Chinese opt for Thai holidays

Thailand has become a new playground for rich Chinese

By Tony Cheng BBC East Asia Today, Bangkok

The Chinese new year holiday continues this week throughout China.

In the days of state run industry, it was not uncommon for people to take the whole month off.

In today's market economy, bosses are rarely so generous with vacation time.

However, as incomes rise in China, more and more people are eschewing the traditional new year with the family, and heading off for more exotic destinations.

After major international crises such as September 11, the Tourism Authority of Thailand started spending money on the Chinese market... and it is paying off handsomely

Ken Scott, Pacific Asia Travel Association

Many of them are now choosing Thailand, which has become a hotspot for Chinese travellers.

The importance of the Chinese community within Thailand to the country's economic prosperity has long been known to the authorities here.

However, now there is a new source of revenue flowing into the country as Chinese tourists flock in.

At Bangkok's Grand Palace they are arriving by the busload.

One Chinese man I spoke to said: "I have come to see the sights and travel....it is really beautiful. Of course there are more people here for the spring holiday!"

Another woman said: "I'm here to relax and because the weather is warmer!"

Thailand is keen to promote itself to China

So the attractions of Thailand are dragging in the tourists- but is this a new phenomenon?

Ken Scott is Director of the Pacific Asia Travel association.

"Traditionally at new year there was a lot of family travel, visiting relatives and so on, but now the younger generation of Chinese like to travel purely for leisure, so they'll come to beach resorts, they will come to Bangkok and go shopping and then go down to Pattaya and have some fun, " he said.

Is this just because of Thailand's sunny beaches and friendly welcomes? Mr Scott thinks otherwise.

"The Tourism Authority of Thailand is rather smart and canny. After major international crises such as 11 September [2001] in the US and 12 October [2002] in Bali, the Tourism Authority of Thailand started spending money on the Chinese market, the Singapore market and the Hong Kong market and it's paying off handsomely," he said.

The bars of Phuket, once the playground of Western tourists are now playing host to more and more mainland Chinese visitors.

China's Deputy Prime minister Li Lanqing recently took a few days out of an official tour of Thailand to come and visit.

Trade

And such high profile visitors point to an increasing relationship between the two countries, not just as a holiday destination, but also for the more serious business of trade.

Professor Sompop is from Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University.

"The number of the Chinese tourists travelling to Thailand is going to be one of the major sources of tourist income. Thailand also looks towards China for international trade... In the long-term there are good prospects for having China as the importing destination for Thai commodities."

As the Lions dance through the streets of Chinatown, it seems that the year of the goat has already brought prosperity to the shopkeepers here.

The Chinese customers are stocking up on gold and edible delicacies to take home.

For the good of the Thai economy, the government here will be hoping their compatriots follow like sheep and come flocking in.