Seven million Chinese tourists expected to visit Thailand in 2024, amid China’s economic slowdown and intense competition in tourism (Current Issue No.3522 Full Ed.)

• In 2024, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand has regained the top spot, with an estimated 7 million arrivals, less than projected at the beginning of the year. This is due to three key factors: China’s sluggish economy, intensified competition in tourism, and significant changes in Chinese tourists’ behavior.
• These challenges are expected to persist in 2025, along with issues such as currency fluctuations, climate change, and the Middle East conflict. Consequently, it will take more time for the number of Chinese tourists to recover to pre-pandemic levels of over 11 million seen in 2019.