Travel manual in Chinese offers advice against bad manners
Chinese tourists are being advised to avoid bad behaviour while travelling in Thailand as it could harm this country's tourism image.
Kasian Watanachaopisut, president of the Thai-Chinese Tourism Alliance Association, said the group had issued a manual specifically for Chinese tourists, featuring a list of "dos and don’ts", tourist attractions, and general information. The Chinese-language manual is available at main border checkpoints and airports.
The association has proposed that the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Tourism and Sports Ministry help put the manual into the hands of Chinese people before they travel here.
Kasian said only a small number of impolite and bad-mannered Chinese tourists ended up appearing in social media in Thailand and elsewhere but the impact of such images was harmful.
"In the China market, most tourists travel with 250 companies, which are members of our association. These companies usually ask their customers to respect Thai people and Thai culture as well as to avoid unsuitable behaviour," he said.
The association is concerned that the ill manners of a few Chinese people, once they appear in social media, might create the misunderstanding that the authorities and other relevant parties are not doing anything to prevent such bad behaviour.
Official warning
After receiving a lot of complaints, the China National Tourism Office earlier issued a travel advisory to Chinese citizens warning them not to act badly when they travel abroad.
China Daily has reported that Thailand expects to attract nearly 6 million Chinese tourists this year, a nearly 30-per-cent increase from last year.
China is the largest source of tourists to Thailand. Last year, 4.62 million Chinese visited the Kingdom, accounting for 18.7 per cent of all international arrivals and generating revenue of Bt188 billion.
According to China Daily, Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said most Chinese tourists were leaving their country for the first time, so undesirable issues were bound to happen.
Sisdivachr Cheewarattanporn, former president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents and owner of Quality Express, one of biggest tour operators serving Chinese visitors, said travel companies focused on this market were located in all major destinations including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Phuket. However, a lot of Chinese tourists wanted to visit other places as well.
Travel companies are working with hotels to provide information and give advice to Chinese people while they are visiting this country.
