Chinese tourists are greeted by Thai dancers at the arrivals gate at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok on September 25, 2023. / AFP
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is optimistic that its target of 4 million Chinese arrivals by yearend will be achieved, despite the recent shootings at the Siam Paragon shopping mall in Bangkok and the Israel-Hamas war. Tour operators are, however, urging the government to extend visa exemption to Indian tourists, in addition to those from China and Uzbekistan, which they hope will help meet the target of 25-30 million tourist arrivals for the whole year.
According to TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool, the Siam Paragon shootings, in which a Chinese and a Myanmar national were killed, has had a short-term impact on Chinese tourists’ sentiment, as evidenced by the lack of cancellations by incentive and seminar groups , although…
