Thailand has welcomed one million Chinese tourists in the first four and a half months of 2023, according to a government official. This is a sign of recovery for the tourism sector, which was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2019, before the pandemic, Thailand received 11 million Chinese tourists, who accounted for 28% of the total foreign arrivals. In 2022, only 274,000 Chinese tourists visited Thailand, due to travel restrictions and quarantine measures.
The government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri said that the number of Chinese visitors is expected to reach five million by the end of the year, with a total spending of 446 billion baht ($13.18 billion). He added that this would boost the economy and create jobs for Thais.
- In 2019, before the pandemic, Thailand received 11 million Chinese tourists, who accounted for 28% of the total foreign arrivals.
- In 2022, only 274,000 Chinese tourists visited Thailand, due to travel restrictions and quarantine measures.
- In 2023, from January to mid-May, Thailand received one million Chinese tourists
Thailand is Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy and relies heavily on tourism for income and employment. The country’s GDP grew by 4.2% in the first quarter of 2023, thanks to the rebound in tourism and domestic demand.
