24-4-2024 (BANGKOK) Chinese and Japanese tourists are anticipated to flood into Thailand during the Labour Day holiday and Japan’s Golden Week, with arrivals expected to reach 996,000, marking a significant 29% increase from the same period last year, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
The holiday stretch, spanning from April 26 to May 5, is poised to witness approximately 89,000 foreign arrivals daily, a surge of 10% compared to the usual average. Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, TAT’s deputy governor for international marketing in Asia and South Pacific, attributed this uptick to public holidays observed across various nations.
Projections suggest tourism income to soar to 32.3 billion baht, reflecting a substantial 35% year-on-year growth.
Mr Chattan highlighted the pivotal role of Chinese and Japanese markets in driving tourism expenditure, buoyed by extended public holidays spanning five to seven days in both countries during this period.
An estimated 230,000 Chinese travellers are forecasted to journey to Thailand, marking a remarkable 75% increase from last year. Expenditure by Chinese tourists is expected to reach 9.1 billion baht, soaring by 144% year-on-year.
Chinese tourists are expected to commence their travels 1-5 days prior to the Labour Day holiday falling between May 1-5.
Japanese tourists, on the other hand, are anticipated to begin their journeys from April 26, in anticipation of the Golden Week holiday spanning April 29 to May 5. Around 41,000 Japanese visitors are expected to grace Thailand’s shores during this period, signifying a 30% surge from the corresponding period last year. Revenue from Japanese tourists is projected to skyrocket by 76% to 1.39 billion baht.
Mr Chattan attributed the boost in the market to the permanent visa-free scheme between Thailand and China and the overall resumption of flights.
In response to the anticipated surge in demand, several airlines are set to increase their flights during the holiday period. Spring Airlines will augment its flights from Shanghai and Shantou to Bangkok, while China Southern Airlines plans to increase its flights from Guangzhou to Bangkok and Phuket. Similarly, Xiamen Airlines will elevate its flights from Xiamen to Bangkok.
During the Golden Week holiday, Japanese tourists have ranked Bangkok as their third most preferred destination, following Seoul and Taipei, as per online travel platform Expedia.
JTB, Japan’s largest travel agency, has forecasted a staggering 68% increase in outbound travellers from Japan during the Golden Week holiday, with South Korea emerging as the most sought-after destination, closely followed by Southeast Asia.
Mr Chattan revealed that TAT’s overseas offices in Japan and China have launched promotional campaigns with partner organisations earlier this year to bolster the market during the holiday period. These initiatives encompass joint promotions with AirAsia targeting Japanese travellers and conducting road shows in major Chinese cities like Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Kunming, featuring tourism operators from Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Pattaya.
