Phuket expects a million Chinese tourists after Songkran

The popular one tourist resort The island of Phuket is preparing to welcome an additional influx of refugees 1 million Chinese tourists this year. This prediction comes in the wake of a targeted tourism promotion that took place in three Chinese cities.

Anupab Vejwanichsanong, who takes on the role of vice president of the Phuket Administration Organization, announced today, April 22, that roadshow organizers are confident the event will attract an additional one million Chinese by the end of the year will bring holidaymakers to Phuket.

The expected increase in visitor numbers is expected to have a positive impact on the local economy, generating an estimated 40 billion baht in tourism-related revenue.

Last year, Phuket recorded around 1.7 million visitors traveling from China. However, this figure pales in comparison to the 3.1 million Chinese tourists who flocked to the island annually before the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted global travel.

As part of the promotional efforts, local government officials and representatives of Phuket’s tourism industry held meetings with Chinese travel agencies. These meetings took place between April 8 and 12 in the Chinese cities of Guangzhou, Shanghai and Chengdu.

The Phuket Tourism Association remains hopeful that the number of Chinese tourists will return to pre-Covid-19 numbers next year.

In related news, a recent measure allowing visa-free travel between Thailand and China has led to a surge in tourism expectations. According to reports collected by five overseas offices of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), located in Beijing, Shanghai, Kunming, Chengdu and Guangzhou, it is predicted that tourism between the two countries could increase dramatically by the end of 2024.

The visa waiver agreement, which has been in place since March 1, has already started to influence travel forecasts. The People’s Daily Online, a leading Chinese news agency, along with data from various websites, shared optimistic forecasts about the potential growth of cross-border tourism.

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