The recent crackdown on zero-dollar tour operations is having a short-term impact on the tourism industry, with the number of Chinese visitors expected to drop 20 percent this month.
Arrivals of Chinese tourists during the September 1 to 11 period tallied 690,375, falling 16 percent shy of the targeted figure, according to a post-crackdown report by the Tourism and Sports Ministry.
“The impact will only be short-lived and the number of Chinese tourist arrivals is expected to fall by 20 percent this month,” Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said.
Last week the Anti-Money Laundering Office confiscated more than 2,000 coaches and over 4.7 billion baht in cash from OA Transport Co. in Lat Krabang district. The company was suspected of involvement in illegal zero-dollar tour operations.
Year-to-date Chinese tourist arrivals have surged 19.3 percent to 6.88 million. Arrivals during the September 1 to 11 period were up 33.7 percent year-on-year.
Of total Chinese tourist arrivals, 60 percent are so-called free independent travelers and 40 percent come in tour groups.
Among the tour-group visitors, 50 percent are lured to Thailand with zero-dollar tour packages.
Despite the zero-dollar tour crackdown, Kobkarn is still confident that Thailand will achieve its tourism revenue target of 2.4 trillion baht this year.
“Chinese tourists will remain the growth driver for tourism in the last quarter, which is expected to generate 133 billion baht in revenue,” she said.
Last year Thailand welcomed 7.9 million Chinese tourists. The number is expected to increase to 11 million to 13 million this year.
Surachet Hakpan, commander of the Tourist Police Division, said the crackdown on OA Transport, which is considered the biggest zero-dollar tour network in Thailand, is expected to wipe out this kind of illegal tour operation.
Zhang Xinhong, director of the China National Tourism Administration, said it will cooperate with the Tourism and Sports Ministry and related agencies to improve tourism standards and quality for Chinese tourists.
“We hope there will be more quality tour programs at affordable prices for Chinese tourists, thanks to the crackdown by Thai authorities,” she said.
