Push for two-way travel with China
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Tourism operators are urged to tap two-way travel with China, following its announcement to boost arrivals from Asean nations through a new campaign - Silk Road 2015.
“China is expected to remain the biggest source for Thailand’s inbound market in 2015. In turn, visitors from Thailand to China will increase as the Chinese government is set to promote its Silk Road campaign next year.
“Thai operators can focus on and capture business from this market,” Ittirit Kinglake, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, said yesterday.
Thai operators doing business with Western markets should also link China with their future plans to gain from two-way traveling.
Du Jiang, deputy director of the China National Tourism Administration, said the country plans to increase international arrivals next year.
“Tourism marketing and promotion in China next year will focus on travel products related to the Silk Road concept, “ he said.
China’s cabinet in August released guidelines to promote tourism, urging better cooperation and more exchanges with countries in central Asia, south Asia and Southeast Asia.
Thailand is one of the key targets.
At the China International Travel Mart, held from November 14-16 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, 52 Thai tourism trade organisations were represented, consisting of 22 hotels and resorts, 17 travel agents, five amusement parks and zoos, one airline and seven other agencies.
Thawatchai Arunyik, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said Thailand is a popular destination for Chinese because of the visa-on-arrival facilities, short haul and good value-for-money factor.
“And China also has much in common in terms of food, culture and ethnic relationships,” he said.
Chinese visitors surged 67 per cent to 4.61 million last year. However, from January-September this year, they declined 17.4 per cent to 3.09 million from the same period a year ago, largely due to the political situation in Thailand.
This year, TAT is expecting 3.96 million Chinese visitors, generating Bt157 billion in tourism revenue.
