BANGKOK, Feb 20 (TNA) – Facing the loss of nearly all
Chinese tourists, members of Thai-Chinese Tourism Alliance Association have
shifted their business plan to focus on domestic market.
Some of the 160 members of the association had already
suspended their operations because of the coronavirus outbreak and gloomy
outlook for tourism industry, President of the Association Chanaphan
Kaewklachaiwut said on Thursday.
Chanaphan said the tour operators had to adjust their
business plan by looking at other markets and offering more domestic tour
packages for Thai customers.
Thailand’s previously-robust tourism industry relied heavily
on Chinese tourists. Last year, Chinese tourist arrivals increased by 4.4
percent to 10.99 million.
The Thai government expects overall tourist arrivals to
plunge by 50 percent in the first half of 2020. (TNA)