Chinese visitors to account for one-fifth of Thailand’s total international arrivals by year-end
The latest data from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), SiteMinder, and Meituan-Dianping shows that the number of international tourists visiting Thailand this year exceeded 11 million, of which more than 1.3 million were from China. The figures suggest that Chinese tourists could account for one-fifth of Thailand’s total international arrivals by the end of the year.
The statistics were announced at the “Meituan Going to Sea, Stunning Thailand” event held in Bangkok recently.
The TAT expects the number of international tourists to Thailand to reach 25 million this year, more than double the number in 2022. This prediction is in line with findings from SiteMinder, a leading open hotel commerce platform, which reported a 79% increase in weekly bookings in Thailand as Chinese tourists reached out to Thai hotel customers since the start of the year.
Xie Wensen, general manager of Meituan Overseas Accommodation, emphasized that Chinese tourists, especially the younger generation born after 1990, are increasingly interested in visiting Thailand. Xie emphasized the importance of providing a seamless digital experience and working closely with partners like SiteMinder and TAT to meet the needs of these travelers planning and booking accommodations.
Meanwhile, Bradley Haines, vice president of marketing for SiteMinder Asia Pacific, acknowledged the pent-up demand for international travel and the significant impact of Chinese tourists. Since the start of the year, weekly bookings from Chinese tourists to hotel clients in Thailand have increased by 79 percent, and worldwide by 58 percent, according to SiteMinder. Haynes encourages hotels to invest in business technology that will enable them to effectively sell, market, manage and grow their business to meet the preferences of the modern Chinese traveler.
With the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand steadily increasing, the tourism industry is working hard to meet their needs, utilizing digital solutions and strategic partnerships to enhance their experience and capitalize on this growing segment. (NNT)