22-7-2023 (BANGKOK) The Association of Thai Travel Agents is calling on the next Thai government to take decisive measures to boost the Chinese tourism market by exempting visa fees for visitors from China for an initial period of three months.
The president of the Association, Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, aims to attract up to 5 million Chinese tourists, aligning with the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) target for 2023. The proposed visa-fee exemption seeks to bolster the country’s tourism industry, which suffered a severe blow following a tragic boat accident in Phuket back in 2018. By instilling confidence and making travel more accessible, the Association hopes to attract a higher number of Chinese tourists to Thailand.
At present, the influx of Chinese tourists into Thailand remains relatively slow, with approximately 1.6 million visitors during the first half of the year. To achieve the goal of 5 million Chinese tourists for the year, an additional 3.4 million visitors need to be attracted in the latter half of the year. This might prove challenging due to some Chinese tourists facing difficulties in obtaining Thai visas, as Sisdivachr pointed out.
While Thailand endeavors to increase Chinese tourist arrivals, neighboring countries in the region are also vying for a share of the Chinese tourist market. Malaysia, for instance, offers easier visa procedures, taking only 1-3 days to process, with a visa fee of around 200 yuan (approximately 956 baht) per application. In contrast, Thailand’s visa application fee, including service charges, could amount to 400-500 yuan (approximately 1,912 – 2,390 baht) per application, and the Visa on Arrival fee stands at 500 yuan (approximately 2,390 baht).
Due to these differences in visa fees and procedures, some Chinese tour groups have shifted their focus towards traveling to Malaysia instead, leading to increased competition for Thailand’s tourism market.
Despite the current challenges, there are optimistic forecasts for the Chinese tourist market in Thailand for the upcoming year. The TAT’s target of 25.8 million tourist arrivals appears achievable, with the trend indicating a likely recovery of Chinese tourists’ interest in visiting Thailand.
Additionally, the Association expects other East Asian markets, such as Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, along with China, to contribute to around 12.48 million visitors in 2024.
Thailand is also eyeing the Asean market, with an estimated 10.5 million visitors expected. Malaysia is anticipated to be the primary destination for around 4 million visitors, while other countries like Laos, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines are projected to account for an additional 6.8 million visitors.
