Golden Week and the challenge of winning back Chinese visitors

10 Sept 20:21 Key points summarised by AI

Chinese tourist arrivals in Thailand have significantly declined since early 2025, primarily due to negative sentiment on social media fueled by incidents like an actor's abduction, an earthquake, and ongoing scam reports.
Thailand struggles against regional competitors like Vietnam, which offers more affordable travel, convenient access to attractions, and a wider range of destinations, further impacted by a stronger Thai baht.
Industry leaders stress the urgent need for strict law enforcement, enhanced government-to-government safety assurances, and improved hospitality to rebuild trust and counter negative perceptions among Chinese travelers.
Despite the Tourism Authority of Thailand's promotional campaigns, experts believe a sustained effort focusing on tangible safety improvements and addressing core concerns is crucial for regaining the confidence of Chinese visitors.

Thailand’s FDI reaches Bt271bn as high-tech projects expand

Today 10:54 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's foreign direct investment (FDI) surged by 26% year-on-year to Bt271 billion across 971 projects in the first nine months, with a significant portion (494 projects) driven by high-tech industries.
Growth was spearheaded by sectors like digital technology, AI, electric vehicles, and clean energy, largely concentrated in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), with China, the US, Singapore, Japan, and Hong Kong as the top five investment sources.