TAT urged to woo highend chinese

Wang Xinjun, managing director of Ivy Alliance Tourism Consulting Co, said mainland Chinese people would soon be the world's biggest travellers.

Wang said it was time the TAT and the private sector revised their strate¬gies and repositioned themselves.

Thailand has been advised to pro¬mote highend destinations such as Krabi, Koh Samui, Hua Hin and Chiang Mai, instead of the traditional BangkokPattaya route.

Meanwhile, the TAT and the private sector must ease typical problems like the zero tour packages, which have been damaging the tourism industry for more than a decade. Thai authorities would also have to resolve political unrest as about 20 per cent of Chinese tourists are concerned about security.

"Despite political problems, I still believe the tourism sector will grow through the year," said Wang.

During the first six months, Thailand welcomed 60,000 Chinese tourists, up 17 per cent from the same period last year. Visitors from the mainland are expected to grow 20 per cent this year.

The average Chinese tourist's length of stay is 6.5 days with spending per head at Bt4,000 per day, lower than that of other nationalities.

Wanchai Sarathoonthat, chairman of the TAT board, said the agency was trying to ease zero tour problems.

TAT and China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) are engaged in a bid to boost tourism between the two countries.

Thai tourists visiting China are expected to increase over next few years after ending of Olympic Games 2008.