Thailand officials expect a return of Chinese tourists as they are set to follow through with their commitments to the Chinese government to stop legalizing casino resorts.
“It is expected that there will be visible, positive results within one or two months,” government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat told reporters after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, according to Bloomberg.
He added that the Lunar New Year holiday in February should bring a seasonal bump in arrivals.
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Chinese tourists dressed in Thai traditional costumes rent from a clothing rental shop and take memorial photographs during their visit to Wat Arun or Temple of Dawn in Bangkok, Thailand, on January 13, 2025. Photo by NurPhoto via AFP |
Chinese President Xi Jinping has agreed to initiate internal discussions on how to promote tourism to Thailand after the Thai government pledged to oppose any moves to legalize casino resorts.
Xi in July urged the Thai government to abandon plans for casino legalization, warning of possible negative effects on tourism and bilateral trade.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has reassured President Xi that Thailand remains firmly against the legalization of casinos, according to their meeting at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea last week.
In the first half of 2025, only 2.3 million Chinese tourists visited Thailand, a decrease of about a third compared to the same period the previous year, according to Thailand’s official data.
Thai tourism industry has been making moves to win back Chinese tourists as they have been reluctant to book travel plans due to safety concerns following the kidnapping of Chinese actor Wang Xing in January, who was later rescued.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand has launched its “Nihao Month” to attract Chinese travelers, the country’s largest international tourist segment, with activities running from September through December.
The country is expecting 33.4 million visitors in 2025, nearly 6% fewer than in 2024, marking the first decline in foreign arrivals since the pandemic.
