Thailand Turns to China to Lift Tourism With 1,000 Charter Flights

Thailand turns to China to boost tourism, with 1,000 charter flights and expanding promotions as foreign arrivals fall 7% from last year.
Thailand turns to China to boost tourism, with 1,000 charter flights and expanding promotions as foreign arrivals fall 7% from last year. (Mladen ANTONOV / AFP)

Thailand is turning to China to drive a recovery in foreign tourism, leaning on a surge of planned chartered flights. The Tourism and Sports Ministry said Thailand expects more than 1,000 charter flights from China, Macau and Taiwan through mid-2026 as authorities target a return to traffic levels seen before the pandemic.

Tourism and Sports Minister Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn said daily Chinese arrivals have begun to pick up after the sharp decline recorded early this year.

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by Edwin Shri Bimo

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