TAT says Chinese tourists undeterred by floods and baggage delays
TAT says Bangkok floods and Thai Airways’ baggage backlog have not deterred Chinese tourists, with arrivals up 15% ahead of Golden Week.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) says flooding in Bangkok and the Thai Airways baggage backlog at Suvarnabhumi Airport have not affected travel plans among Chinese tourists during China’s National Day Golden Week holiday.
Yolrawee Sittichai, Director of the TAT Beijing Office, said heavy rainfall and flooding in Bangkok and surrounding provinces had disrupted Thai Airways’ baggage handling and caused some flight delays at Suvarnabhumi Airport in the initial stages. The situation has since begun to ease and operations are returning to normal.
Chinese tour operators have confirmed that their customers are continuing with their planned trips to Thailand, she added.
Lerdchai Wangtrakoondee, Director of the TAT Shanghai Office, said most Chinese visitors travel on Chinese airlines because their fares are generally lower and they offer a wider choice of flight schedules than Thailand’s national carrier. As a result, the Thai Airways disruption has not affected Chinese tourists’ decisions to visit Thailand.
However, he acknowledged that the disruption could affect Thai travellers heading to Shanghai, as many choose Thai Airways because of their confidence in the airline’s brand.
TAT moves to reassure Chinese travellers
Lerdchai said the TAT Shanghai Office had stepped up communications and provided Chinese travellers with regular updates following flooding in Bangkok over the past two to three days.
The office has sought to reassure travellers that major tourist attractions in Bangkok and elsewhere in Thailand have not been affected by the floods.
The latest figures showed that more than 22,000 Chinese tourists entered Thailand on Wednesday, almost double the normal daily average of more than 10,000.
Overall Chinese arrivals to Thailand this year have increased by 15% compared with the same period last year, indicating that demand among Chinese travellers for holidays in Thailand remains strong.
