BangkokPost-Sept 24
Vietnam has surpassed Thailand in terms of attracting Chinese tourists, but safety and premium tourism hold the key to recapturing the market, according to Aksornsri Phanishsarn, an associate professor of economics at Thammasat University. The scholar said Vietnam’s recent leapfrogging of the kingdom in Chinese tourist arrivals should not yet be a cause for alarm, as most of the figures reflect low-spending group tours. Reports show that between January and June, more Chinese tourists visited Vietnam than Thailand. However, Ms Aksornsri noted that Japan remains the top destination for this demographic. She said Vietnam’s growth is largely due to its visa-free policy for Chinese tour groups and lower travel costs compared to Thailand. “The real issue is not just numbers. The sharp decline of Chinese tourists to Thailand stems mainly from concerns about safety,” she said, pointing to the case of Chinese actor Wang Xing, who was tricked by a call-center gang into entering Thailand, only to be trafficked onward to Myanmar before being rescued. She stressed that Thailand’s new government must urgently improve safety standards and work to crack down on scam networks in neighboring countries. “The goal should be to become a destination with near-Japan standards at a lower price. That’s how Thailand can compete. The real solution is to build trust in safety and raise the quality of tourism, not to race with Vietnam in the low-end, quantity-driven market.” Read more at: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/3109744/chinese-flock-to-vietnam-due-to-thailand-safety-fears.
