Thailand has just passed an important milestone on the road to their target of 5 million Chinese arrivals this calendar year. Government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri recently announced the kingdom recorded 1 million Chinese arrivals between 1 January and 18 May.
The latest news is both an indication of Thailand’s readiness to receive ever-larger numbers of foreign arrivals, and evidence of the enduring popularity of the kingdom among travellers from China, traditionally one of Thailand’s most prominent source markets.
Anucha Burapachaisri has been quoted in the Bangkok Post as attributing this success to “the hard work of all agencies involved in the country’s efforts to regain the trust of international tourists and our status as one of the world’s most popular tourism destinations.”
Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has echoed this sentiment, while also outlining plans for the coming months. Following the recent influx of holidaymakers from China, the PM has requested that state agencies ensure traveller safety, and step up efforts to maintain the reputation of the tourism industry.
The rise in arrival numbers from China can be attributed, in part, to a recent campaign from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), called ‘Trust Thailand, You Taiguo Yue Wan Yue Kaixin.’ The initiative is endorsed by various opinion leaders in China and supported by the Royal Thai Police, who are working respectively to encourage Chinese nationals’ departure to the Land of Smiles, and ensuring their safety upon arrival.
Between October 2022 and April 2023, a total of 12,805 flights connected China to Thailand, which was a 98% increase compared to the same period last year. By the end of September, the number of flights is expected to grow to 46,175. It’s estimated that 5 million Chinese arrivals by the end of this year would generate 446 billion baht (US$ 12.5 billion) for the Thai economy.
The first 1 million Chinese visitors to Thailand this year were among 9.47 million foreign visitors to arrive between January and May. A total of 25 million international arrivals are expected in 2023. Although lower than pre-pandemic levels (40 million-plus in 2019), it remains a clear sign of progress. Last year, 11.15 million foreign arrivals were recorded, surpassing the government’s target of 10 million. With support from Chinese arrivals, it appears Thailand is on course to outstrip expectations again this year.
