Bangkok, 05 November, 2018 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is anticipating the high season return of Chinese tourists during the last two months of this year based on the long-standing bilateral relationship between the two countries.
Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, said the Chinese-Thai bilateral tourism relationship mirrored the long-standing and strong ties between the two countries.
“TAT’s ongoing efforts includes our ‘Friendship Caravan’ series organised in cooperation with China’s Ministry of the Culture and Chinese Embassy in Thailand to promote cross-border tourism cooperation, encouraging more two-way overland travel.
“Most recently the fourth annual friendship caravan in 2017 continued the tradition to strengthen bilateral tourism relations between China and Thailand, and it also expanded overland travel itineraries in neighbouring Mekong countries.”
Chinese New Year (CNY) celebrations are huge in Thailand, and 2018 marked the 14th anniversary of cooperation between TAT, the Chinese Ministry of Culture, and the Chinese Embassy in organising annual Lunar New Year festivities in Thailand.
The CNY official opening ceremony in Yaowarat features cultural exchange performances from China. Every year, China sends over 100 traditional Chinese dancers and musicians, martial artists, Chinese opera performers and acrobats from several cities in a cultural exchange. Once celebrated among Thailand’s Chinese communities, today, the Chinese New Year is one of the Kingdom’s most exhilarating celebrations with many Thais joining in the various activities each year.
In addition to the opening ceremony at Bangkok’s Yaowarat, performances are also held in key cities around Thailand where CNY is celebrated in grand style. In return, TAT organises education tours of Thailand for the performers.
For 2019, CNY will be held at Siam Square, one of the most popular shopping areas in Bangkok. It is aimed to attract more of the younger generation to enjoy the performance.
Thais see the Chinese as family and many Thais also visit China each year. In 2013, a total of 329,527 Thais visited China, spending an estimated US$298 million. The number rose to 601,899 Thai travellers with total spending of US$611 million last year. China is among the top five destinations for Thai people travelling abroad.
Extensive tourism co-operation between the two countries includes but is not limited to: TAT’s MOU with Alitrip to boost quality tourism from China; TAT’s partnership with Alibaba’s Fliggy to improve Chinese tourists’ travel experience in Thailand; a Thailand/China MOU to develop quality tourism and a roadshow to China by Thailand’s Deputy PM to promote quality tourism.
*More photos of the Chinese New Year 2018 celebrations at Bangkok’s Yaowarat.
