Tourism operators in China say safety remains the major concern for Thailand tour packages, predicting trips here might reach the pre-pandemic level by 2025.
Whenever negative events happen in Thailand, such as the Siam Paragon shooting or the recent shooting in Pathum Thani stadium, bookings immediately drop as the news spreads quickly on Chinese social media, said Yu Ping, of Shanghai Wan Guo International Travel Service, a wholesale tour operator.
Ms Yu said the sluggish Chinese economy also disrupted tour package sales.
Many tour operators shifted their service to domestic groups, she said.
Ms Yu said the company's tour packages to Thailand are half of the level recorded in 2019. The number is constantly improving, though it might take until 2025 to return to normal, she said.
The Thai government needs to quickly address safety concerns, while extending the visa-free scheme for Chinese for all of 2024 to draw more tourists, said Ms Yu.
Jia Jianjun of Hubei in Journey International Travel Service said while the weak Chinese economy could affect tourist spending through next year, the most critical challenge remains the perception of Thailand as an unsafe destination.
If there is no negative news such as the Siam Paragon shooting next year, Thailand will remain a top overseas destination for Chinese tourists, as some domestic packages in China are more expensive than visiting the kingdom, said Mr Jia.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand plans to host Chinese New Year festivals across five regions in Thailand next year.
