Tourism builds a bridge between China and Thailand as ties deepen
Print Edition
CHINA and Thailand celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year. Over the five decades, the two countries have witnessed remarkable cooperation across various fields, with tourism emerging as a vibrant bridge strengthening people-to-people bonds and embodying the spirit of “One Family, China and Thailand.”
Tourism plays a vital role in deepening mutual understanding and promoting friendship between the people of China and Thailand.
Thailand implemented a permanent visa-free policy for Chinese citizens in March last year. The move has significantly facilitated the two-way flow of tourists.
China has become one of the most popular overseas destinations for Thai tourists, while Thailand has long been a favored choice for Chinese travelers exploring abroad.
Last year, China recorded more than 1.1 million visits by Thai travelers.
Thailand was among Shanghai’s top three source countries with the fastest growing tourist numbers last year, according to the Shanghai Administration of Culture and Tourism. The city recorded more than 300,000 tourist trips from Thailand, a year-on-year increase of more than 300 percent.
The Tian An 1000 Trees mall in Putuo District attracts many Thai travelers. With up to 1,000 structural columns and each topped with a tree, the stunning structure has a hill-like appearance and is dubbed Shanghai’s “Hanging Gardens of Babylon.”
“We saw this attraction on TikTok and thought it’s super beautiful, so we come here today to take a photo,” said Thai tourist Tanika, who was with her friends, striking various poses under the lit trees.
They said that on Thai social media, the destination has become a must-visit spot.
“We felt very shocked to be able to enjoy such a charming night view,” Tanika said.
Thai tourist Boonma said it was her first visit to Shanghai, made easier by the visa-free policy.
“The paths in the city are beautiful, and we call Didi or take the Metro, which are pretty convenient,” she said.
A batch of scenic spots and shops, including the North Bund and Pop Mart stores, have become new must-visit spots for Thai tourists.
Khunnsii from Thailand said that Pop Mart is very “popular” on their social platform, and the main purpose of her trip to Shanghai was to visit Shanghai Disneyland and Pop Mart.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the Tourism Authority of Thailand also launched the “Sawasdee Nihao” promotion on May 29 in Bangkok to attract Chinese tourists.
As a key project of Thailand’s “Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism Year 2025,” the event encompassed a wide range of aspects such as enhancing tourism infrastructure and streamlining entry procedures.
Cultural performances blending Thai and Chinese elements were staged. There were also negotiations between Thai and Chinese tourism enterprises, aiming to explore more cooperation opportunities and develop high-quality tourism products and routes.
Centering around five “musts” — taste, try, seek, buy and see — the Tourism Authority of Thailand has rolled out a series of promotions and activities, aiming to enrich travel experiences and enhance the overall competitiveness of the country’s tourism industry.
From January 1 to May 27, Thailand received more than 1.9 million visits by Chinese tourists.
“Thailand is promoting new destinations to Chinese tourists to cater to the demand of especially younger travelers who seek innovative ways of travel,” said Lerdchai Wangtrakoondee, director of the authority’s Shanghai office.
“We aim to offer new experiences at these new spots — not just sightseeing, but in-depth folk culture activities.”
Packages combining mainstream destinations with secondary cities have been launched. Chiang Mai is bundled with charming small towns such as Lampang and Lamphun, while Bangkok is paired with secondary destinations such as Hua Hin.
“Chanthaburi has excellent fruit orchards and is famous for producing the best durians in Thailand. Therefore, we will add fruit-themed tour routes, along with off-the-beaten-path destinations like Koh Chang and Koh Samet, which can meet the preference of young tourists for novel travel experiences.”
The authority is also partnering with Meituan to introduce China’s Black Pearl-rated Restaurant Guide to Thailand to promote Thai cuisine.
Thailand intends to establish a long-term cooperation mechanism with China, promoting the high-quality and sustainable development of tourism between the two countries.
“We focus on promoting two-way tourism: inviting Chinese tourists to Thailand and encouraging Thai tourists to visit China,” said Wangtrakoondee.
Thailand is expected to have a booming summer, according to bookings. Chinese students visit Thailand to experience golf, Muay Thai and Thai dance. Meanwhile, Thai students are coming to China for Chinese language lessons and cultural immersion.
“Thai tourists are full of yearning and expectations for China and Shanghai,” said Wangtrakoondee.
“Two-way tourism can ultimately deepen into a more profound cultural exchange, and the greatest goal of tourism cooperation between the two countries in many aspects is that we are getting to know each other better, delving deeper into each other’s culture, understanding and friendship. Tourism now effectively drives a series of follow-up developments between the two countries, including but not limited to trade import and export, agricultural cooperation, and technology.”
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