PUBLISHED: 1 Oct 2024 at 08:02
Thailand is poised to welcome as many as 183,000 Chinese visitors during the forthcoming Golden Week holiday, marking an impressive 88% recovery compared to 2019 figures. This surge is anticipated to generate approximately 5.1 billion baht in revenue, according to insights from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
The TAT Governor highlighted an expected 30% increase in daily arrivals, building on the 18,000 visitors per day recorded since the start of this year.
Currently, the Chinese outbound market has rebounded to about 85% of pre-pandemic levels, with flight capacity between Thailand and China seeing a robust 70% year-on-year improvement.
During this seven-day holiday from October 1-7, TAT forecasts a total of 132,000 to 183,000 Chinese arrivals, generating between 3.7 and 5.1 billion baht. This is a significant increase from the 2.3 billion baht reported during last year’s Golden Week.
Travel analytics indicate a remarkable 250% year-on-year increase in flight bookings from China to Thailand for this holiday period.
While October 1 is expected to see the highest number of arrivals, many have already embarked on their journeys as early as September 28.
Travel planning has become notably more spontaneous, with a reduced booking window of just eight days prior to departure. On average, groups consist of around 13 travelers.
During this peak travel time, direct flights between Thailand and China are set to reach a total of 1,097, providing 197,757 seats and connecting 43 Chinese cities with six Thai airports.
Shanghai claims 19% of the overall flight capacity, followed closely by Guangzhou and Chengdu, accounting for 15% and 8%, respectively.
In response to growing demand, airlines such as Juneyao Airlines, Thai Lion Air, and Thai AirAsia X have increased their flight offerings.
The TAT credits a recent visa exemption for contributing to a 122% year-on-year rise in Chinese arrivals during the first seven months of the year.
To attract more Chinese tourists, the TAT introduced several marketing initiatives in September and October, including partnerships with Chinese travel platforms and special promotions for Chinese passport holders.
The Chief Executive of Centara Hotels & Resorts acknowledged that while Japanese destinations like Tokyo and Osaka remain popular among Chinese travelers, Thai tourism has seen a 30% decline due to insufficient flight capacity.
Conversely, Japanese cities have experienced a 40% growth, attributed to increased flight availability.
Additionally, there is a visible trend toward last-minute bookings, with many tourists securing accommodations just one day or even the same day of their intended stay.
