Yes. Please relax.

In the article it states that everything, fare, transfers, hotels, meals, etc are paid for in China. That to me is a zero baht tourist...they spend nothing in the local economy.

Really? Their hotel, transportation, meals, airport taxes, what they may buy at the shops where that ar 'forced'; to go, all that stays in China? Miracles of virtual reality.

Yes, really.

No doubt the hotel and food prices they negotiate will be to the bare bone. Low airport taxes, a bit of rice and noodles, a bus for a few kilometres.

Yep....big contributors to the local economy.

All the hotels, souvenir/jewellery shops, bus companies & the places these tourists eat at, will all be owned by Thais in partnership with their foreign counterparts (those who have the tour companies bring them in). So, in short. money is going in to the Thai economy but only to a select few. The general populace whose livelihood depends on the independent tourist, who chooses where to eat & shop themselves, are not making anything out of these "zero Baht Tourists".

Quality Chinese tourists? Hmm, just where exactly are they going to find those?

Curious to hear what spin TAT is going to give this one

For sure, it means an increase in Chinese (quality) tourists (according to TAT)

Thailand, don't worry! TAT is protecting your reputation

All the hotels, souvenir/jewellery shops, bus companies & the places these tourists eat at, will all be owned by Thais in partnership with their foreign counterparts (those who have the tour companies bring them in). So, in short. money is going in to the Thai economy but only to a select few. The general populace whose livelihood depends on the independent tourist, who chooses where to eat & shop themselves, are not making anything out of these "zero Baht Tourists".

I don't think so, even with unequal distribution of profits (that is not a surprise in any country), all the activites that you mentioned need waged workers to function.