Current location:entertainment >>
Thailand looks to woo 8 mln Chinese tourists
entertainment85People have gathered around
IntroductionThailand's tourism industry has started looking up. With consumer spending at this year's traditiona ...
Thailand's tourism industry has started looking up. With consumer spending at this year's traditional Loy Krathong Festival expected to hit an eight-year high, the country's tourism authority has announced that it aims to attract more than 8 million Chinese tourists next year.
At a news conference on Tuesday, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, or TAT, said it would continue to promote the country as one of the world's most popular travel destinations, and aims to attract more foreign tourists, especially from China.
TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool revealed that the authority is confident the total foreign arrivals this year will exceed its target of 25 million people.
Although the tourism authority had lowered its expectations of Chinese tourist arrivals from the previous 5 to 7 million to about 3.4 million this year, the authority estimated that Chinese arrivals next year will rise to more than 8 million due to an increase in the number of flights and better economic conditions.
"Thailand is well-known for its diversified tourism experiences and great services. And we will strengthen efforts to ensure the safety of tourists to further attract foreign visitors, especially from China," Thapanee said, adding that Chinese tourists may help to generate 452 billion baht ($13 billion) in tourist receipts next year.
For the past few days, people from all over Thailand have been taking part in the Loy Krathong Festival to celebrate the full moon. Residents and tourists gathered in the evening at lakes, rivers, canals, and beaches to pay their respects to the river goddess by floating krathongs — banana leaf "rafts" decorated with flowers, incense and candles.
Top destinations
The spending for this year's Loy Krathong Festival is estimated to increase by 3.3 percent from the previous year to 10 billion baht, according to a survey by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.
Although Thailand faces intense competition from other countries that have also offered visa exemptions to Chinese travelers, Thapanee said the country is still among the top destinations for tourists from the Chinese mainland.
China was Thailand's biggest source of international visitors before the COVID-19 pandemic, accounting for nearly 11 million arrivals in 2019, according to official statistics.
This year, however, Malaysians contributed the most to total foreign arrivals at 3.66 million people so far, followed by Chinese (3.03 million), South Koreans (1.43 million), Indians (1.4 million) and Russians (1.24 million).
In a bid to attract more visitors, the Thai government announced a temporary visa exemption for a 30-day stay for Chinese and Kazakh nationals. It started on Sept 25 and is scheduled to expire on Feb 29 next year.
Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, TAT's deputy governor for international marketing in Asia and South Pacific, said in a recent interview with Bangkok Post newspaper that the authority is planning a media trip to invite more than 100 Chinese key opinion leaders to explore new activities and destinations in Thailand, along with testing safety measures for tourists.
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Stellar Stories news portal”。http://saintpierreandmiquelon.priasejati.net/news-67a199891.html
Related articles
Can yogurt reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes?
entertainmentSharp-eyed grocery shoppers may notice new labels in the dairy aisle touting yogurt as way to reduce ...
Read moreHK gov't declines to say how much funding it gave for 'Chubby Hearts'
entertainmentThe government has declined to reveal how much funding it provided for an open-air art installation ...
Read moreClimate activist Greta Thunberg detained twice at demonstration in The Hague
entertainmentSwedish climate activist Greta Thunberg is arrested during a climate march against fossil subsidies ...
Read more
Popular articles
- Paying college athletes appears closer than ever. How could it work and what stands in the way?
- Tourism in Brazil up 7.8% in 2023
- Grief and anger in Moscow following concert attack
- Truth Social: Trump's DJT stock plummets days after going public
- Human remains were found at a former Hitler base, but decay prevents determining the cause of death
- Finnish police say bullying was motive for school shooting
Latest articles
Polish prosecutors open investigation after judge flees to autocratic Belarus
Russia hits vast dam in war's largest strike on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, Kyiv says
HK's West Kowloon arts hub to run out of funds in 2025: CEO
3 Body Problem: Lawyer sentenced to death for Lin Qi murder
Man dragged by bear following fatal car crash, Massachusetts state police say
Israeli military reduces troops in southern Gaza, spokesperson says
LINKS
- Taikonaut Wang Yaping Sets China's Record for Longest Stay in Space
- DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Israel must beware all
- China Claims Two Swimming Titles, Leads Worlds Gold Tally with 17
- All England Open: Zheng/Huang retain mixed doubles title
- Woman Seeks to Showcase Dong Culture
- Inheriting Craft Helps Woman Promote Hometown's Revitalization
- Hard Work, Many Revisions Made Paralympic Mascot
- Woman Quits Consulting Job to Give Grandfather Experiences of a Lifetime
- 7 Decades Later, Girl Admitted to Grandfather's Alma Mater
- DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Israel must beware all