- Lunar New Year boosts tourism
- Visa exemptions attract Chinese
- Thailand targets eight million visitors
Beijing’s Chinatown buzzes with activity, illuminated by decorative banners and red lanterns for the Lunar New Year.
Ethnic Chinese Thais thronged temples over the weekend to welcome the Year of the Dragon, lighting candles and praying for good fortune.
Inside Bangkok’s largest Chinese temple, Wat Mangkon Kamalawat, women in traditional cheongsam dresses posed for photos with their families.
Lion dancers entertained crowds on Yaowarat Road, as Thais and tourists alike enjoyed the market, sampling food and shopping at the stalls.
Official figures indicate hundreds of thousands of Chinese nationals spent the 10-day holiday beginning 10 February in Thailand, benefiting from visa-free entry.
Southeast Asia has traditionally kicked off its tourism calendar with the Lunar New Year holiday,” said Kuala Lumpur-based tourism analyst Gary Bowerman.
“Thailand, under its Prime Minister’s guidance, has strategically positioned itself to capture China’s outbound travel demand by removing bilateral visas and launching aggressive marketing campaigns in China. This has led to a positive response from Chinese travellers. Bowerman explained that it prompted Chinese airlines to increase capacity for the New Year period.
Visa Waiver Spurs Chinese Tourism Surge
In September, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced a temporary visa exemption for Chinese visitors. Which became a permanent reciprocal visa exemption from 1 March, facilitating easier travel between Thailand and China.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Deputy Governor for Marketing, Nithee Seeprae, has reported a positive increase in Chinese arrivals.
“The Chinese New Year has been a boon for the new visa waiver with China, boosting Chinese tourists’ confidence,” he said. “Visitor numbers are nearly back to pre-Covid levels, with daily arrivals jumping from 7,000-8,000 last year to 27-28,000 since 1 February. Last month saw 500,000 Chinese visitors.”
According to government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke, Thailand welcomed four million tourists between 1 January and 8 February. This number includes over 730,000 Chinese.
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Nithee predicts Chinese visitor numbers could reach one million by month-end.
“To attract more Chinese tourists, we’re organising roadshows in China’s major cities, collaborating with travel agencies, and leveraging online promotions. Thanks to the visa exemption, flight operations are back to 90% of pre-pandemic levels,” Nithee added, highlighting efforts to engage with Chinese influencers to promote Thailand.
More initiatives are planned to boost tourism.
Phuket, in southern Thailand, has seen a surge in visitors recently.
Local reports suggest the island’s airport will handle 49,000 visitors daily from 16 February through the Chinese New Year. This is during Thailand’s peak season from November to March.
Phuket Resort Sees Surprising Occupancy
Ranjeet Viswanathan, Director of Sales and Marketing at the Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort, noted occupancy rates exceeding expectations.
“2024 has started strongly for us, with January and February occupancy rates surpassing predictions. Since 1 January, our hotel has maintained over 92% occupancy,” he said, noting that Chinese tourists contribute about 12% to the resort’s revenue, with a 5% increase in visitors this year.
The Year of the Wood Dragon, according to the Chinese calendar, is expected to bring innovation, ventures, and prosperity.
Although the Thai tourism sector has seen an uptick in Chinese visitors, numbers still lag behind 2019’s pre-pandemic figures. When over 11 million Chinese tourists contributed to a record 39 million visitors to Thailand.
Despite welcoming over 3.5 million Chinese tourists last year, the number fell short of the expected five million, affected by domestic travel preferences, China’s economic challenges, a tragic incident in Bangkok, and negative portrayals in Chinese media.
Yet, Bowerman remains optimistic about China’s outbound travel recovery, as early 2024 figures indicate a strong demand for travel to Thailand.
Thai tourism officials anticipate over eight million Chinese visitors by year’s end. They are exploring new flight routes from China to boost arrivals, aiming to meet their visitor target.
“It’s very promising. We’ll continue to build tourist confidence and step up our promotional efforts,” Nithee concluded.
