Perhaps my question is too specific and it's only possible to estimate the proportions from various countries visiting Thailand as a whole. I just thought that since Chiang Mai is so close to China, for example, we might get a higher proportion of Chinese tourists here than Bangkok.

You can see plenty of Chinese tourists in CM these days. Does anyone know if the majority are Mandarin or Cantonese speakers?

Probably a higher proportion compared to other places due to Chiang Mai being popular and well-known. In absolute numbers though I'm not sure that more Chinese visit Chiang Mai compared to other places. I do get the impression that many Chinese visit Chiang Mai exclusively, as opposed to making it a stop in between other places. Western tourists are more likely to visit Chiang Mai before or after visiting Bangkok, the beaches and islands, etc. Chinese might stick to Chiang Mai more, or at least the North (Chiang Mai and Pai for example)

I do get the impression that a bigger proportion of Chinese visitors to Chiang Mai are independent travelers, as opposed to group tours that plague Bangkok and the beaches. So we're exceptionally fortunate with that. That said, even for independent travelers I do get the feeling they travel in slightly bigger groups, e.g. 6 people either family or friends, as opposed to Westerners who are more likely to travel as a couple or small young family.

In general Cantonese is a minority language in China (Along with loads of other languages and dialects) but Chiang Mai does get Cantonese speakers too, some of them connecting through Macao and Hong Kong from Southern China.

And then you get Mandarin speaking people from Singapore too of course.

.......I do get the impression that a bigger proportion of Chinese visitors to Chiang Mai are independent travelers, as opposed to group tours that plaguWithe Bangkok and the beaches.

With all due respect, I have to disagree with this. I'm downtown every day and see 5-10 bus loads of Chinese visitors daily just passing Thapae Gate. These are the huge double-size tour buses, and if I see them on the Thapae Gate side, I'd have believe that they are in other parts of the city as well. While there is no doubt that there are plenty of independent Chinese tourists as well, I'd be more inclined to think that the numbers are about equal.

Also, I take my lunch daily in guest houses in and around the Old City, and usually (not just sometimes,) see large groups of them housed together in the guest houses, not just in the larger hotels. These are folks who are all traveling together in package tours arranged in China for them.

I would say both of you are correct. The split being somewhere around 50% I would guess. It used to be (2 years ago or so) more organized tours but these days there are plenty of independent travelers.

What typically happens when a country reaches middle income status is for its citizens to start going abroad for holidays on group tour packages. Later they graduate to independent travel. According to tourism experts on the Chinese market, the Chinese are taking to independent travel much earlier than other nationalities (eg Koreans, Japanese).

Based on my personal observations, I tend to think majority of Chinese tourists in CM are here on their own, certainly those wandering around outside of the old city. I was on the Air Asia return flights to Hangzhou recently, and they were both full with young Chinese (mostly in their 20s & 30s) visiting CM on their own.

Incidentally, I think CM is a wonderful short getaway destination for the rising Chinese middle class who lives within 4-5 hours flight radius.

There are also a number of cars on the road with Chinese number plates (even the occasional motorcycle!) that would indicate that some independent travellers are happy to drive to Chiang Mai via Myanmar / Laos

Mainly Mandarin speakers simply on the demographic, the split being about 12 to 1 Mandarin speakers as opposed to Cantonese. Mind you that is still 100 million plus Cantonese speakers!

Chiangmai is a top destination as is Pai in particular "Coffee in Love" etc all thanks to to Chinese social media. Boots is high on the list as is Big C and other places that sell particular snacks.

Chinese, I think they camp out in supermarkets!

.......I do get the impression that a bigger proportion of Chinese visitors to Chiang Mai are independent travelers, as opposed to group tours that plaguWithe Bangkok and the beaches.

With all due respect, I have to disagree with this. I'm downtown every day and see 5-10 bus loads of Chinese visitors daily just passing Thapae Gate. These are the huge double-size tour buses, and if I see them on the Thapae Gate side, I'd have believe that they are in other parts of the city as well. While there is no doubt that there are plenty of independent Chinese tourists as well, I'd be more inclined to think that the numbers are about equal.

I said a bigger proportion, doesn't mean there are completely no group tours. There are some, yet the independent segment seems more prominent here compared to Bangkok and Pattaya.

Group tours are a bit of a pest, pretty much no matter the nationality. (And when compared to independent visitors from the same country)

But independent visitors seem to be on the increase in other parts of Thailand, too. So that's good news for those places too.

There are also a number of cars on the road with Chinese number plates (even the occasional motorcycle!) that would indicate that some independent travellers are happy to drive to Chiang Mai via Myanmar / Laos

Yes. And then some fly in and rent a car.

(God help us all. )

It's Chinese New Year in a couple of weeks,likely you will see the convoys of Chinese 4 x 4's all over the place.

A lot of the Malaysians do the tour buses.

Four Seasons Resort staff say their guests are about 70% Chinese and the number went over 50% a few years ago.

Four Seasons Resort staff say their guests are about 70% Chinese and the number went over 50% a few years ago.

Said in another thread. If you are not catering to the Chinese you are throwing money away. As tourists, and the new expats, they are here to stay.

Interesting what they buy too.

I was in Tops and saw three of them clear the shelf of all Lindt Excellence 70% and 85% dark chocolate.

They do seem to like the candy shelves.

What other nationalities do people think are most common in Chiang Mai apart from Chinese? I mean tourists, not residents.

What other nationalities do people think are most common in Chiang Mai apart from Chinese? I mean tourists, not residents.

Thais

.......I do get the impression that a bigger proportion of Chinese visitors to Chiang Mai are independent travelers, as opposed to group tours that plaguWithe Bangkok and the beaches.

With all due respect, I have to disagree with this. I'm downtown every day and see 5-10 bus loads of Chinese visitors daily just passing Thapae Gate. These are the huge double-size tour buses, and if I see them on the Thapae Gate side, I'd have believe that they are in other parts of the city as well. While there is no doubt that there are plenty of independent Chinese tourists as well, I'd be more inclined to think that the numbers are about equal.

I said a bigger proportion, doesn't mean there are completely no group tours. There are some, yet the independent segment seems more prominent here compared to Bangkok and Pattaya.

Group tours are a bit of a pest, pretty much no matter the nationality. (And when compared to independent visitors from the same country)

But independent visitors seem to be on the increase in other parts of Thailand, too. So that's good news for those places too.

Yep! Just as I said.

Interesting what they buy too.

I was in Tops and saw three of them clear the shelf of all Lindt Excellence 70% and 85% dark chocolate.

They do seem to like the candy shelves.

Funny peculiar when you come to think about it - it's not always the major crimes that provoke dislike of certain races and nationalities, it's the small stuff.

Piggishly clearing the shelf in a supermarket, jumping a queue, etc. Selfish behaviour by even a minority can lead to a racial stereotype that is used against them all.

The bloody history of the empires of the Greeks, Romans, and the Mongols, et al, is noted but not really condemned. Their leaders and conquerors... Alexander, the Caesars, and the Khans, are venerated and their crimes against humanity are treated as peccadilloes.

Petty social aggravations committed by obnoxious self-centred people are resented much more.

Any race that claims a mandate from heaven or a special relationship with God, and acts accordingly, is unforgiven.

Four Seasons Resort staff say their guests are about 70% Chinese and the number went over 50% a few years ago.

Said in another thread. If you are not catering to the Chinese you are throwing money away. As tourists, and the new expats, they are here to stay.

I would hate to think what would have happened to Chiang Mai's economy the past few years if they DIDN'T visit, given the decline in Western tourists, and backpackers/budget travelers specifically.