China’s outbound travel surges ahead of ‘Golden Week’

[reader]

From CNBC

Outbound travel from China is surging ahead of the first “Golden Week” holiday period since the country has allowed international travel to resume and even as China’s economic growth has slowed.

Bookings for popular foreign destinations such as Singapore, Australia and Thailand have increased 20 times compared to the same holiday period last year, travel provider Trip.com said in a press release Monday. Golden Week, which begins Oct. 1 this year, marks the annual weeklong period that includes the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day in China.

More than in previous years, travelers are seeking out “unique and immersive experiences,” Trip.com CEO Jane Sun said in the press release. Data shows an increase in purchases of private group tours as well as bookings for less-popular destination such as Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan, the travel provider said.

“We’ve observed a significant shift towards high-quality services and in-depth travel encounters,” Sun said in the release. “Travelers are not just exploring popular destinations but also seeking authentic and off-the-beaten-path experiences.”

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Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin embraces Chinese tourists at Suvarnabhumi International Airport on Sept. 25, 2023.

Sakchai Lalit—AP

[scott456]

Thank goodness I will not be traveling to Thailand in October. 

[vinapu]

5 hours ago, scott456 said:

Thank goodness I will not be traveling to Thailand in October. 

Boys will miss you

[scott456]

3 hours ago, vinapu said:

Boys will miss you

And your purple baht bills.

[a-447]

I have just returned from Japan and South Korea.

The big topic of conversation in Japan at the moment is the effect over-tourism is having on the local people. 

The vast majority of tourists were from Singapore and Taiwan. The locals in Kyoto were complaining that they can't move around freely or even catch buses to work and litter is becoming a big problem. 

For those who are not familiar with Japan, years ago the government removed all bins from public areas and told citizens that from now on, you are going to take your rubbish home and dispose of it there  - which is what everyone does. When you head our for the day you always make sure you have a bag of some sort into which you can put your rubbish and then carry it around all day. 

Unfortunately, tourists are not always familiar with this concept and so in frustration, they tend to just quietly - or blatantly - dump it along the way of leave it in toilets.

Kyoto's government decided to deal with the problem by setting up 3 large bins on the main street but by late afternoon they were full and rubbish was piling up around them. Litter is such a rare sight in Japan that it came as quite a shock to everyone.

The biggest fear now is what will happen once the mainland Chinese tour groups start returning. If Japan is already overwhelmed by tourists and finding it difficult to cope, this will be disastrous for the locals.

I recall a couple of years ago when I was walking around Kenrokuen, one of the 3 great Japanese -style gardens. I was enjoying the serenity when suddenly large numbers of huge tour buses turned up all at once and disgorged  a tsunami of Chinese tourists. The serenity disappeared, as did the views, because everywhere you looked you just saw people. They all wanted the photo with the famous stone lantern; the problem is, they don't just take 1 photo and move on so that others can have a turn; they have to take multiple shots going through a series of poses.

I, along with others, fled the park and vowed to return another day - which I did back in January and without the tourists. It was wonderful!

Chinese tourists have a perfect right to visit these places just like we do. But I wish they would not travel in such large groups because the sheer number overwhelms everyone and everything. (Try buying an icecream when the Chinese are in town!)

I remember the tour groups being a problem in Pattaya before Covid. I dread to think what it will be like once the Chinese start to travel again. 

[vinapu]

I guess North Korea , Somalia and Afghanistan don't have problems with noisy and messy tourists. Yes , tourists are binging mess and crowds but also money with them.

It's enough just to look back to summer 2020 to see how world looks like without those messy hordes.

[reader]

One of the reasons trash becomes a problem in tourist areas in Bangkok is the lack of bins to dispose of it. Walk Silom or Surawong looking for a place to toss your trash and you you'll be hard pressed to find an receptacle. At least most 7-11's have a trash can outside the door but that's not the practice with most stores and vendors.

In the evening it's common to find ever growing piles of loose and bagged rubbish appearing on the sidewalks, acting as temporary feeding stations for animals until the collectors arrive after midnight.

[vinapu]

13 hours ago, reader said:

In the evening it's common to find ever growing piles of loose and bagged rubbish appearing on the sidewalks, acting as temporary feeding stations for animals until the collectors arrive after midnight.

sometimes outright unpleasant on narrow side streets like sala Daeng, piles  there attracts so many rats that it may be hard not to step on one.  Better cross the street.

But it's not tourist generated trash

[PeterRS]

1 hour ago, vinapu said:

sometimes outright unpleasant on narrow side streets like sala Daeng, piles  there attracts so many rats that it may be hard not to step on one.  Better cross the street.

Walk along Saladaeng or most other streets during the huge monsoon rain storms recently and you are likely  to see a colony of rats. Apparently their homes in the water run off pipes/sewers also become flooded!

[vinapu]

1 hour ago, PeterRS said:

Walk along Saladaeng or most other streets during the huge monsoon rain storms recently and you are likely  to see a colony of rats. Apparently their homes in the water run off pipes/sewers also become flooded!

poor animals !

[scott456]

16 hours ago, reader said:

One of the reasons trash becomes a problem in tourist areas in Bangkok is the lack of bins to dispose of it. Walk Silom or Surawong looking for a place to toss your trash and you you'll be hard pressed to find an receptacle. At least most 7-11's have a trash can outside the door but that's not the practice with most stores and vendors.

In the evening it's common to find ever growing piles of loose and bagged rubbish appearing on the sidewalks, acting as temporary feeding stations for animals until the collectors arrive after midnight.

It's a freedom to be able to throw your trash anywhere you like.

[Boy69]

The contribution of Chinese organized groups are questionable they come with fix price pre paid tour packages on a very tight budget ,spend at the local businesses almost nothing and stay short time in Thailand. 

[Keithambrose]

It's like Cambodia. They fly on Chinese airlines, travel on Chinese owned buses, stay at Chinese owned hotels etc. Almost nothing to local economy.

[Moses]

3 hours ago, Keithambrose said:

Chinese owned buses, stay at Chinese owned hotels

 

3 hours ago, Keithambrose said:

Almost nothing to local economy

"Chinese owned" companies pay the same taxes in Thailand as taxes paid by Thai owned companies, so it is the same and ownership doesn't matter.

"Chinese owned" companies hire only Thai people because only Thai may work in tourism by law. So ownership doesn't matter for labor market as well.

[Moses]

4 hours ago, Boy69 said:

The contribution of Chinese organized groups are questionable they come with fix price pre paid tour packages on a very tight budget ,spend at the local businesses almost nothing and stay short time in Thailand. 

Wrong. 

Chinese spend more than average tourist:

The average Chinese tourist spends 6,400 baht (US$180) per day—more than the average visitor's 5,690 baht (US$160)

[thaiophilus]

If a Chinese tourist in China pays Chinese money in advance to a Chinese company for a package tour staying in Chinese-owned hotels, how much of that money goes into Thai taxes?

[Moses]

4 minutes ago, thaiophilus said:

If a Chinese tourist in China pays Chinese money in advance to a Chinese company for a package tour staying in Chinese-owned hotels, how much of that money goes into Thai taxes?

"If". This "if" is pure speculation.

According to TAT and other sources Chinese brings to Thai economic more than any other nation.

[vinapu]

5 hours ago, thaiophilus said:

If a Chinese tourist in China pays Chinese money in advance to a Chinese company for a package tour staying in Chinese-owned hotels, how much of that money goes into Thai taxes?

 

4 hours ago, Moses said:

"If". This "if" is pure speculation.

 

not entirely speculation.

last year in Mexico I was witness of discussion between American tourists who joined tour I joined too. I and some Americans bought it locally for about 60 $, other Americans bought  it before they left through their travel office back in States and they paid almost  twice. So  half of their tour  money never left USA presumably.  

From my travels I  know that by no means this is unique situation, opposite,  it's how it works. It's why guides are full of advices ' buy this or that tour / trek  locally , do not prepay" .

Chinese may be stingy in  bars, massages  or restaurants but since they like to show off,  they may be shopping more hence,  higher spending.

 

 

 

 

[thaiophilus]

20 minutes ago, vinapu said:

 

not entirely speculation.

last year in Mexico I was witness of discussion between American tourists who joined tour I joined too. I and some Americans bought it locally for about 60 $, other Americans bought  it before they left through their travel office back in States and they paid almost  twice. So  half of their tour  money never left USA presumably.  

From my travels I  know that by no means this is unique situation, opposite,  it's how it works. It's why guides are full of advices ' buy this or that tour / trek  locally , do not prepay" .

Chinese may be stingy in  bars, massages  or restaurants but since they like to show off,  they may be shopping more hence,  higher spending.

 

It wasn't speculation before COVID.

Back in 2016, if you can believe The ASEAN Post,  "the Thai government decided to stamp out zero-dollar tourism, estimating losses of US$2 billion each year in tax revenue. Three companies were shut down, 2,155 buses were seized and several people were arrested for money laundering and operating illegal low-quality tours."

If you want speculation about the future, the Bangkok Post has an explainer with a 2023 dateline.

[scott456]

1 hour ago, vinapu said:

 

not entirely speculation.

last year in Mexico I was witness of discussion between American tourists who joined tour I joined too. I and some Americans bought it locally for about 60 $, other Americans bought  it before they left through their travel office back in States and they paid almost  twice. So  half of their tour  money never left USA presumably.  

From my travels I  know that by no means this is unique situation, opposite,  it's how it works. It's why guides are full of advices ' buy this or that tour / trek  locally , do not prepay" .

Chinese may be stingy in  bars, massages  or restaurants but since they like to show off,  they may be shopping more hence,  higher spending.

 

 

 

 

I am sure tgat is the case in Mexico, but most people just go online (usually Tripadvisor etc) and buy tours, unless you are already in Mexico and talking to someone there in person. Same for Rome, Paris, London...etc.  If you book tours locally through the hotel you stay, it will cost you more than the online farang price.

[Keithambrose]

10 hours ago, Moses said:

 

"Chinese owned" companies pay the same taxes in Thailand as taxes paid by Thai owned companies, so it is the same and ownership doesn't matter.

"Chinese owned" companies hire only Thai people because only Thai may work in tourism by law. So ownership doesn't matter for labor market as well.

Ok. Thanks for info. In Cambodia the locals complain a lot about the Chinese tourists, as I said. Mind you, China practically owns Cambodia these days, look at Sihanoukville. 

[vinapu]

25 minutes ago, Keithambrose said:

 In Cambodia the locals complain a lot about the Chinese tourists, ....

after visiting few years ago Bang Melea temple in early morning with me and two Chinese loads of buses present , I'm not surprised. Good that temple was already ruined, otherwise would not likely survive that attack. I'm not saying it was representative of how Chinese behave, far from it  but still what I saw was bordering on scary. At least after giving up on ruins they were buying trinkets  at local market.