BANGKOK: Thailand welcomed one million Chinese tourists between January and May 18, after China’s border reopened following the ease of Covid-19 restrictions, according to a government official.
Anucha Burapachaisri, a government spokesman, said in a statement that the government anticipates the number of Chinese tourists to reach its target of 5 million this year with spending of a total of 446 billion baht ($13.18 billion).
According to Reuters, approximately 274,000 Chinese tourists visited the country last year, or approximately 28% of all visitors, compared with the 11.15 million tourists who visited in or during the 2019 pandemic.
The government previously reported that there were 9.47 million international tourists overall from January to mid-May, down from the 11.15 million who came in the entire year of 2022.
The second-largest economy in Southeast Asia expanded more quickly than anticipated in the first quarter, propelled by a sustained uptick in the vital tourist industry, a significant source of employment that was severely damaged by the COVID-19 outbreak.
