Instant search volume for Thai air tickets has increased by 70%, and Thailand's visa free official announcement of destination to China | Thailand | official announcement
The official announcement of Thailand's visa free policy towards China, which has been widely rumored for several days, has been announced. On September 13th, according to CCTV News, the Thai Cabinet decided to implement a 5-month visa free policy for Chinese tourists. Data from multiple tourism platforms shows a significant increase in search volume for travel related products in Thailand.
The 5-month visa free policy fully covers several popular travel holidays, including the National Day holiday in 2023, New Year's Day holiday in 2024, and Spring Festival holiday in 2024. According to Qunar's big data, after the news was released, the search volume for Thai air tickets on the platform increased by more than 70% compared to the same time last week, and the search volume for Thai hotels doubled compared to the previous week. During the National Day holiday, direct flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and other places to Bangkok have good prices. For example, on October 2nd, the price for flights from Shanghai to Bangkok was 953 yuan and from Guangzhou to Bangkok was 701 yuan. As of September 13th, the search volume for outbound and group tourism products on the platform has surged 3.7 times month on month. The top five popular destinations for booking outbound hotels during the National Day holiday are Hong Kong, Thailand, Macau, South Korea, and Malaysia.
According to Mafengwo, after the news was released, the popularity of "Thailand Free Travel" on the site instantly increased by 253%, with Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket ranking among the top three most popular destinations in Thailand, and Bangkok's popularity increased by 180%. The number of inquiries related to Thailand in the North Star Strategy Community has increased significantly, with "Thailand's recent safety situation", "Thailand Strategy", and "Thailand's niche islands" being the most frequently asked questions by tourists. It can be seen that considering safety issues is still the primary factor affecting the consumption decisions of tourists visiting Thailand. The release of visa free policies has also led many tourists who have not made plans during the National Day holiday to consider Thailand. Small and scenic islands that allow relaxation are the first choice for young people. The popularity of Samui Island has increased by 116%, followed closely by Kami and Sami Island.
The person in charge of Tuniu explained that the release of the visa free policy in Thailand is a great benefit for Chinese tourists visiting Thailand. After visa exemption, domestic tourists will expand their departure destinations to more non first tier cities. Currently, the platform's tourism products during the Mid Autumn Festival and National Day group period have entered the peak of booking, and the popularity of user travel continues to rise. Among the popular destinations for outbound travel, Thailand's booking popularity is also among the top. The official implementation of the visa exemption policy is expected to further enhance the enthusiasm of users to travel to Thailand during the Mid Autumn Festival and National Day holiday. In addition, the cooling of the northern climate in autumn and winter will further stimulate consumers' willingness to travel in Southeast Asia.