Thailand working hard to bring back Chinese travellers

A huge delegation of 1,137 travel agents, media and tourists from six major Chinese cities are to arrive in Bangkok as part of an official campaign to jump-start arrivals from Thailand’s third-largest source of visitors.

The group from the key cities of Guangzhou, Beijing, Xiamen, Kunming, Shanghai and Shantou will start arriving in Thailand during July 18-20, 2003.

Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Mrs Juthamas Siriwan said, “This is an immediate result of our promotional trip to China last June. We would like to sincerely thank the Chinese authorities for their cooperation that has made it possible.”

Mrs Juthamas said China is a large-volume market with good flight  connections. It is a key market to tap as part of the overall tourism recovery campaign in the wake of the SARS crises and the war in Iraq.

China has lifted its ban on outbound travel from China to the first 22 Approved Destination Status (ADS) countries. As Thailand is one of those countries, the TAT Beijing Office plans to invest about 40 million Baht in attracting visitors from China during the rest of 2003.

The TAT campaign includes an offer of 300-baht shopping coupons to the first 15,000 visitors to Thailand, and free postcards of tourism attractions in Bangkok, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Phuket and Chiang Mai, to the first 300,000 Chinese visitors. Those who visit the five attractions can send the postcards to be entered in a lucky draw that features an Audi car as the first prize.

The entire group is being flown in by THAI Airways International. The first group will arrive from Guangzhou on July 18, 2003, and the second group from Beijing on July 19.

The Beijing group, by flight TG615 at 21.45 hrs, will be officially welcomed at Bangkok International Airport by a delegation of tourism dignitaries headed by Minister of Tourism and Sports, Mr Sontaya Kunplome.

Another group of 133 agents and media are being invited as part of the Mega Fam Trip Campaign and will be taken to visit tourism spots in Phuket, Chiang Mai and Krabi.

Mrs Juthamas noted that a tourism delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Somkid Jatusripitak had visited China during June 16-19, which was followed by the announcement lifting the travel ban on July 9, 2003.

Mr Somkid talked to Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Yi and the Chairman of China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) Mr. He Guangwei about the possibility of re-opening up travel between the two countries.

“This visit made a significant contribution towards facilitating the recovery of the China travel market after the crisis,” Mrs Juthamas said.

During the visit, eight Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) were signed between TAT and representatives of public and private organisations from Yunnan, Kunming and Beijing on tourism cooperation and development issues.

An MOU was also signed between the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) and Chinese tour operators about the launch of ‘quality tour packages’ designed to eliminate the problem of zero-cost tours that are subsidised by shopping commissions.

Mrs Juthamas added, “Now, with the arrival of the first group of media, travel agents and visitors, Chinese visitors will make a comeback. We are very happy with the successful result of the visit.”

In 2002, arrivals from China totalled 763,139, an increase of 9.82% over 2001. China was the third largest market in terms of arrivals to Thailand after Malaysia and Japan but was very badly affected by the SARS outbreak.

TAT is now planning additional promotions in China including a golf mart in Beijing in August 2003, and roadshows to the main cities including Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai and Kunming, as well as participation in the China International Mart between November 20-23, 2003.