THAILAND. Thailand welcomed the first batch of visitors from China on Monday as thousands of Chinese travellers began their overseas holiday trips since Beijing relaxed inbound and outbound travel restrictions on 8 January.
The return of Chinese tourists raises hope of a stronger economic recovery in the Kingdom, which is one of the most favoured destinations of travellers from China.
Videos uploaded by Chinese news outlets in their official Douyin accounts show three Thai Cabinet ministers at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport handing flowers and gift bags to 269 tourists arriving from Xiamen via Xiamen Airlines Flight MF833. Upon arrival at the airport, travellers were also welcomed with a big banner saying, “China and Thailand are one family. Amazing Thailand always warmly welcomes our Chinese family.”
On Monday the Thai authorities announced they would no longer require vaccination records and COVID-19 testing on incoming travellers, a sharp u-turn of its decision announced just two days earlier. Similar travel restrictions have been imposed on inbound Chinese travellers by several other countries, including Japan and South Korea, in both cases leading to retaliation by China.
Thai airline and hotel operators have also geared up for a potential surge of travel demand amid the comeback of Chinese tourists to the country. The Bangkok Post said over 90 per cent of hotels in Chiang Mai are ready to accommodate all tourists, including those arriving from China.
According to information from Xiamen Airlines obtained by Chinese state media Global Times on Monday, Xiamen Airlines’ international, intercontinental and regional round-trip flight pre-sales have surged.
The Bangkok Post also reported that Thai AirAsia plans to resume all its flights to China, including Phuket, which is set to accommodate daily flights connecting Shanghai via Juneyao Air starting 18 January. The report said Thai Lion Air has submitted a request to restart five routes to China.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand is targeting about 1.5 million to 2 million Chinese tourist arrivals in 2023, a far cry from the pre-pandemic numbers in 2019 of almost 11 million, making up almost one-third of the country’s almost 40 million foreign arrivals.
Thai officials are welcoming the return of Chinese visitors with cautious optimism. In an interview with Chinese state broadcaster CGTN, Chanapan Kaewklachaiyawuth, Vice President of the Thai Chinese Tourism Alliance Association, said that while a tourism boom will not happen immediately, the sector is expected to pick up steadily over the next two to three years.
In an attempt to lure back Chinese tourists, the Tourism Authority of Thailand will be holding a roadshow in three key Chinese cities, namely, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Shanghai to promote Thailand’s tourism, according to the Bangkok Post. 
