Latest news with #ChineseTourists
The Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Why the ‘White Lotus effect' hasn't returned tourists to this tropical paradise
Thailand 's foreign visitor numbers dropped for the fourth consecutive month in May, down 14 per cent to 2.6 million, after the government set high hopes for tourist numbers following the success of The White Lotus. The number of Chinese tourists, who make up the largest proportion of visitors to Thailand, has fallen by nearly one million this year due to fears over scam centres on the Myanmar border, as well as a recent earthquake. Flights booked from China between June and August show a 15 per cent decline compared to last year. But there has been a rise in Western visitors, with US tourists increasing by 12 per cent. The government reported a 20 per cent increase in tourists from the UK between January and May.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Why the ‘The White Lotus effect' hasn't returned tourists to this tropical paradise
Thailand 's foreign visitor numbers dropped for the fourth consecutive month in May, down 14 per cent to 2.6 million, after the government set high hopes for tourist numbers following the success of The White Lotus. The number of Chinese tourists, who make up the largest proportion of visitors to Thailand, has fallen by nearly one million this year due to fears over scam centres on the Myanmar border, as well as a recent earthquake. Flights booked from China between June and August show a 15 per cent decline compared to last year. But there has been a rise in Western visitors, with US tourists increasing by 12 per cent. The government reported a 20 per cent increase in tourists from the UK between January and May.
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Even White Lotus effect not much help for Thai tourism hit by ‘bad news' events
Thailand 's tourism outlook is in such doldrums that even the so-called The White Lotus effect – a temporary boost in Western visitors inspired by the latest Koh Samui-set season of HBO's hit show – has not been enough to offset a slump in arrivals from neighbouring countries. Foreign arrivals to Thailand dropped for the fourth straight month in May, slipping 14 per cent to 2.6 million, government data showed. That is the country's longest streak of declines since 2021, when the Covid-19 pandemic closed international borders. The biggest drop came from travellers from other Asian countries, whose citizens make up the vast majority of tourists to Thailand. Regional arrivals fell nearly 11 per cent this year through May, compared to the same period in 2024. Visits by Chinese tourists, who make up the largest group by nationality, have plummeted – nearly 1 million fewer arrivals so far this year versus 2024. The plunge heading into the summer holiday period and beyond is causing consternation in Thailand, where tourism makes up about 12 per cent of gross domestic product. It is being fuelled by lingering concerns about safety, with fears about the growing presence of scam centres around the Myanmar border spooking visitors from China. Thailand has also in recent months contended with an earthquake that beamed images of a destroyed Bangkok skyscraper around the world, the rising popularity of Japan and China as regional tourism destinations and a strong baht that has made it less of a value destination. 'We have lost a lot of tourists to other competing countries in Asia because we didn't tackle the negative images seriously,' said Ratchaporn Poolsawadee, vice-president of the Tourism Council of Thailand. 'Thailand's tourism is resilient, but this may take months to rebound.'
RNZ News
6 days ago
- RNZ News
Tourists injured in Southland bus crash, Consulate-General confirms
Photo: Google Maps Passengers on a bus that crashed in Southland were Chinese tourists, Christchurch's Chinese Consulate-General has confirmed. Seventeen people were on board the bus when it crashed on Mossburn Five Rivers Road around 3:45pm on Wednesday. Police say three people were hurt - one of whom was taken to hospital in a serious condition and two others in a moderate condition. St John said the remaining 14 passengers were uninujured and did not require transportation to hospital. State Highway 97 was closed near Diack Road while the bus was moved. The consulate has warned tourists that South Island roads can be dangerous in winter because of rain, fog and black ice. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Skift
29-05-2025
- Business
- Skift
Now, Philippines Becomes Visa-Free for Indian Tourists
The impact of visa waivers on Indian travelers' destination preference is well documented. As the Philippines struggles with the loss of Chinese tourists, it seems to be taking a page from Thailand's notebook to attract outbound surge from India. The Philippines has introduced visa-free entry for Indian tourists. The archipelago is offering two different types of visa waivers to Indians. Indian passport holders can enter the Philippines without a visa for a period of 14 days for tourism only. Tourists entering the Southeast Asian country through this program can neither extend their stay beyond the 14 days nor convert it into any other type of visa. Apart from this, Indian nationals can also get a 30-day non-extendable visa-free entry for tourism purposes if they hold valid visas or residency permits for Australia, Japan, America, Canada, Schengen nations, Singapore, or the United Kingdom. The country's e-visa facility will also be available. The policy came into effect this month itself. India's Importance for Philippines: Last year, while the Philippines recorded its highest-ever tourism receipts at about $13 billion, it also lost out significantly on tourists from China: Only 300,000 Chinese tourists visited as against the target of 2 million. At the Skift Asia Forum earlier this month, Christina Garcia Frasco, tourism secretary of the Republic of the Philippines said, 'The lesson that we learned from that is to really diversify our dependency into other markets as well.' India has now become one of the focus markets for the Philippines. She is also hopeful that direct flights between India and the Philippines will commence 'very soon.' On the development, Gaurav Malik, country director - India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal at online travel platform Agoda, said, "The Philippines' decision to grant visa-free entry to Indian travelers recognizes India as a key market for tourism. The move also reflects Indian travelers' growing interest in Southeast Asia as a whole.' He added that the move is likely to further boost the demand for the Philippines as a preferred travel destination among Indians, as also seen in other destination countries and highlighted by Skift in a feature last September. Philippines Tourism Secretary at the Skift Asia Forum ITC's Welcomhotel Brand Enters Bihar ITC Hotels has signed a Welcomhotel-branded property in Bihar's Bodhgaya. The 98-key hotel marks the brand's debut in the state of Bihar. Bodhgaya is a key destination for Buddhist pilgrims. This came just days after ITC signed a Welcomhotel in Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh, which is a major religious destination for Hindus. The company has recognized this segment as a growth driver in the country's tourism landscape. At the signing of Welcomhotel in Vrindavan, ITC Hotels Managing Director Anil Chadha said, 'India's pilgrimage tourism has witnessed a big upswing. As the country witnesses a surge in domestic travel, spiritual destinations have become vibrant tourism hubs, driving footfall and economic opportunity across various cities and heritage sites.' IndiGo Promoter Sells 6% Stake in Airline IndiGo-parent Interglobe Aviation's promoter Rakesh Gangwal and his family trust on Tuesday sold a 5.72% stake in the low-cost airline, according to exchange filings. Of this, Gangwal sold 0.57% out of his total 5.3% stake in IndiGo, while the family trust sold 5.15% out of a total 8.23% stake in the airline. The shares were offloaded for about INR 113.8 billion ($1.35 billion) through a block deal. A total of 220 million shares were sold in the deal. Last August as well, Gangwal's family trust sold a 5.2% stake in the airline. In March 2024, Gangwal also sold some shares in IndiGo. The stake sale is due to a February 2022 decision by Gangwal to reduce his stake in the budget airline after his alleged fall out with co-founder Rahul Bhatia over corporate governance issues. Last year, Southwest Airlines announced adding Gangwal to its board of directors. Manipur's Move to Boost Homestays The Northeastern state of Manipur has launched a dedicated portal for registration of homestays in the state. The digital initiative is aimed to encourage local communities through tourism. Residents across the state will be able to register their properties as certified homestays using this portal, which will strengthen rural economies while also providing travelers with authentic travel experiences. The state's new homestay policy came into effect this month, in which the government detailed the infrastructure and service benchmarks required from homestays. These looked at guest safety, comfort, and transparency. The policy also standardized room tariffs. Cruise-Focused OTA Int2Cruises Enters India Cruise-focused online travel company Int2Cruises has entered the Indian market. The OTA is headquartered in India, but was first introduced in Singapore and is expanding its presence into other markets such as the United Arab Emirates. In a statement, the company said that the platform aims to make cruise bookings convenient, transparent, and affordable. 'Indian travelers today are confident, digitally savvy, and looking for memorable experiences. But cruise booking remains fragmented and often overwhelming,' said Akansha Agarwal, chief marketing officer at the OTA. Cruise vacations are quickly gaining momentum among Indian travelers, for leisure as well as corporate travel. The government is also looking to ramp up this segment, targeting 1 million cruise tourists by 2029. According to the Indian government, 'The cruise market in India has the potential to grow by 800% over the next decade, driven by rising demand and disposable incomes.' IHG Now Has 50 Operational Hotels in India IHG Hotels & Resorts on Tuesday opened its 50th operational hotel in India - Crowne Plaza Lucknow. The 110-key hotel has been equipped with meeting and event spaces across 40,000 square feet in order to target leisure and business travelers. The hotel chain is continuing to expand its presence across the country. Last year, IHG signed 18 new hotels in India, with around 30% of the signings being in the premium and luxury segments. Currently, the company has almost 70 hotels in its pipeline as it looks to more than double its portfolio in India over the next five years.
