On 8 January, China officially lifted long-standing restrictions on outbound travel for its citizens, in a move that has been eagerly anticipated and widely celebrated by operators in Thailand and Southeast Asia. For many countries in the region, including Thailand, the Chinese market makes up a substantial portion of the inbound tourism market.
On 9 January, three government ministers journeyed to Bangkok’s international airport to personally welcome the first group of Chinese tourists to arrive in Thailand since China lifted restrictions. Passengers arriving from Xiamen were presented with flower garlands as they walked past a banner that read: “China and Thailand are one family. Amazing Thailand always warmly welcomes our Chinese family.”
Thailand’s deputy prime minister and minister of public health, Anutin Charnvirakul, says “the arrival of tourists from China, as well as from countries around the world, to Thailand is expected to increase continually. This is a good sign for Thailand’s tourism sector.”
“If every Thai person welcomes these tourists with warm hospitality, and we also take good care of our health, it will accelerate the economic recovery after our suffering from the Covid-19 pandemic for three years,” added the deputy prime minister.
To ensure the safe and steady return of this important demographic to the kingdom, Thailand will require all arrivals from China to provide proof of vaccination or proof of recovery from Covid over the past six months, although the finer details of this scheme are yet to be announced.
In neighbouring Malaysia, prime minister Anwar Ibrahim has stated that policies will avoid “discriminating [against] any countries,” and has confirmed officials at airports will be screening all incoming travellers – not just Chinese nationals – for symptoms such as fever.
Before the pandemic, travellers from China accounted for around a third of all international arrivals to Thailand. Around 5 million Chinese travellers are expected to visit Thailand this year, according to the latest figures released by officials in the kingdom. Although less than half as many as before the Covid era, this new influx of arrivals is expected to provide a major boost to Thai tourism in the months ahead.
Thailand has long been the destination of choice for holidaymakers from China. In 2019, the kingdom welcomed around 11 million tourists from China. Now, with the first wave of Chinese arrivals touching down, Thai tourism is looking forward to getting a much-needed boost in the months ahead.
