniePeverley]

The era of mass tourism with wall to wall tourists squashed together is here. 

 

Well done Srettha. 

 

 

 

 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Co Ltd (Aerothai) announced a dramatic increase in flights between Thailand and China. The number of annual flights is expected to double from under 100,000 to a staggering 200,000, thanks to a new mutual permanent visa waiver policy

And trouble will surely follow.

[KannikaP]

Are they talking about Chinese coming to Thailand, or vice versa?

[JimHuaHin]

The Chinese triads will be happy.

[Korat Kiwi]

About 10 years ago in an area of Baan Tawai, Hang Dong,  Chiang Mai there were thriving businesses of woodcraft. 

 

Many different types from wood carving to high quality cabinet makers.  Life was good for these craftsmen,  turnover and profits were on the up. 

 

The level of skill and imagination to what could be made from wood had no limit. 

 

Then the Chinese tourists turned up, by the bus load.  They didn't buy much but took lots of photos. 

 

Roll on a few months and sales started to decline, why?  Because the Chinese had gone back home and copied all those photos they took while on holiday. 

 

Factories were set up,  prices were made to undercut those at Baan Tawai.  Many businesses in Baan Tawai closed as they could not compete. 

 

The Chinese 'copies' although appearing similar were of poor quality. 

 

This is the way of China,  and yet the current Thai Government cannot or refuse to see it.  I pity the average Thai... life is going to become more challenging. 

 

[MalcolmB]

This will trigger the racists.

 

But good for Thai people and economy , these millions of Chinese have to sleep somewhere, they don’t bring their own food, so farmers etc benefit, they don’t have Chineses maids, drivers etc so more jobs created for Thais.

 

The Chinese women look quite cute in their bikinis also. 

[newbee2022]

13 minutes ago, Korat Kiwi said:

About 10 years ago in an area of Baan Tawai, Hang Dong,  Chiang Mai there were thriving businesses of woodcraft. 

 

Many different types from wood carving to high quality cabinet makers.  Life was good for these craftsmen,  turnover and profits were on the up. 

 

The level of skill and imagination to what could be made from wood had no limit. 

 

Then the Chinese tourists turned up, by the bus load.  They didn't buy much but took lots of photos. 

 

Roll on a few months and sales started to decline, why?  Because the Chinese had gone back home and copied all those photos they took while on holiday. 

 

Factories were set up,  prices were made to undercut those at Baan Tawai.  Many businesses in Baan Tawai closed as they could not compete. 

 

The Chinese 'copies' although appearing similar were of poor quality. 

 

This is the way of China,  and yet the current Thai Government cannot or refuse to see it.  I pity the average Thai... life is going to become more challenging. 

 

Well, but this happened since decades. First the Japanese, now the Chinese. Baan Tawai is only another collateral damage on the way of the Dragon. It's all about money. 

[DPKANKAN]

So that's just under 550 flights daily ffs!!!. Any room in the Bangkok skies for other planes????

[morrobay]

Now they are swarming into Lam Pho seafood market in Naklua by busload. No doubt about it this is windfall for the seafood venders there. Photo was at 1700. Yes the girls are lookers. But these cigarette smoking chinese males...

[supersomchai]

Its interesting to see the back lash 

against mass tourism in spain for example who have over 100 million tourists a year.BBC showing street demonstrations in Barcelona ,the locals are fed up with the extreme pressure on infra structure .rents etc.

will this ever happen in Thailand ?

How many tourists is too much?

40 million in 2019 was too much?

[brianthainess]

Will they leave on their Chinese Passports or buy one here for another country ?...

[Lorry]

200,000 flights per year is 600 per day, about 1 flight every 90 seconds. 

Hm.

[Will B Good]

...and today in the paper that dare not speak its name......huge concerns as Chinese cities, including Beijing, ban overseas flights to Thailand in order to promote homegrown tourism.

[daveAustin]

4 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

This will trigger the racists.

 

But good for Thai people and economy , these millions of Chinese have to sleep somewhere, they don’t bring their own food, so farmers etc benefit, they don’t have Chineses maids, drivers etc so more jobs created for Thais.

 

The Chinese women look quite cute in their bikinis also. 

No racist here, I just don't care for any one group piling into a place, including my own. And the Chinese have a knack for causing chaos and disrespecting all others. Then there are the zero dollar tours where locals do not benefit. But, yes, Chinese girls can be really cute. 😉

Likely just a fluff article anyway to make certain parties look good.

[bradiston]

29 minutes ago, Lorry said:

200,000 flights per year is 600 per day, about 1 flight every 90 seconds. 

Hm.

I guess they'll be shared between BKK, DM, Phuket and Chang Mai. Maybe they should think about internationalizing a few more airports. In the north east for instance. Lengthen the runways, put in customs and immigration, duty free, bus terminals etc etc. Link to domestic airports. Spread the load. Avoid the crush. Less travel out to the provinces. And Srettha's been banging on about promoting provincial tourism. A great opportunity, and not massively costly. Er, where's that 500 billion? Should cover maybe 10 airport upgrades. Great for local tourism. And thais can fly into China to visit auntie and nunc.

 

And factor in freight services, fruit, dried fish, all sorts.

[harryviking]

Maybe the Thai politicians could take a look at the protests in Europe over TOO much tourism!! Do not trash you country just because of GREED!! Use your damn brains a little!!

[BarraMarra]

The Thai Govt cannot see the future or the damage to come. All they think of is the cash coming into the Country they don't care about anything else. In Barcelona locals were seen spraying tourists with water pistols in Restaurants forcing them to move or leave. Imagine what the reaction would be if Thais started doing this to Chinese tourists the outrage of the damage to tourism, the kingdom being disrespecting they would stamp it out immediately.