Chinese tourists (and their habits) surge into Thailand

[Lost]

Off topic a little but I had an old Chinese lady come in for the morning buffet at my job (maitre d' please, I'm too snooty for 'waiter'). Tiny little thing but she must have loaded her plate with 10 sausages, 10 hash browns, 20 bits of bacon etc I'm kidding you not. Absolute mountain of a plate. Ate the lot.

Then went for seconds, same amount, and started wrapping it up in tissue and stuffing it her handbag.

Their buffet etiquette is infamous.

[STEVE G]

When I was working freelance, I used to spend a lot of time staying at a hotel that had a lot of older Chinese visitors and the combinations that they loaded onto their breakfast plates used to baffle me, scrambled egg on sponge cake and that sort of thing.
Also staring at a modern coffee machine like an alien spaceship has just landed in front of them.

[pharvey]

Living and working in China for a fair few years, I can honestly say I've seen more than I've ever needed or wanted to regarding the eating habits of many Chinese... The Buffet Table especially! When you follow someone around when they pick up food and bite it/lick it/smell it and then put it back on the serving dish when they don't like, it doesn't really enhance your appetite!!

[bigston]

Everytime i see a toaster in the place im staying ,i fondly remember the time i sat transfixed watching a woman in her 50's i suppose, rummage thru the bread silces and finally choose 2, then sit them in the top of the toaster, no activating the machine like pushing the lever down,,,,
minutes passed, then more, until she decided that they were done, picked them up and put them, stone motherless uncooked and cold aloft the other, by now cold offerings

[caller]

This is probably as sick and as low as you can get.

A group of Chinese ladies, all suffering disfigurement to their faces, with hands deformed or missing, and at least one dressed as a Thai schoolgirl, found begging in different areas of Bangkok.

Its just beyond belief.

Article here:

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... ompt-probe

[2/cb]

This was outlawed in the UK after the Napoleonic Wars with the Vagrancy Act 1824. ‘Exposure of wounds or deformities…’ etc. Surely Thailand has something similar?

[buksida]

Nobody mentioned the story about the bright idea of letting the Chinese police come and work over here to help prevent them from getting scammed by their own people.

This no visa, no checks policy is going to bite Thailand in the arse ... but they've got to bow to the red dragon.

[caller]

This is an updated and far better report about the Chinese beggars recently arrested. It seems bail was sought for them and refused, due to suspicions of human trafficing. Some pretty unpleasant pics as well. It seems as a consequence of this story spreading, that they are now arresting beggars all over. We all know that won't last.

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/202 ... afficking/

[buksida]

Looks like Thais can go the other way now ...

China visa deal to boost Thai trips
The dual visa exemption between China and Thailand should increase outbound travellers to China by at least 10%, but inbound numbers from the mainland might not reach the government projection of 8.2 million, according to the Association of Thai Travel Agents (Atta).

Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, president of Atta, said the mutual cooperation signifies good relations between the nations, benefiting the tourism industries in both by encouraging airlines to increase seat capacity as the markets strengthen.

According to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, the permanent reciprocal visa-free scheme will be effective from March 1.

Mr Sisdivachr said Japan served as a successful test case, as that country offered a visa exemption for Thai passport holders a decade ago, and Thai tourists to Japan reached the 1 million milestone in 2019.

The scheme is expected to increase Thai visitors to China by 10-30% from current levels, he said.

However, Mr Sisdivachr said growth would still be hampered by limited flights, as seat capacity between Thailand and China has recovered by only 50%, while airfares remain higher than pre-pandemic levels.

Even with the visa exemption, he said it will be a challenge to increase Chinese arrivals to 8.2 million, the government target for 2024.

A sluggish economy in China and locals pivoting to domestic tourism means it is more likely arrivals from the mainland will tally 6-7 million this year, said Mr Sisdivachr.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/ge ... thai-trips

[buksida]

Looks like they're not surging into Thailand any longer ...

China no longer Thailand's largest source of tourists in 2023
Malaysia has surpassed China to become the biggest feeder market for Thailand tourism in 2023 with 4.56 million arrivals.

Chinese tourists came in second with 3.51 million, followed by South Koreans (1.65 million), Indians (1.62 million), and Russians (1.48 million), according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Travel between Malaysia and Thailand, two ASEAN members, is facilitated by visa exemption.

Before the pandemic, Chinese tourists were the biggest market of Thailand's tourism industry. In 2019, over 11 million Chinese tourists visited Thailand, accounting for more than a quarter of its total foreign arrivals.

However, a mall shooting last September in Bangkok that killed two foreigners including a Chinese affected Chinese tourist confidence. A series of Chinese carriers canceled flights to Thailand for December and January due to low demand.

A quarterly travel sentiment survey released last November by Singapore-based digital marketing firm China Trading Desk found Thailand no longer a top choice of Chinese tourists. The survey polled over 10,000 Chinese residents on their upcoming international travel plans and their top answers were Singapore, Europe, and South Korea.

https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/chi ... 96492.html

[buksida]

Enlisting Chinese Influencers to Hawk Goods Is Thailand’s New Idea to Boost Exports
Thailand is planning to enlist Chinese social-media influencers to hawk things from the so-called elephant pants to local sweet delicacies to their followers back home, as part of the Southeast Asian nation’s bid to shore up exports to the world’s No. 2 economy.

Thirty to 50 of China’s top influencers will be invited to Thailand for a week in May, Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said in an interview to Bloomberg News in Bangkok on Tuesday. The intent is to get them to livestream about Thai goods, he said.

“The world is changing,” Phumtham said. “We have to think about new ways of selling things.”

What’s in it for the influencers? The government will share profits from the sales with them to incentivize their efforts. “If it fails, we lose nothing,” Phumtham said. “If it’s successful, we plan to expand this tactics to other things.”

While Thailand has in the past thought up the idea of tapping influencers to boost tourism, the latest initiative comes after exports to China dropped for the first time in seven years in 2022 — relegating the Asian giant to the no. 2 spot for Thai goods after the US. Ensuring growth of exports is key to achieving Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s goal to boost annual economic output to 5% during his term.

That’s an ambitious target for an economy, where growth has averaged just 1.8% in the past decade, making it the region’s laggard. That performance was due to cycles of military coups and political instability, which eroded investor confidence and competitiveness against peers like Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... f=323RPL5z

[huahin4ever]

I have now taken a trip to Bangkok, and OMG how many Chinese I see. I was in one of the big malls and I think nearly 50% were Chinese. And this was in Sukhumvit not "China Town"!

Also outside the mall groups of Chinese under an leader's command waiting for tour transports.

I have never seen this much Chinese people in Bangkok before!

YNWA

[PeteC]

I have now taken a trip to Bangkok, and OMG how many Chinese I see. I was in one of the big malls and I think nearly 50% were Chinese. And this was in Sukhumvit not "China Town"!

Also outside the mall groups of Chinese under an leader's command waiting for tour transports.

I have never seen this much Chinese people in Bangkok before!

YNWA

Yes, the Spring Festival runs from February 10 to 17. Non-critical workers will be on holiday. Some have already arrived here early it appears.

After Bangkok most will go to Pattaya, Phuket and Chiang Mai.

Someone please keep eyes open in Hua Hin and post what you see during the next 10 days?

[PeteC]

It seems that the smart or lucky people have targeted the warmth of Thailand and elsewhere down here? This weather event there alone could increase arrivals here 10 fold. It's visa free now so all they have to do is find an air ticket and a hotel.

China: Snowstorms spoil Lunar New Year travel for millions

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-68224539

[caller]

I have now taken a trip to Bangkok, and OMG how many Chinese I see. I was in one of the big malls and I think nearly 50% were Chinese.

What Mall were you in? I go to Bkk on Friday for 9/10 days, be interesting to compare, it will be after the weekend.