BANGKOK, Jan 11 (TNA) – Entertainment venues on Bangkok’s Khao San Road are not likely to be greatly benefited from the first wave of Chinese tourists but business operators there could reap benefit from more Chinese arrivals in the third quarter, said President of the Khao San Business Association.
After China reopened border and Chinese tourists gradually travel to Thailand, Sa-nga Ruangwattanakul, president of the Khao San Business Association said that he did not expect a boost to entertainment venues on Khao San Road or other places in the beginning.
The main target tourists of Khao San Road are European tourists, accounting for 80 per cent of all visitors there.
However, Chinese tourists have high purchasing power and the new wave of Chinese arrivals in Thailand is “Free Independent Travellers” (FIT), who can speak English fluently and look for new places to visit. He projects that this group of Chinese tourists will benefit Bangkok’s entertainment venues in the third or fourth quarter of this year.
For the time being, some China’s entry and travel measures are still in place and international flights to and from Thailand have not returned to frequencies, seen before the pandemic.
He expects the number of Chinese tourists will be currently around 60,000-70,000 people per month, down from one million people per month, recorded during the pre-pandemic period. It will take time for full recovery of tourism businesses. (TNA)
