Travel Thailand's Chinese Tourism Faces Crisis as Arrivals Plummet

[snoop1130]

Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Thailand is witnessing a severe dip in Chinese tourism, with daily arrivals plunging to record lows in 2025. This decline has prompted industry leaders to warn of a looming crisis, as the once-thriving stream of visitors from China slows to a trickle.

 

On April 16, only 5,833 Chinese tourists arrived in Thailand, a sharp decline from the typical 15,000 to 20,000. Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, advisory chairman of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, has sounded the alarm, comparing this slump to the aftermath of the 2018 Phuket boat tragedy but noting that this situation is more multifaceted.

 

Economic challenges, such as US tariffs affecting China's economy, and Beijing's push for domestic tourism, are significant contributors to the decline. Despite a peak during the Songkran holiday, Chinese arrivals have since dwindled, according to data from Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

 

Compounding the problem is a series of events that have eroded Chinese confidence in Thailand as a travel destination. The high-profile kidnapping of actor Wang Xing is cited as a factor leading to reduced tourist numbers. Even optimistic projections suggest only 4.2 to 5.5 million Chinese tourists for the year, falling short of the 7 million target and the pre-pandemic figure of 11 million.

 

 

 

The Chinese government's investment in local tourism infrastructure and a 240-hour visa-free transit policy have bolstered domestic travel, affecting outbound tourism to places like Thailand. In response, the Tourism Authority of Thailand is taking steps to counter this trend. Initiatives include inviting 600 Chinese travel agents and key opinion leaders to experience what the country has to offer across 30 provinces.

 

Former TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn stresses the urgency of restoring Thailand’s image through reputation management, improved safety communication, and enhanced digital engagement with Chinese audiences. Collaborative efforts with airlines, tour operators, and online travel giants are also essential.

 

Without swift and effective measures, experts fear Thailand might struggle to recover its once robust Chinese tourism sector, posing significant challenges for the country's economy and the tourism ministry's goals.

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-04-23

 

 

 

[Gottfrid]

What do they expect? People are scared coming here. They kidnap people and put them in call center camps. They are wasting people like flies on the roads. Gun smoke in the streets and scammers paradise! That´s like what they call a pristine and family friendly tourist destination.

[Jim Blue]

Gottfrid you are describing Haiti !

[blaze master]

Boo hoo. 

[Isaan sailor]

If that helps tamp down the Baht, it’s a good thing.

[henryford1958]

At last a good news story

[daveAustin]

This is not a bad thing. Thailand is already too busy and fewer coming in will make it easier on the infrastructure. The people that will really feel the dip most will be the airlines, Chinese businesses, rich hoteliers and the supercilious TAT. Surely nobody cares about either of these. The real benefit will be for other tourists and the natives and residents not involved with tourism. Yay. 

[sammieuk1]

Great news and up goes the Baht with this disastrous loss of revenue 🤔

[hotsun]

Looks like a good time to go to thailand

[thesetat]

I am surprised they waited so long to print this story. What also surprises me is that the government did not expect travel to be reduced when China decided to make the tariff war. Jobs are unstable now, people are worried about spending because they do not know if their incomes will change with the tariffs.

 

Then there is also the fear factor. The Thai government tried their best to show China how safe Thailand is with promises they can not keep.

 

All in all, I think tourism will be reduced for some time until this tariff war ends. Thailand may need to focus more on producing quality products to keep their GDP at a steady level. . 

[JoePai]

14 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

What do they expect? People are scared coming here. They kidnap people and put them in call center camps. They are wasting people like flies on the roads. Gun smoke in the streets and scammers paradise! That´s like what they call a pristine and family friendly tourist destination.

Yea ok but apart from that is ok ?

[Patong2021]

Quick, panic. Run around and wail with nonsensical grief.

Sure, Chinese   headcount is down, but the total of all tourists increased in Q 1 and more importantly, revenue was up. The Nation reported on this when the Jan1-March 31 numbers were released by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports;

-  9,549,004 foreign tourists, which was 1.91% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

-  Tourism revenue increased by 10.47% year compared to the same annual period.

 

Although tourist head count from China (and South Korea) has declined, it is up for  the Middle East, Japan and Europe. 

The takeaway is that higher revenue generating tourists have  replaced the Chinese who  are not coming.

And the fact remains that the Chinese are still the  largest  foreign national  visitors group visiting Thailand.

 

 

[watchcat]

7 minutes ago, JoePai said:

Yea ok but apart from that is ok ?

 

Atleast the buffet table is not crowded as before.

[ChipButty]

There is a hotel on the road from Chalong to Central it's only about 4 or 5 years old, they catered for the Chinese tour companies always a few buses parked up there, Closed Down for a while now,

 

I often drive along the beach road in Rawai early morning about half way a long there is a boat company and usually hoardes of Chinese waiting there to go on boat trips, hardly see anyone now, I saw a couple in Starbucks yesterday, all these buffet restaurants that only catered for Chinese will be closed down, Im sure, 

It is noticeable when out shopping and in Central the lack of Chinese, 

[impulse]

I see the usual compassion for the millions of Thai people who depend on tourists the posters don't like for their living.

 

April 16 is the day I flew in from China with a planeload of tourists that looked pretty well off and looking for a place to spend their sweaty tourist cash

 

[bbbbooboo]

hmm … good news indeed