Chinese Tours Plummet on Safety Fears

CHINAG MAI, June 9 (TNA) - Chinese tour group arrivals in Thailand, especially in Chiang Mai, have continued to fall over the past two years, with some operators reporting a 90% drop in recent months.

This decline is largely attributed to a widespread perception of insecurity among Chinese tourists, fueled by online reports of crime and scams in Thailand.

The impact is evident across Chiang Mai's tourism sector. Popular spots like Tha Phae Gate see fewer visitors, with Taiwanese and Vietnamese tourists now outnumbering Chinese. Businesses like "Ao Jao," a traditional costume rental shop, have seen Chinese customer numbers plummet by over 70%.

 Hotels are struggling, with booking rates as low as 30-40%, a stark contrast to two years ago when Chinese visitors topped nearly 570,000, falling to 320,000 last year and under 130,000 in the first five months of this year.

Worapoj Chatkanchana, Executive of Chiang Mai Sky Travel, a veteran tour operator who once ran one of Chiang Mai's largest Chinese tour companies, now sees over 90% fewer Chinese clients, down from 6,000-7,000 daily to fewer than 100. His business has diversified into a "sea in a valley" attraction to survive and support his nearly 300 employees. He notes that negative social media reports in China have deeply ingrained safety concerns among tourists and their families.

His market surveys in China indicate that agents are largely avoiding selling tours to Thailand, while Chinese tourists are flocking to Japan, Vietnam, and South Korea. He urges the Thai government to urgently restore confidence in the country's safety.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is actively seeking new markets, particularly from India and Russia, through events like TTM+. However, the overarching challenge remains reassuring all international tourists of Thailand's safety. -819 (TNA)