Indians to the rescue in Thailand’s Phuket as Chinese tourist numbers stall
- Indian arrivals in Phuket accelerate due to more direct flights, a visa waiver and, most importantly, increasing wealth
- Boat tragedy that killed dozens of mainlanders and a slowing economy at home trigger drop in Chinese tourist numbers
Thailand’s struggling tourism industry is finding support with visitors from the population colossus to its west, just as the years of bumper arrivals from the giant to its north are beginning to wane.
At a beachfront hotel on the tropical island of Phuket, the occupancy rate from Chinese clientele has stalled, while bookings from India have begun to rise.
The Vijitt Resort is one of many in Thailand that has more cause for optimism.
“We’re starting to see new growth,” said Kongsak Khoopongsakorn, Vijitt’s general manager and vice-president of the Thai Hotels Association.
“Indians are now driving industry growth like the Chinese had previously done.”
What’s happening to Thai tourism could prove a canary in the coal mine for the leisure sector in other Asian economies as China matures and a new India emerges.