Chinese tourist influx to put pressure on Thailand's tourism and health sectors
An overload of tourists and an overwhelmed Thai healthcare system are issues to monitor next year after China fully reopens from January 8, 2023, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
Bangkok (VNA) - An overload of tourists and anoverwhelmed Thai healthcare system are issues to monitor next year after Chinafully reopens from January 8, 2023, according to the Tourism Authority ofThailand (TAT).
TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said China'sreopening will lead TAT to revise its target for foreign arrivals from 20million to more than 25 million in 2023.
An influx of Chinese tourists, who have beenunable to travel overseas for three years, may flock to Thailand during the LunarNew Year holiday at the end of January, with an estimated 500,000 arrivalsduring this period and 3-5 million for the whole year, he said.
He noted that the TAT and the private sector havemet to discuss preparations and evaluate the situation as China's major shiftin its border policy after three years requires a recalibration.
Even though the Thai tourism sector applauded theannouncement from Beijing that it is lifting most entry requirements from Jan8, except for a pre-arrival COVID-19 test, tourism operators were concernedabout an imbalance between supply and demand, Supasorn said.
Yuthasak said the most important factor is not howmany Chinese will return to visit Thailand, but helping the country avoidanother COVID-19 wave and keeping Thai people safe./.
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Illustrative image (Photo: //www.bangkokpost.com/) 
