The obstacle is movement within the mainland.
Chinese tourists arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport following the visa-free campaign launched in September are greeted and gestured by officials. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)
According to Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Thailand still claims the largest market share from the mainland, with rising spending per trip leading to increased competition from other countries offering visa exemptions to Chinese travelers. However, Thailand’s tourism industry remains unfazed.
Although many other countries, including Kazakhstan, Maldives and Sri Lanka, offer visa exemptions to Chinese tourists, Tourism and Sports Minister Sudhawan Wangspakikosol said Thailand remains the top foreign destination for tourists. He said there is.
Sudhawan said Thailand is advantageous because it has diverse tourism products such as nature, historical sites and beaches.
He said the visa-free policy is expected to gain momentum over the next year as air traffic increases despite slower-than-expected travel demand.
Sudhawan said the ministry will focus on attracting new flights connecting China’s second-tier cities with Thailand’s regional airports such as Krabi, Chiang Mai and Phuket.
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Tapanie Khiafaibulu said the tourism board will be spending between 58,000 and 60,000 per trip after authorities lowered this year’s target for Chinese arrivals to 4 million. The baht was higher than pre-pandemic levels, he said.
He said a big challenge for the Chinese market is domestic travel incentives, and the Chinese government continues to offer programs to stimulate the struggling economy.
TAT’s Shanghai office director Nonglux Youendi said TAT plans to further promote direct charter flights to beach areas such as Krabi during the holiday season and Lunar New Year.
In 2019, the Shanghai office captured the largest share, with 4 million visitors out of a total of 10 million Chinese immigrants. This city is a major hub connecting China to the rest of the world.
Mr Nonglux said there are currently about 40,000 vacant seats a week between Thailand and Shanghai and other cities in nearby eastern China.
Potential new demographics include younger millennials, who primarily stay in four- and five-star hotels and seek unique experiences beyond shopping, he said.
TAT yesterday signed a letter of intent with Alibaba Group’s travel platform Fliggy, with the aim of stimulating the Chinese market and ensuring tourist trust.
TAT and Fliggy will introduce hidden and attractive destinations in the Chinese market and offer promotions during the holiday season.
To ensure safe travel in Thailand, Fliggy plans to launch a 24-hour online service center for Chinese tourists.
The platform serves over 440 million users and offers 10,000 Thailand tourism products. Recent promotions include the 11.11 travel campaign and the Similan Islands marketing campaign.
