Thai Tourism Grapples with Declining Chinese Visitors

[black tabby12345]

1 hour ago, Hawaiian said:

All part of China's debt trap diplomacy.  Now karma is in the air.  Pakistan has been a complete disaster for China.  China is stuck with bill and can't safely use the highway intended to be part of BRI.

 

Their Karma in this context: Own Financial Ruin.

Their BRI, now standing for: Busted Robber Impoverished LOL.

 

Any other interpretation of BRI?

 

Anyone's  remarks  welcome.

[Olof Karlsson]

Are the ten million chinese the Quality tourists the TAT talking about ?

[geisha]

I was in a big Pattaya hotel not long back and I mentioned to the F&B manager that there were much less Chinese. He said yes, good  ! My experience, they behave like pigs, and why oh why do they shout ?? It was nice to eat my breakfast in peace and quiet. Before I retired, we fixed that problem rapidly. We just refused to take reservations from Chinese. Only one experience was the reason. Food all over the floor, incessant moving around the table, constantly racking  their throats, even so far as walking into the kitchen. They were very hard to control. As soon as there was hardly anything left on the table, we cleared away everything and gave the bill. When they left the remaining guests clapped. Never again. 

[BarraMarra]

23 hours ago, atpeace said:

And you would think the minority of Europeans would have fewer embarrassing moments. It's amazing the sheer volume of westerners making arses of themselves compered to the Chinese.

European kids dont <deleted> in the streets

[BarraMarra]

Its all the thai's to blame. Ignore the weterners treat them like dirt they stay away or go elsewhere. Phuket has been taken over by Russians patts the same they turned a blind eye and took the cash without thinking of the future,relying on chinks and indians to bale out your sinking life raft you only have yourselves to blame GREED. 

[atpeace]

17 minutes ago, BarraMarra said:

European kids dont <deleted> in the streets

Never seen a Chinese but have seen westerners <deleted> themselves and defecate in public while in Thailand.  Below is one of many examples of how the westerners make the Chinese look like saints. 

https://www.ndtv.com/lifestyle/viral-at-thailands-full-moon-party-beach-tourists-get-a-literal-sea-of-poop-7314591

Hey but if you need to feel better insulting Chinese then have at it. Doubt they care much about losers opinions 🙂

[Lancelot01]

On 3/14/2025 at 5:04 AM, webfact said:

Picture courtesy of Kasikorn Research Centre

 

In the rapidly evolving world of tourism, Thailand once basked in the glory of hosting over 10 million Chinese visitors annually. Yet, troubling trends have disrupted this golden age, casting a shadow over future prospects. At the heart of the decline are pressing concerns over safety and perceived inefficiencies in law enforcement, according to the Association of Thai Travel Agents (Atta).

 

Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, the president of Atta, poignantly remarks on the missed growth opportunities over the past four years. While nations like China, Japan, and Vietnam have vigorously updated and expanded their tourist offerings, Thailand has remained anchored to its existing, albeit charming, resources without refreshing its appeal or infrastructure.

 

The stagnation is compounded by a prevailing sense of insecurity among potential Chinese visitors. "We're sticking to the old resources and not maintaining or improving them," Mr Sisdivachr says.

 

Present challenges are only exacerbated by the abundant negative sentiment pervading Chinese social media, where cyber scam woes discourage many potential tourists from exploring Thai shores.

 

Optimism surrounding the return to pre-2019 visitor numbers, which once soared to 10 million Chinese tourists, fades unless Thailand can rapidly assure these travellers of their safety. Sisdivachr remains sceptical of meeting even the more modest target of 8 million Chinese arrivals this year, expecting closer to 7 million, mirroring figures slightly above the 2024 forecast.

 

The lack of substantial growth in Chinese tourism is likely to impact Thailand's overall foreign arrival targets. Government forecasts aiming for 39 million arrivals seem increasingly ambitious with these challenges at the forefront.

 

 

Ambitiously, the government has floated the concept of new entertainment complexes, including casinos, as a tourist draw. Yet, Sisdivachr voices his caution, highlighting potential pitfalls such as gambling-related issues among visitors and risks of money laundering without regulatory vigilance.

 

Instead, he suggests careful implementation with perhaps only a few strategic locations, namely in Bangkok and other key tourist hotspots, where infrastructure is ripe for such developments.

 

As Thailand looks forward to its next general election in 2027, he advocates for tourism to be front and centre in economic discussions, lamenting its absence in previous campaigns.

 

Thailand stands at a crossroads, where the intricate balance of refreshing its offerings and ensuring security can shape the future of its tourism industry.

 

As the country navigates these challenges, the past four years serve as a potent reminder of the importance of innovation and vigilance in maintaining its status as a premier travel destination, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2025-03-14

 

 

From what I have been recently, to the benefit of Japan, South Korea Vietnam etc..