The ferry disaster that killed dozens of Chinese tourists in Thailand earlier this 12 months has caused a decline in tourist numbers in the dominion’s largest market.
The Chinese make up a few quarter of the 35 million tourists who visit Thailand every year – attracted by low-cost beach holidays, famous cuisine and nightlife in Bangkok.
But in July, a ferry carrying mostly Chinese tourists back to the resort island of Phuket sank, killing 47 people.
August saw a right away decline of 12 percent, and September saw 15 percent fewer Chinese than in the identical months last 12 months.
October was the toughest hit: on Wednesday, the tourism ministry reported a decline in the identical period of about 20 percent, or 160,000 people, in comparison with 2017. About $476 million was lost in tourism spending in three months.
Thailand has already experienced a slowdown in tourism, following a bomb attack in central Bangkok in 2015 and a military coup in 2014.
But the prolonged crisis over the past few months has galvanized Thai tour operators, said Paul Pruangkarn of the Pacific Asia Travel Association, because it has forced the industry to contemplate overdependence on a single country.
“Too many people have always focused too much on attracting Chinese tourists,” said Pruangkarn, whose association represents a whole bunch of firms across the region.
He predicted that tourist numbers would eventually rebound.
Since the tragedy in Phuket, the federal government has introduced incentives to regain confidence and make travel easier.
The immigration office has waived Chinese tourists from paying the $60 visa-on-arrival fee from November to mid-January.
Last month, 4 immigration officials were demoted from their positions following an investigation that found they solicited “suggestions” from Chinese tourists to expedite their entry.
This article appeared within the print edition of the South China Morning Post as: Chinese tourists stay away after tragedy in Phuket
