Thailand's Minister of Tourism and Sports, Sudarwan, revealed that it is expected that during the Spring Festival in 2024, Chinese tourists will spend more than 343 on tourism in Thailand900 million baht. Compared to the same period in 2019, the average amount spent by tourists is expected to increase by 8% to THB 58,236 per person. This growth is mainly due to the changing spending behavior of Chinese tourists, many of whom choose to travel independently and prefer to stay in large or high-end hotels. Thailand's hotel industry has recovered to pre-pandemic levels and is expected to welcome more Chinese tourists.
At present, the hotel industry in Thailand has recovered to pre-pandemic levels, and although the number of tourists has not yet fully recovered, the hotel single night** has reached a high level. However, in 2024, the hotel industry still faces significant challenges. One of the main challenges is whether the number of tourists can return to pre-pandemic levels. According to the data, the tourist occupancy rate of the hotel in 2023 is only 75%. In addition, the investment cost of the hotel industry is relatively high, such as employment money, electricity bills, etc., which accounts for a considerable proportion. Therefore, the main challenge for the hotel industry in 2024 is how to increase the number of tourists, and only by returning to pre-pandemic levels can the profitability of hotels be ensured.
To welcome the Chinese New Year, Don Mueang Airport in Thailand hosted a series of grand celebrations. On the first day of the celebration, the person in charge and staff of Don Mueang Airport attended the event together and took a group photo. The airport has decorated the exit of the terminal building as a dragon gate, hoping that through this iconic scene, visitors can step into an auspicious year after setting foot on Thai soil. In addition, the airport also has a background of guzheng, creating a strong festive atmosphere for the entire space. Decorations such as wishing trees and red lanterns are placed in the airport to create a strong New Year atmosphere for passengers. On the first day of the event, airport staff also presented souvenirs to the arriving passengers, spent the festive season with them, and sent them good wishes, wishing them good health, success and financial resources in the new year.
After Thailand's tourism industry announced on September 25 that it would grant one-way visas to Chinese tourists, Thai airport officials repeatedly stated: "The way Chinese tourists play has changed. Although some tourists still choose to travel in groups, more and more tourists choose to travel independently. The so-called "group tour" refers to the tour of each scenic spot by a tour guide in turn. The advantage of this method is that the tour guide is experienced, and visitors can experience the local culture and characteristics without having to do their own guides. However, the disadvantage is that the itinerary is relatively "standardized", and it is necessary to get up early and go to bed early according to the tour guide's arrangement, and get on the bus on time. On the other hand, "independent travel" gives tourists more freedom, they can make their own itinerary, book various services, and arrange rest times and travel routes as they like. Of course, tourists who choose to travel independently will sometimes encounter some difficulties due to lack of experience.
According to the results of a special survey conducted by Thailand.com, there are currently more tourists who choose to travel independently, while there is a trend of decreasing number of tourists who choose to travel in groups. Young FIT travelers are more flexible in their schedules, and they usually get information through online channels such as Douyin, Toutiao, WeChat***, etc., and the recommendation of friends also has a great influence on their decision-making. They are more inclined to choose "better value" spots, so even if they make plans for a day trip deep into Pattaya and Koh Lan, they may suddenly change their minds and choose to fly to Similan Island in southern Thailand, simply because friends tell them that the sea quality there is very good. In contrast, tourists who choose to travel with a group usually get itinerary information through WeChat groups, and all kinds of ** as low as 1499 baht of Thailand 7-day tour information emerge in an endless stream, once someone in the circle signs up for a group, friends around them will also follow to participate. In terms of spending power, the spending power of independent tourists in recent years is stronger than that of group tourists. On the one hand, the number of independent tourists is relatively large, and on the other hand, the number of group tours** is more economical in the early stage of recovery, so few economic groups can book five-star hotels. In the future, the development of Thailand's tourism industry will allow for the development of both independent travel and group tours, and the choice of tourists depends on personal preferences, so the importance of attracting different types of tourists should not be overlooked.
Whether it is an independent trip or a group tour, it is necessary to ensure equal safety and security and the reasonableness of the charging policy. In order to attract tourists to choose Thailand again, in order to ensure that Thailand is cost-effective, it is necessary to ensure equal security and reasonable charging policies when receiving tourists on their next visit. Whether it is an independent trip or a group tour, they should be treated equally. Thailand's tourism industry should balance the development of independent travel and group tours, and not ignore the importance of attracting different types of tourists. The arrival of every tourist is an important part of the recovery of Thailand's tourism industry.