China’s Relaxing Travel Restrictions Could Lead Thai Tourism to Top Expectations

DAOL (Thailand) Public Company Limited wrote in its analysis paper citing the Minister of Tourism and Sport saying that he wished the Chinese President Xi Jinping would allow more Chinese travellers to Thailand after his visit for the APEC meeting on November 13-18, 2022.

The Minister of Tourism and Sport stated that Thailand could receive 1.5 million Chinese travellers alone in December if China decides to ease travel restrictions, which could lead tourist arrival in 2022 to 12 million, topping previous forecast of 10 million.

However, DAOL Securities expected the potential of Chinese arrivals to return would be in the first half of 2023 as China’s zero-Covid policy is still in place as of now.

DAOL stated that industries that would benefit from the returning Chinese tourism are the aviation (AOT, AAV and BA) and tourism (ERW and CENTEL) sector.