Travel Thailand's Chinese Tourism Faces Crisis as Arrivals Plummet

[Scouse123]

4 minutes ago, proton said:

 

Chinese are the worlds worst tourists, even the Japanese cannot stand them

 

 

They never could stand them.

[factual monk]

Meanwhile article in Bangkok Post @ 24 April - 11am....

With Thailand losing out to Vietnam as the most-visited nation in Southeast Asia among Chinese tourists in the first quarter, the Association of Thai Travel Agents (Atta) has urged the government to offer more competitive prices, noting that Vietnam's travel costs are now 30% lower and it boasts more fresh attractions.

 

In the first quarter, the Tourism and Sports Ministry reported that Thailand received 1.3 million Chinese arrivals, while Vietnam welcomed 1.5 million Chinese tourists, a 178% year-on-year increase according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism.

[Phil1964]

4 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

"How much longer can Thailand be on her back for the tourist dollars until she's totally blown out and used up"?

 

Love the euphenism! 🤣

It's the way a lot of Thai society makes It's income from many perspectives! Just balance it off with a few Wais and lotus blooms at the family shrine and all will be morally acceptable! 

 

[Toby1947]

I can leave my wellies in  the shed now those dirty bar stewards won't be gobbing everywhere. 

[Patong2021]

2 hours ago, kingstonkid said:

 

The challenge that this country has is the same for any country or area that depends on tourism as it's main focus.

 

If there is any downturn in economies it is going to affect them/  China has and is facing it's biggest bust period in a long time. 

That means that Chinese people are not gong to have the money to go on trips unless it is the ones set up with groups.

 

Group tours may help some small hotels, but they are not going to boost the economy.

 

The government must take a serious look at where things are made and what businesses there are.

 

Imagine if Red Bull actually was made here in a factory.  Imagine if Wacoal and other companies stopped producing outside the country.

 

Thailand is in a sense, in the same boat as the U.S. in that most stuff is produced outside and shipped in.  Does anyone remember the Chinese elephant pants stink 

 

In a sense all countries need to take a page out of the MAGA book and look at how they can make their countries great again.

 

 

Did you consider the  population that is involved?

China population- 1,411,000,000 est.

China's Middle Class - 500-700 million people

China's wealthy est. - 6,000,000+ People have assets of USD $1million or more, 814 billionaires, 100,000+ people with assets in excess of USD$30million

 

The Chinese economy would need to be totally collapsed for its people to no longer have the money to take holidays. Even if only 10% of its middle class people  are left with the money to afford a holiday, that is still a pool of 50-60 million people.  The people who have money in China are still going to have money at the end of the Trump escapade.

 

 

 

[node]

I can remembered reading  about 2-3 years ago, that Thailand do not depends on tourist for their GDP. Seems like now is a different story.

[kwilco]

Before Covid, Chinese tourists were said to account for nearly half of 35 million - so that's one hell of a drop.

[kwilco]

1 hour ago, node said:

I can remembered reading  about 2-3 years ago, that Thailand do not depends on tourist for their GDP. Seems like now is a different story.

Your read wrong, it has ALWAYS been around 20% of GDP.

[kwilco]

7 hours ago, Expat Tom said:

What GREAT NEWS! The three worse things about Thailand are Chinese, Indians, and Russians. 

Any country with a huge tourism sector who builds its tourism base on the three pillars of China, Russia

and India needs to rethink its business model. Do you know what Chinese, Indians and Russians flock to 

Thailand? The answers is so obvious that its laughable.  OTHER COUNTRIES DON'T WANT THEM!

 

I have been in Thailand and love the people and the country....the Thai government not so much.

 

I keep my exit plan up to date and when the SHTF , I will be very sad to leave. As a retired mariner, I don't believe in going down with the ship.  

Wow. Racism, elitism, and ignorance all rolled into one smug little package.

Let’s get one thing straight: Thailand doesn’t revolve around your colonial fantasy where only white tourists are "acceptable." Chinese, Indian, and Russian tourists bring billions into the Thai economy, just like Westerners do — often more, in fact. They come for the same reasons everyone else does: the beauty, the culture, the people, the food. Not because “other countries don’t want them” — that’s just a lazy, bigoted trope.

What you're spewing isn’t travel insight — it’s outdated white supremacist nonsense disguised as opinion. You don't speak for Thailand, and judging by your exit plan, the country won't exactly crumble when you pack up your entitlement and leave.

Thailand doesn’t need fewer Chinese, Indian, or Russian tourists. It needs fewer tourists who think their skin color makes them more welcome than others.

[blaze master]

6 hours ago, kuzmabruk said:

What do they expect.  They treat people like trash and on top of that they do not clean or maintain the infrastructure and environment.   TIT now stands for Thailand is Trash. 

 

A while back I read that about 200bn baht flows onto phiket island yearly.

 

Yet the infrastructure is horrible. Go figure

 

[Caldera]

Looks like Thailand is yesteryear's destination of choice for Chinese travelers, nowadays they prefer to travel to Japan

 

I don't think there's anything Thailand can do to change that. Those scams, boat accidents and abductions sure didn't help!

[PingRoundTheWorld]

Great news. The less tourists, the better it is for those of us who live here. Less competition for everything, less upward price pressure. And low season is coming, finally! 🧡

[JJ-Thailand]

On 4/23/2025 at 4:39 PM, snoop1130 said:

Thailand is witnessing a severe dip in Chinese tourism, with daily arrivals plunging to record lows in 2025.

I don't know anybody crying over this.

[Magictoad]

On 4/23/2025 at 5:31 PM, 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.

I think that is a grotesque exaggeration.  Is it really like that where you live? You seem to be living in the headlines of the News of the World! It's much quieter here in Pattaya.

[Gottfrid]

38 minutes ago, Magictoad said:

I think that is a grotesque exaggeration.

Yes, it is!

[sidneybear]

On 4/23/2025 at 8:31 PM, 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.

Gunsmoke in the streets? LOL. What a total exaggeration.

[Luuk Chaai]

On 4/23/2025 at 4:39 PM, snoop1130 said:

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..

 

Economic challenges, such as US tariffs affecting China's economy, 

 

 

Thank you President Trump !!!

[Luuk Chaai]

14 hours ago, kwilco said:

 

Thailand doesn’t need fewer Chinese, Indian, or Russian tourists. 

 

ugghhhh    guess again !

[kwilco]

32 minutes ago, Luuk Chaai said:

 

ugghhhh    guess again !

the entitlement of westerners who think Thai is just for them! It needs fewer tourists who think their skin colour makes them more welcome than others.

[Presnock]

On 4/24/2025 at 5:18 AM, Jim Blue said:

Gottfrid you are describing Haiti !

I Think he is only comparing the local situation to that fiasco!

[Spilornis]

17 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

 

Did you consider the  population that is involved?

China population- 1,411,000,000 est.

China's Middle Class - 500-700 million people

China's wealthy est. - 6,000,000+ People have assets of USD $1million or more, 814 billionaires, 100,000+ people with assets in excess of USD$30million

 

The Chinese economy would need to be totally collapsed for its people to no longer have the money to take holidays. Even if only 10% of its middle class people  are left with the money to afford a holiday, that is still a pool of 50-60 million people.  The people who have money in China are still going to have money at the end of the Trump escapade.

 

 

 

What you say is true and often quoted for both China and India. What is not often analysed is what the Chinese/Indian middle class want from a tourist destination.

From what I read domestic tourism in China and India is going strongly (prior to Trump's tariffs at least).

One thought that strikes me re Chinese tourism is that they have become used to an "internet environment" including payment systems that is completely Chinese. Perhaps Thailand needs to include that environment if it hasn't done so already.

Also there's the dreaded influencers who are enormous in shaping Chinese short term habits.

At the end of the day I think the wealthier tourist just wants to feel safe, comfortable and welcome

[impulse]

19 hours ago, factual monk said:

In the first quarter, the Tourism and Sports Ministry reported that Thailand received 1.3 million Chinese arrivals, while Vietnam welcomed 1.5 million Chinese tourists, a 178% year-on-year increase according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism.

 

Nothing against Vietnam, but I don't know how you'd prepare for a 178% increase without some deterioration of quality.

 

Anyone from Vietnam want to comment?

 

 

[factual monk]

11 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

Nothing against Vietnam, but I don't know how you'd prepare for a 178% increase without some deterioration of quality.

 

Anyone from Vietnam want to 

it's extract of Bangkok post... read Bangkok post 24 april ... 11am. 

Travel to Vietnam... you will see by yourself... I have witnessed it across Vn... you can keep on banging quality drum... without moving out 

[factual monk]

14 hours ago, Caldera said:

Looks like Thailand is yesteryear's destination of choice for Chinese travelers, nowadays they prefer to travel to Japan

 

I don't think there's anything Thailand can do to change that. Those scams, boat accidents and abductions sure didn't help!

Yesterday read an article... Malaysia has granted or I will say extended free visa to Chinese citizens for next 5 years. The dynamics of tourism are changing in SE Asia... I have been to Vietnam... I see colossal infrastructure builtup in major tourist places...

[watchcat]

On 4/24/2025 at 1:03 AM, bbbbooboo said:

hmm … good news indeed

 

Now get  rid of the Russians