Thailand is looking to re-attract Chinese tourists.

China's Golden Week will begin on October 1, when more than one billion mainland Chinese return home to celebrate with family or travel abroad, according to bangkokpost.com.

Ahead of the event, the Thai government , especially the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), has made every effort to encourage Chinese tourists to visit the Land of Smiles.

The move comes as many Chinese no longer consider Thailand a desirable destination. Chinese tourist arrivals have fallen 35% year-on-year. The TAT predicts a 24% drop in Chinese tourists visiting Thailand during Golden Week compared to the same period last year.

Safety concerns due to accident reports and reports of scams, fraud and kidnappings have tarnished Thailand’s image. Chinese tourists are now flocking to Japan and South Korea, or alternative destinations in the region such as Vietnam and Malaysia.

Recognizing this problem, new Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told the country's parliament on September 29 that his government would prioritize the safety and convenience of tourists, while cracking down on scammers targeting tourists.

However, according to bangkokpost.com, the biggest challenge of all is how the government can improve public safety for tourists. This is a systemic problem that cannot be solved by deploying more police to patrol tourist spots or installing more CCTV cameras.

Thai officials have no shortage of resources or laws to ensure public safety, including using biometric technology to track foreign visitors.

Meanwhile, most problems affecting tourism, such as sudden fires at hotels and entertainment venues, damaged infrastructure, illegal drugs or even fraud, can all be linked to corruption.

Unsafe hotels, such as those without fire exits, are built when local officials turn a blind eye and developers flout building regulations.

Unsafe public infrastructure, such as broken escalators or roofs collapsing during heavy rains, as seen at Don Mueang Airport a few years ago, is often due to poor or inadequate supervision. This is followed by rampant illegal drug use, both in the community and at tourist sites.

Experts say that in addition to improving public safety, it is time for the Thai government and TAT to revamp their tourism strategy. TAT is currently working on a strategy to reposition Thailand as a premium and sustainable destination, not just a budget-friendly one. But in reality, TAT and the government have been targeting a large number of tourists.

Policymakers have made no real effort to transform Thailand’s tourism industry into one that provides high-end, safe and sustainable destinations that tourists want to return to and stay longer. The government needs to make bold reforms. At the end of the day, tourists are all the same. They like to visit countries where they are well taken care of./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/thailand-is-looking-for-a-way-to-attract-Chinese-customers-post1066127.vnp