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Authorities Urge Government Action in Response to Decline in Chinese Tourists

Thai tourism businesses call for government intervention amidst slump in Chinese tourism influx.

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3 min read
Government urged to address tourism crisis due to decrease in Chinese tourists visiting Thailand.
Government urged to address tourism crisis due to decrease in Chinese tourists visiting Thailand.

Authorities Urge Government Action in Response to Decline in Chinese Tourists

Title: Tourism Agencies Plead for Help as Thailand Faces Tourism Crisis Due to Declining Chinese Visitors

Hey there! Let's chat about Thailand's tourism industry and the crisis it's currently facing. You see, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand has taken a nose-dive, and it's causing quite a commotion.

During a recent holiday period (Labour Day), an astonishing 10.9 million Chinese tourists traveled abroad, marking a 28.7% increase compared to the previous year. Surprisingly, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia were the most coveted destinations, with Japan seeing a whopping 53% increase in flights. Yet, things are looking rather bleak for Thailand. Flights to Thailand are getting canceled and reduced, and Chinese charter operators are expected to cancel up to 68% of their flights by the end of the year, resulting in fewer flights and higher ticket prices.

Confidence in Thailand's safety has dwindled, tarnishing the country's image as an unsafe destination. This loss of faith is causing cancellations and rerouting to alternative locales. Meanwhile, infrastructure development in Thailand's tourism and service sectors lags behind that of neighboring countries and competitors, making it even harder to draw in tourists. Adith, the secretary-general of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), claims that this situation has created a crisis for the manufacturing, service, wholesale, and retail sectors. If nothing is done, Thailand could miss its target of 3.3 trillion baht in revenue from the tourism and service industries.

Unemployment looms for over 4.6 million direct employees and 10.6 million indirect workers within the tourism workforce. The decline in Chinese tourists has affected the broader tourism ecosystem, too, especially street food vendors, popular districts like Yaowarat and Banthat Thong, and shopping malls, many of which are gradually closing. "The private sector remains fragile, having only recently begun to recover from the Covid-19 crisis," Adith warns.

To combat this crisis, the Federation of Thai Tourism Associations (FETTA) has proposed a series of measures aimed at both short-term and long-term recovery strategies. Some of these suggestions include inviting Chinese high-ranking officials for a political powwow to boost tourism, reducing the visa period to 15 days, promoting 10,000 chartered flights to revive the industry, and investing in domestic infrastructure development. FETTA also proposed plans to develop the senior workforce, simplify regulations, create a tourism fund, and establish a tourism data and AI technology center.

In a nutshell, the Federation of Thai Tourism Associations (FETTA) has come up with a bag of tricks to help the tourism industry climb out of the crisis and maybe even thrive. But will the Thai government heed their call and take action to save the day? Only time will tell.

Stay tuned for more updates on Thailand's tourism woes and the government's response. Until next time, take care and happy travels!

Related:

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  • Phuket tops southern Thailand's tourism revenue in early 2025
  • PM launches "Sawasdee Nihao" event, reinforcing trust in Thailand's security
  • Proposed measures to resolve tourism crisis in Thailand

Additional Insights:

  • The Federation of Thai Tourism Associations (FETTA) proposed inviting high-ranking Chinese officials to Thailand during the 50th anniversary of China-Thailand relations on July 1 to boost diplomatic and tourism ties.
  • FETTA suggested reducing the visa period from 60 days to 15 days to streamline travel for Chinese tourists.
  • FETTA proposed supporting promotions via 10,000 chartered flights to stimulate revenue and attract more tourists, which could generate about 10 billion baht in revenue.
  • FETTA suggested enhancing safety measures to reassure tourists about the safety of traveling in Thailand.
  • FETTA is calling for workforce development to ensure that older workers can remain in employment longer, which is essential for the tourism sector's stability.
  1. The tourism crisis in Thailand, resulting from the decline in Chinese visitors, has extended its impact to various sectors of the economy, including manufacturing, service, wholesale, and retail industries.
  2. To address the tourism crisis, the Federation of Thai Tourism Associations (FETTA) has proposed several measures, such as investing in domestic infrastructure development and establishing a tourism data and AI technology center.
  3. FETTA has also suggested strategies for long-term recovery, like developing the senior workforce and simplifying regulations, to ensure the stability of the tourism sector.
  4. In an effort to boost tourism and diplomatic ties, FETTA has proposed inviting high-ranking Chinese officials to Thailand during the 50th anniversary of China-Thailand relations.
  5. Another proposal by FETTA is to reduce the visa period for Chinese tourists from 60 days to 15 days, with the aim of streamlining travel and attracting more tourists.
  6. In addition to these strategic moves, FETTA is also seeking financial support for chartered flights to revive the industry, estimating that this could generate around 10 billion baht in revenue.

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