The Tourism Council of Thailand said that the countrys tourism industry has now been seriously affected by the planned “Bangkok shutdown” by anti-government protesters set for Jan 13, with no new booking tours reported, especially from Chinese tourists.

Council president Piyaman Techapaiboon said the number of international tourists has decreased with no new bookings, noting that the council is collecting information on the exact figures of revellers, especially those from China.

chinesetourist
The situation worsens with Thailands mounting political tension as Chinese tourists feel reluctant to visit Bangkok

She noted that the upcoming Chinese New Year celebration on January 31 is approaching. Association of Thai Travel Agents ATTA president Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn said normally the first quarter of the year is considered as the “high season” for Thailands tourism industry.

With ongoing political disorder, Ms Sisdivachr said, the industry has been definitely hit and the situation cannot be controlled by tourism-related operators.He said that the number of Chinese visitors continues to drop due to the new regulations of tourism business in their country which have been enforced last October. The situation worsens with Thailands mounting political tension as Chinese tourists feel reluctant to come here and delay their tour bookings.

The ATTA president said the business operators still dont know what they can do with marketing strategies, as well as how to answer the questions of foreign customers whether the January 13 Bangkok shutdown will be prolonged or not.If the protest continues, Mr Sisdivachr said, it will affect the Chinese New Year period when Thailand usually welcomes the highest number of Chinese tourists.With the possible enforcement of an emergency decree in the capital and unstable politics, the ATTA president said the situation is “beyond our control”.

via Tourism industry feels pinch of planned Bangkok shutdown.

About the author

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Get notified of our weekly selection of news

You May Also Like

Thailand to Welcome 20 million Foreign Visitors in 2023

The capital Bangkok continues to gain popularity among tourists, with the city recently ranked as the third most popular Asian destination for North American travelers.

Thailand’s Tourist arrivals surge to pre Covid level

The recovery of tourism in Thailand has now entered a new phase with attendance figures that have become very close to those of the pre-Covid period.

The Travel Blog Exchange (TBEX) Asia 2022 takes place in Phuket

Open to content creators (producers of blogs, videos, podcasts, and traditional media) and DMOs, tour operators, hoteliers, OTAs, travel brands, and PR and marketing suppliers, TBEX Asia 2022 is being held at the Angsana Laguna Phuket