尽管东南亚国家采取了豁免签证等措施吸引中国游客，但他们的回归速度较慢，这导致这些旅游依赖型经济体的衰退，并迫使企业重新考虑扩张计划。泰国、柬埔寨和越南等国的中国游客数量自疫情前显著减少。访问的中国游客更加注重预算，并且要求更大的折扣。中国出境游的缓慢恢复影响了酒店业的收入。泰国尤其希望吸引中国游客帮助经济复苏，但在中国黄金周期间的跨境交通仍然低于疫情前的水平。泰国旅游业严重依赖中国游客，在疫情爆发前每年有超过1000万中国游客访问该国。曼谷目前的政府正在努力恢复这些数字，包括从9月26日开始的5个月内免除中国游客的签证费。但最近发生的一些事件，比如曼谷购物中心的枪击案，可能进一步打击中国游客的兴趣。一些公司现在开始将注意力转向印度游客，以弥补缺乏中国游客的影响。
Chinese Tourists Slow to Return to Southeast Asia, Impacting Tourism-Dependent Economies
Chinese tourists remain hesitant to return to Southeast Asian countries, despite visa-free travel incentives. This reluctance has resulted in a decline in economies heavily reliant on tourism, and businesses are being forced to reconsider their expansion plans. The number of Chinese visitors to countries like Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam has significantly decreased since the pre-COVID-19 era. Even those who do visit tend to be more budget-conscious, negotiating for larger discounts, ultimately impacting the profits of hospitality businesses.
Thailand Struggles to Entice Chinese Travelers Amidst Slow Recovery
Thailand, in particular, is determined to allure Chinese travelers back in order to aid its economic recovery. However, during China’s Golden Week holiday, cross-border traffic remained lower than pre-pandemic levels. Prior to the pandemic, over 10 million Chinese tourists visited Thailand annually, making the country heavily reliant on Chinese visitors. Efforts have been made by the government to attract visitors, including the elimination of visa fees for Chinese tourists from September 26 for a duration of five months. Nonetheless, recent incidents like the shooting at a Bangkok shopping mall may further discourage Chinese tourists. As a result, some businesses are now refocusing their attention on Indian tourists to compensate for the lack of Chinese visitors.
Businesses Adapt as Chinese Tourist Market Remains Uncertain
The slow recovery of Chinese outbound tourism continues to pose challenges for businesses. Chinese tourists who do venture abroad are displaying a heightened emphasis on budget-consciousness, actively seeking larger discounts. As a result, hospitality businesses are experiencing a decline in earnings. Countries like Thailand are left grappling to combat this uncertainty, as their tourism industry heavily depends on Chinese visitors. To fill the void left by the absence of Chinese tourists, companies are exploring alternative markets, such as targeting Indian tourists, to sustain their operations.
Source : Sluggish Chinese tourists’ influx hurts Thailand economy
