Thai tour operators anxiously awaiting Visa exemption between Thailand and China

BANGKOK, 24 October 2013 (NNT) - Local inbound tour operators are pinning their hope on the Thai-China visa exemption agreement to help shore up the current slumping market.

Since the implementation of China's new tourism law, the number of inbound Chinese tours has dropped by 70-80%, said Adith Chairatananont, the managing director of Golden Discovery Express.

Meanwhile, Wichit Prakobsokol, the president of the CCT group, said the cost of Thai package tours for Chinese tourists had gone up because tour agents could no longer force tourists to go shopping.

According to the new law, Chinese travel agencies are not allowed anymore to sell low-cost trips or force visitors to go shopping in order to earn sales commissions.

The visa exemption deal should bring more Chinese tourists to Thailand again. Wichit said he expected to see the deal struck between the two countries in the next two to three months.

He believed that the recent official visit of China Prime Minister Li Keqiang was a good sign for the industry.


-- NNT 2013-10-24

Wow. 70% down.

Tat are going to have to come up with another way to hit those targets now.

70%?! Forced people to do shopping; must've been inspired by those tuk tuks to the gem shop cartels.

Edited October 24, 201312 yr by gemini81

According to the new law, Chinese travel agencies are not allowed anymore to sell low-cost trips or force visitors to go shopping in order to earn sales commissions.

That doesn't tally with what TAT said...according to TAT they all came here because of the lovely beaches and exquisite Thainess

Time to buy 7-11 shares.

Just think a VIP tour bus trip from China, through Laos to Thailand. Or this would be good for the high speed train from China to Bangkok. Or the travel could be from China through Laos, and than along the pipeline to Myanmar, than to Thailand.

Edited October 24, 201312 yr by tomross46

Wow. 70% down.

Tat are going to have to come up with another way to hit those targets now.

We haven't heard too much of late re-millions up on previous year, and record visitors a week or so back, is someone telling porky pies ??? these figures cannot have happened overnight so Explain your figures TAT--AOT.

red hot news from TAT and AOT, we are millions down of late.

Ah, those quality tourists just don't seem to be coming . . . the figures they come up with are pulled out of a hat as you are well aware I am sure . . . so big changes from day to day are nothing new, they just say what they want with no true facts to back up anything.

Wow. 70% down.

Tat are going to have to come up with another way to hit those targets now.

We haven't heard too much of late re-millions up on previous year, and record visitors a week or so back, is someone telling porky pies ??? these figures cannot have happened overnight so Explain your figures TAT--AOT.

red hot news from TAT and AOT, we are millions down of late.

If they can't find a way to keep the Chinese numbers up, then all their targets can go to pot. Bearing in mind that the way that they have set it up is completely cheap and cheerful with compulsory shopping trips, hmmmmmm. And you see, patently there have been some complaints in China that tourists have been getting co-erced into shopping.

Seems the Chinese don't like getting gouged any more than anybody else.

Wow. 70% down.

Tat are going to have to come up with another way to hit those targets now.

We haven't heard too much of late re-millions up on previous year, and record visitors a week or so back, is someone telling porky pies ??? these figures cannot have happened overnight so Explain your figures TAT--AOT.

red hot news from TAT and AOT, we are millions down of late.

If they can't find a way to keep the Chinese numbers up, then all their targets can go to pot. Bearing in mind that the way that they have set it up is completely cheap and cheerful with compulsory shopping trips, hmmmmmm. And you see, patently there have been some complaints in China that tourists have been getting co-erced into shopping.

Seems the Chinese don't like getting gouged any more than anybody else.

Up market Chinese the biggest spenders ??? so now who is the top of the tourists, Korea -Malay

Pride comes before a fall---All that was said about the Chinese loving it here--haha compulsory shopping HaHa we may find they will start to split up and boycott the group tour and travel like many Westerners.

Chinese???Mai pen rai.

Wow. 70% down.

Tat are going to have to come up with another way to hit those targets now.

We haven't heard too much of late re-millions up on previous year, and record visitors a week or so back, is someone telling porky pies ??? these figures cannot have happened overnight so Explain your figures TAT--AOT.

red hot news from TAT and AOT, we are millions down of late.

If they can't find a way to keep the Chinese numbers up, then all their targets can go to pot. Bearing in mind that the way that they have set it up is completely cheap and cheerful with compulsory shopping trips, hmmmmmm. And you see, patently there have been some complaints in China that tourists have been getting co-erced into shopping.

Seems the Chinese don't like getting gouged any more than anybody else.

Up market Chinese the biggest spenders ??? so now who is the top of the tourists, Korea -Malay

Pride comes before a fall---All that was said about the Chinese loving it here--haha compulsory shopping HaHa we may find they will start to split up and boycott the group tour and travel like many Westerners.

I did wonder, because the prices were so low for a trip including flight. Had to be something amiss.

So maybe they have screwed that pooch because without the shopping trip, the price has to go up.. And whammo, not so many want to cone when it is the real price.

This is very believable, the big c near me always has a bus load of chinese wearing badges shopping, i always joke with my wife who pays for a tour of a big c when you can visit ine for free,

Sent from my GT-P5100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Wow. 70% down.

Tat are going to have to come up with another way to hit those targets now.

We haven't heard too much of late re-millions up on previous year, and record visitors a week or so back, is someone telling porky pies ??? these figures cannot have happened overnight so Explain your figures TAT--AOT.

red hot news from TAT and AOT, we are millions down of late.

If they can't find a way to keep the Chinese numbers up, then all their targets can go to pot. Bearing in mind that the way that they have set it up is completely cheap and cheerful with compulsory shopping trips, hmmmmmm. And you see, patently there have been some complaints in China that tourists have been getting co-erced into shopping.

Seems the Chinese don't like getting gouged any more than anybody else.

Up market Chinese the biggest spenders ??? so now who is the top of the tourists, Korea -Malay

Pride comes before a fall---All that was said about the Chinese loving it here--haha compulsory shopping HaHa we may find they will start to split up and boycott the group tour and travel like many Westerners.

I did wonder, because the prices were so low for a trip including flight. Had to be something amiss.

So maybe they have screwed that pooch because without the shopping trip, the price has to go up.. And whammo, not so many want to cone when it is the real price.

[/quote

The Chinese maybe thought Big C was for Chinese only. Posted by ginjag.

Edited October 24, 201312 yr by ginjag

Down 70-80% from what??? Definitely not the number of previous years Chinese tourists!! I have never seen as many Chinese tourists here as this exact year. Only natural that the number will drop in the rainy season.

Are these the quality tourists the government want to attract?

Haven't really noticed the drop. The good thing about the Chinese is they like to be herded around in buses and as long as you stay away from their designated tourist traps, no worries. Too bad the Russians aren't the same.

They need to shoot a sequel to "Lost in Thailand"

Did for Chinese tourists what "The Beach" did for western tourists.

I've never watched it, and don't know if it's available with subtitles or dubbing.

The Chinese don't enjoy shopping in Thailand because the majority of stuff is more expensive than where they come from. They constantly moan about prices in Thailand and come here to sight see, and they will only come once, telling others when they return home not to bother to come here.

The Chinese don't enjoy shopping in Thailand because the majority of stuff is more expensive than where they come from. They constantly moan about prices in Thailand and come here to sight see, and they will only come once, telling others when they return home not to bother to come here.

Makes sense. I order loads of stuff from Ebay these days and it's usually shipped from Hong Kong or mainland China. Event with postage the prices are lower.

The Chinese don't enjoy shopping in Thailand because the majority of stuff is more expensive than where they come from. They constantly moan about prices in Thailand and come here to sight see, and they will only come once, telling others when they return home not to bother to come here.

They're shopping for luxury items that have a super import high duty back in China.

Unfortunately, those things have a super high import duty in Thailand, too.

I know several Chinese folks that pay for their Euro and USA trips by bringing back one or two genuine watches or handbags and selling them when they get back.

Edited October 24, 201312 yr by impulse

From the Cultural Revolution to forced shopping. What a world.

Having been many times to Koh Lahn (island)near Pattaya and seen droves of Chinese/Korean/ come from the mainland 20 to a speed boat. all with coloured hotel towels, the different colours depicting which hotel they are at. a meal is provided then they croud together on beach chairs and going to swim.

My laugh is the kind of swimwear they have, like going back in a time warp. Many older males wear underpants for the swim.

The noise they make -shouting rather than talking-hilarious. but buy 2pm they walk single file back to the speedboat and away.

They never mix with Thai or westerners, something like aliens.

My point is shopping for more modern clothes should be a priority, so please do not stop the shopping trips Ha ha

When Thailand started to go down hill tourism wise the Chinese came in droves and bailed them out, pity they do not integrate.

No wonder those tuk tuk drivers are using machetes to recover 20 baht

No wonder those tuk tuk drivers are using machetes to recover 20 baht

Sounds like a great time. Get off the bus and buy something, or else!

So if Chinese tourists can get a visa exemption they will be happy to pay a lot more for their trips to Thailand?

Shurely shome mishtake here.

the 500 baht insurance will further lower the arrival expectation, good luck.

It's a good moved from China government as most scam tourist to bringing them to so called jewellery shop all over price items.