Chinese Travel Agents Slash Prices to Attract Thai Tourists for Songkran

[snoop1130]

Picture courtesy of China Daily

 

As Songkran approaches, Chinese travel agents are offering heavily discounted tickets to lure Thai tourists, following a significant drop in Chinese visitors to Thailand. By slashing fares up to 50%, tour operators aim to fill planes and recover from a tough start to the year marked by an earthquake and safety concerns that deterred Chinese tourists.

 

Thanapol Cheewarattanaporn, an advisor to the Thai Travel Agents Association, noted, “Thais now see China as a safe destination with great transport links,” making it a popular choice for outbound travel during Songkran. Initially, travel agencies had purchased large blocks of tickets for China-bound flights, anticipating a surge in tourism due to a new visa-free agreement between Thailand and China. However, this expected boom was undermined by a wave of cancellations linked to concerns over scams, following a high-profile incident involving a Chinese actor.

 

The discounted tickets have become attractive to Thai travellers, who are helping fill the void left by the absent Chinese tourists. While agents are facing losses of 3,000 to 5,000 baht per seat, this is preferable to leaving seats empty, which could cost up to 10,000 baht per ticket. As a result, China is poised to surpass Japan as the preferred overseas destination for Thai tourists during Songkran. Tour packages to China start at a competitive 15,000 baht—half the price of a typical trip to Japan.

 

 

 

Thanapol anticipates that Thai visits to China could exceed a million this year, potentially outshining last year's million Thai tourists to Japan. In contrast, South Korea is losing appeal due to tighter immigration rules and the complex process of obtaining a Korea Electronic Travel Authorisation.

 

With these deals, China offers a compelling, affordable option for Thai travellers looking for their spring holiday, reshaping travel dynamics in the region this year, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-04-11

 

 

[flyingtlger]

The way the Chinese economy is going, I don't think even slashing fares by 50% will help...

 

 

https://swarajyamag.com/economy/chinese-economy-a-fragile-giant-behind-the-roaring-dragon#:~:text=China's economy is unravelling — not,risks across the global economy.

[Andytheburiramman]

I've lived here 19 years and the holiday hotspots are now are disgraceful.  Phuket has now areas that are a no go war zone, and Pattaya is dirtier than New Delhi.  My wife and I now go to Vietnam, clean friendly and no tourist mafia.