Chinese airlines, including Air China, China Eastern, and Shanghai Airlines, have cancelled flights to Thailand for December and January due to lower-than-expected bookings. This reflects China’s economic slowdown and its focus on domestic tourism.
The free visa initiative for Chinese nationals did not significantly boost the Chinese market, indicating that economic issues within China are the primary factor in the decline of Chinese tourists. Chinese arrivals to Thailand have only recovered to around 40% compared to pre-Covid times, and upcoming Chinese New Year bookings remain uncertain.
The cancellations are attributed to China’s economic slowdown and efforts to boost domestic tourism. The recovery of the Chinese market is crucial for Thailand’s tourism industry, which contributes about 20% to its GDP. The Thai government initially projected 3.4 million Chinese visitors for the year, but arrivals have fallen short of this target due to safety concerns and misinformation spread on social media. The government’s visa exemption program aimed to attract more Chinese tourists and support the country’s economy.
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