Social media team to promote Thai tourism
Group aims to lure Chinese independents
A group of Thai bloggers are teaming up with top Chinese social media influencers to promote tourism among free and independent travellers from China to Thailand.
The partnership aims to change the tourist’s perception of Thailand as a mass market to a quality leisure destination in the wake of the collaborative efforts by the two governments to crack down on zero dollar and cheap packages from China since late 2015.
Eight Thai travel bloggers and four Chinese online influencers will work together to strengthen two-way travel between Thailand and China, said Sathita Sorassa, president of Media and Blogger Club Thailand.
Thai bloggers such as Bloggang, Travelista, Restaurant society, Chaicatawan, Zogzagtravelling, Lovelytrip and Bigstopper have web pages and social media covering travel, photography, food, hotels, lifestyle and adventure travel, with a combined followers of more than 1 million. The four Chinese social media influencers are Ludengsheying, Xiao Qiao Bang Zhu, Chen Qifei and Wang Hui, whose combined fan base numbers in the millions.
“The Chinese influencers will be in Thailand during Sept 13-19. Together with Thai bloggers, they will visit Bangkok, Saraburi, Nakhon Ratchasima and Ayutthaya to experience many activities and events, and share their stories with followers. Their experiences are expected to reach many millions of people,” Miss Sathita said.
Taniwan Koonmongkon, president of the Thai Restaurant Association and one of the Thai bloggers, said she would promote food and gastronomy though her social media.
“I run a food business and realise many Chinese tourists come to Thailand not only for culture and tradition, but also for food. I hope this event will help draw first-time travellers from China as well as repeat visitors,” Mrs Taniwan said.
Plernpit Muenpon, executive director of information technology at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said the event will help promote tourism attractions and activities in Thailand, especially to independent Chinese visitors.
Last year 8.7 million Chinese tourists travelled to Thailand, generating 445 billion
baht worth of revenue. The TAT predicts arrivals from China will increase to more than 9 million this year, contributing 500 billion baht, a 9.1% increase from 2016.
Some 60% of Chinese arrivals are independent, with 40% travelling with group tours.
InterContinental Group recently predicted that total income from the Chinese tourist market to Thailand will reach 829.50 billion baht in 2023.
Mahidol University conducted research released this May that found more independent Chinese tourists are expected to flow into Thailand. Authorities believe independent travellers are quality visitors, more so than those in tour groups.
Many of the independent travellers from mainland China are aged 18-25 and earn up to 60,000 baht per month. The TAT sees huge potential from the Chinese independent tourist market as some 731 million Chinese (out of a population of 1.4 billion) use social media and the internet.
Independent Chinese tourists stay an average of five to seven days per trip and average spending per person per trip is 25,000-50,000 baht. Group tours spend less than 10,000 baht per person per trip. Foreign tourists to Thailand average spending of 5,500-6,000 baht per day per person.