INDUSTRY BRIEF: Thailand loses attraction for Chinese tourists

Chinese airlines plan to operate 12,800 flights between China and Thailand during this year’s peak travel season in July and August, down 22.6% year-on-year and 40% below pre-pandemic levels, financial media Caixin reported, citing aviation data provider Flight Master. That decline comes after the number of trips by Chinese to Thailand fell to 1.95 million in the first five months of this year, down 33% from the year-ago period.

Chinese tourists are being put off by a number of factors, including the disappearance of actor Wang Xing earlier this year on a visit to the country. Other concerns include earthquakes, and an appreciation of the Thai baht against the Chinese yuan that has made trips to the country more expensive, Caixin said.

While Chinese tourists are losing interest in Thailand, they are increasingly flocking to other Asian destinations including Japan and South Korea. Chinese airlines plan to operate 25,300 flights between China and Japan in July and August, up 35.3% year-on-year. They also plan to operate 20,500 flights between China and South Korea, up 13.4% year-on-year.

By Doug Young

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