China-Tour Cancellations Shake Thailand's Tourism for New Year

[snoop1130]

File photo for reference only

 

Hotels and airlines across Thailand are grappling with a surge of cancellations from Chinese tour groups, just as the country prepared to welcome an influx of tourists for the Chinese New Year holiday in late January. The drop in bookings follows heightened safety concerns, underscored by recent incidents involving job scams in Southeast Asia.

 

Hong Kong singer, Eason Chan, recently cancelled his concert in Thailand, citing these very concerns. In response, the Hong Kong Security Bureau dispatched a team to investigate cases where their citizens were reportedly enticed into job scams under dubious circumstances. While no tourists from Hong Kong were reportedly harmed, participants in these scams found themselves transported to Myanmar.

 

Despite reassurances from Natthriya Thaweevong, Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Sports, that Thailand is bolstering safety measures, cancellations persist. Hotels in key tourist spots, especially Bangkok, are feeling the brunt, as noted by Prachoom Tantiprasertsuk, Chairman of Marketing at the Thai Hotels Association (THA). Tour groups, unlike independent travellers, have the flexibility to back out due to refundable booking policies.

 

 

This has sparked concern amongst hotel operators who are now pressing the government to act swiftly to restore confidence in visitor safety. Thai Lion Air's Nuntaporn Komonsittivate reported significant cancellations for charter flights to Phuket, though individual bookings, less affected by such dynamics, remain stable.

 

The situation presents a pressing challenge for Thai tourism, a sector heavily reliant on Chinese visitors. As the trade braces for impact, the broader implications on airline and hotel revenues during one of the busiest travel periods loom large. The tourism industry awaits further clarity in the coming days, as businesses come back from the weekend break to reassess and strategise amidst these tensions.

 

-- 2025-01-14

 

 

[bkk6060]

😀

[Artisi]

Oh dear!, the sky is falling in. 

[StayinThailand2much]

What will happen to all the pre-ordered shrimp? 😄

[WHansen]

What a shame

[Thailand]

Eggs in one basket comes to mind?

[Woke to Sounds of Horking]

Promise?

[atpeace]

No problem with the Chinese people other than the sheer number of them. Definately enjoying the last few years more with fewer of them around.

 

If over a billion Americans were a two hour flight away from Bangkok, it would probably be even worse.  Events I go to have many fewer westerners at them than pre-covid.  The westerners never overwhelmed tourist attractions , 7-Elevens... in the way the Chinese can make a simple visit to a restaurant a miserable experience because of how many of them there are.

[lapamita]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

he drop in bookings follows heightened safety concerns, underscored by recent incidents involving job scams in Southeast Asia.

 

what bull<deleted>,morning satire per excellence

 explanation so easy : China propery bubble, Ecoonomic difficult time = less money in pocketand it will not get better , thats sure ,not the next couple of years

[spidermike007]

The Chinese are being discouraged from traveling outside of the country by their horrendous leadership, and they are suffering from economic hardship at the moment, the real estate market has collapsed leaving trillions in debt, and their appetite for travel outside of the nation is diminishing anyway. Add to it craziness in Thailand, bizarre and strange scams and events, and thankfully we will see less Chinese tourists around.

 

Very few of us are going to miss them. Now, if only the Russians would leave. 

[Spilornis]

One wonders if Chinese travel agents have made block bookings that they then hoped to onsell to China residents?

Can't see tourists being put off by a threat of being recruited by "job scammers".