Phuketwan Economic Analysis
PHUKET tourism and government leaders are hoping to reverse the decline in Chinese tourists to the region by hosting a three-day marketing tour for travel agents, media and airlines from China.
Airports of Thailand figures released by the Tourism Authority of Thailand show a 23 percent decrease in Chinese visitors to Phuket in 2008.
In 2007, Phuket had 84756 Chinese arrivals. Last year, the numbers fell to 64713 visitors from China.
Arrival figures are collected by immigration officials at Phuket International Airport.
The road show starts in Phuket today and delegates will be taken to Phi Phi island and other sites in Krabi province.
Tonight the Phuket Graceland Resort in Patong will host a party for the Chinese guests, with Phuket Governor Dr Preecha Ruangjan, and Phuket OrBorJor President Paiboon Upatising set to attend.
China is considered a key market for Phuket as the country's citizens have in recent years gained more wealth and freedom to travel.
With the economic downturn affecting the world, it is expected that tourists will turn to closer and cheaper vacation destinations, making Thailand seemingly well-positioned to attract Chinese tourists.
Cultural ties between Thailand and China are also considered a strong selling point, but Chinese tourists were scared away by the political unrest that saw the Phuket airport blockaded in August last year, followed by the closure of both airports in Bangkok in November, the TAT says.
Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport figures reveal an even steeper drop in China tourists to the capital, with January 2009 showing a 35 percent decline over the same month last year.
Only 48971 Chinese nationals arrived to Suvarnabhumi last month, compared with 76051 arrivals in January 2008.
A travel advisory to Thailand issued by China during the Bangkok anti-government protests was lifted just before the Chinese New Year celebrations in January.
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