Mid-Autumn Festival Week: Millions of Chinese are travelling to Thailand

Saturday, September 30, 2023

Thailand is experiencing a resurgence in tourism as millions of Chinese tourists flock to its golden beaches, shopping districts, and iconic temples.

Underlining its commitment to reviving the nation’s economy, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin recently unveiled a visa-free policy for Chinese and Kazakh tourists, running from September 25 to February 24 of the following year. This move signals Thailand’s determination to prioritise the recovery of its tourism industry.

The timing of the policy coincided perfectly with China’s “Golden Week” holiday period, which centers around National Day on October 1. This year’s Golden Week also overlaps with the Mid-Autumn Festival, creating a 10-day travel rush from September 29 to October 8. Importantly, it represents one of the first holiday periods since the Covid-19 pandemic in which Chinese citizens can travel to international destinations without restrictions.

As a warm gesture of hospitality, Chinese visitors arriving from Shanghai were greeted with gifts distributed by Prime Minister Srettha and tourism ministers at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on the first day of the visa-free policy.

Prime Minister Srettha expressed confidence in the scheme’s ability to substantially boost Thailand’s economy. He emphasized the government’s desire to encourage Chinese tourists to explore not only major cities like Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Pattaya, and Phuket but also smaller towns. The aim is to extend tourists’ stays and increase their spending, ultimately benefiting local economies.

China was Thailand’s largest source of tourists in 2019, with nearly 11 million Chinese visitors accounting for over a quarter of international arrivals before the Covid-19 pandemic severely impacted global tourism. However, 2023 has seen a stark contrast, with only 2.2 million Chinese travelers arriving in Thailand between January and September 10, according to data from the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Thailand’s visa-free policy and the warm welcome extended to Chinese tourists signal a concerted effort to reinvigorate its tourism industry and reconnect with one of its most significant visitor demographics.

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