Measures bolster Chinese arrivals
The
Tourism and Sports Ministry believes proper measures to deal with the zero-dollar tour problem will help drive Chinese tourist arrivals to achieve the targeted 11.4 million next year.
Pongpanu Svetarundra, permanent secretary of the Tourism and Sports Ministry, said the government is seeking to implement the right measures for domestic and Chinese tour agents to offer legal tour packages to Chinese travellers.
The ministry recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the China National Tourism Administration to strictly control standards for Chinese tourists and create a better tourism image for both Thailand and China.
The ministry’s representatives attended a meeting with Chinese tour agents and related parties during Oct 13-14 in China to set a minimum tour package price to Thailand at 1,000 baht per day per person. An optional tour would cost 3,000 baht per trip per person.
The government said the minimum tour package price would cover basic expenses for tour operators such as accommodation, food and transportation. Other measures will be implemented soon.
“I believe if the minimum tour package price together with other measures are successfully implemented, the number of Chinese tourists will return to normal and definitely hit the target of 11.4 million next year,” Mr Pongpanu said.
Since the crackdown on zero-dollar tour operations in Bangkok last month, the number of Chinese tourists has dropped significantly as they are not confident about visiting the country when measures are unclear.
Early in September, the Anti-Money Laundering Office confiscated more than 2,000 coaches and over 4.7 billion baht in cash from OA Transport Co in Lat Krabang district. It was reportedly the country’s largest zero-dollar tour network.
Meanwhile, Mr Pongpanu predicted that Chinese tourist arrivals may drop 20% in the last quarter. This would bring full-year Chinese tourist arrivals to 9.21 million by the end of this year, short of the targeted 10.1 million.
The ministry is still confident Chinese visitors will be a key driver to boost tourism next year and generate 461 billion baht.
The ministry projects tourism revenue this year would reach 2.4 trillion baht as expected, citing satisfactory growth in the first nine months. The tourism revenue target next year is estimated at 2.8 trillion baht.
Mr Pongpanu said China, Malaysia and Russia accounted for the top foreign arrivals in the first nine months. Foreign tourist arrivals in the nine-month period stood at 24.82 million, up by 12.4% year-on-year, generating revenue of 1.23 trillion baht, up by 16.2%.
Domestic tourism in the first eight months generated 551 billion baht, up by 9% year-on-year.
Mr Pongpanu said the cancellation of events and entertainment activities during the 30-day mourning period after the passing of His Majesty the King will slightly affect foreign tourists.