Bangkok, Thailand – 6 February, 2013: The Tourism Authority of Thailand has lined up several celebrations to mark the Chinese New Year holiday in 2013. Between Feb 6-14, Bangkok’s famed Yaowarat Road will host the Chinese New Year Festival in China Town, and the Regional Chinese New Year Festival 2013 will take place in 12 major provinces across Thailand.
TAT Governor Suraphon Svetasreni said, “We expect that more than 2.6 million domestic and foreign tourists will be on the move during Chinese New Year, generating nearly 11 billion Baht in spending.
According to the Department of Civil Aviation, special permission has been given for local and foreign airlines to operate hundreds of extra flights to cater to the huge demand between February 9-14, the peak period. During those days, the DCA has cleared 633 flights to Thailand’s various international airports, consisting of 134,828 seats. This breaks down as 400 flights from mainland China (76,745 seats), 115 flights from Hong Kong (30,403 seats), 35 flights from Taiwan (9,684 seats), and 83 flights from neighboring Vietnam (17,996 seats).
China is now the biggest source-market of visitors to Thailand. Chinese arrivals totalled 2,789,345 in 2012, up by a huge 62% over 2011, and comprising a market share of 12.51% of total visitor arrivals to Thailand.
In 2012, Chinese visitors stayed an average of 8 days and spent an average of 4,716.56 baht (US$151) per person per day. This generated 45.55 billion baht (US$1.4 billion) tourism foreign exchange revenue to the Thai economy, the highest revenue generating market for Thailand.
TAT is expecting 2013 arrivals from China to total 3,257,936 million. Also known as the “Spring Festival”, the Chinese New Year festivities in 2013 will have extra significance as Thailand plans to use the occasion to recognize the 38th anniversary of Thai-Chinese diplomatic relations. A special partnership between the TAT and China’s Ministry of Culture has made it possible for 180 performers from 7 provinces in China to travel to the Land of Smiles. After their shows in Bangkok, the troupe will head upcountry to perform in the following 5 provinces:
Songkhla (Hat Yai): Performance from Liaoning and Shandong, February 10-11
Nakhon Sawan : Kung Fu performance from Tianjin, February 10-12
Ratchaburi: Dance performance from Tibet, February 10-12
Suphanburi: Acrobatic performance called “A-fan-ti” from Urumchi City, Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu, February 10-12
Ayutthaya: Performance from Inner Mongolia’s Autonomous Region and Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu, February 10-12
This will mark the first time that Thailand has been honored by Mr. Cai Wu, the Chinese Culture Minister, and also Ms. Zhao Zaohua, Deputy Culture Minister, who has invited an 11-person media team from CCTV to cover the events of the Chinese New Year in Thailand.
One reason for the huge growth in popularity of Thailand is the success of the low-budget Chinese movie “Lost in Thailand”. Shot in Thailand, It has been a big hit in China. Between December 12, 2012 – January 27, 2013, it generated income of more than US$184 million.
Thailand is a short-haul and value-for-money destination with good airline connections and visa on arrival facilities for Chinese visitors. The kingdom is also well-known for its long-standing tradition of friendliness and hospitality.
Thailand and China have much in common in terms of food, cultural and ethnic relationships. Many Thai prominent businessmen and political families have roots in China. Bangkok has a very large and bustling Chinatown area where Chinese visitors can regularly be seen shopping for herbal medicines, jewellery and gold. Many of them also go to make offerings at the numerous Chinese temples.
Chinese visitors are changing in customer and demographic profile. But regardless of whether they are coming for business, MICE, holiday, honeymoon, sports, etc., both high-spenders and economy visitors will find an extensive range of places to stay, eat and shop as well as many activities to enjoy in Thailand which will suit their tastes, preferences and budget.
In addition, Popular Thai celebrity “Pong” Nawat KulRattanarak who has a huge fan following and is very popular among the Chinese media, has helped publicise and promote the kingdom in his various public appearances.
Top five destinations for Chinese visitors to Thailand are Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Rayong and Chiang Mai.
At present, TAT has 4 offices in China (Beijing, Shanghai, Kunming and Chengdu) and plans to open new offices in Guangzhou in the near future.
The 12 Provinces participating in the 2013 Chinese New Year festivals are as follows:
Province: Bangkok
Date: 9-10 Feb 2013
Event Name: Chinese New Year @ China Town
Venue:10 Feb – Yaowarat Road
9 Feb – Thai Cultural Center
Chiang Mai
1 –11 Feb 2013
Chiang Mai Chinese New Year 2013 @Chiang Mai China Town
Warorot Market
Nakorn Sawan
3-14 Feb 2013
7 Years Heavenly Dragon Continuing the Legend of Chinese New Year in Pak Nam Pho
Paknampho
Phra Nakorn Si Ayutthaya
11-16 Feb 2013
Auspicious Chinese New Year in Ancient City, Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya Municipal Office
Suphanburi
8-12 Feb 2013
Chinese New Year 2013 @ Suphanburi
Heavenly Dragon Park, Dragon Descendants Museum, City Pillar Shrine
Ratchaburi
9-12 Feb 2013
Ratchaburi China Town 2013
Ratchaburi National Museum
Petchburi
9-12 Feb 2013
Sweet Chinese New Year, Petchburi City Festival
Mueng Petch Market
Nakhon Ratchasima
8-10 Feb 2013
Korat Chinese New Year Festival, “Travel to China through the dimension”
The Monument of Thao Suranari and Memorial Park
Pattaya (Chonburi)
9-10 Feb 2013
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9 Feb Lan Pho Park (Na Kluea)
10 Feb Central Plaza Festival
Hat Yai (Song Kla)
2-12 Feb 2013
Hatyai Chinese New Year Festival 2013
Srinakorn Foundation School
Phuket
15-17 Feb 2013
2013 Chinese New Year Festival – Flashback to Phuket City in the Past
72nd Anniversary Queen Sirikit Park, Klang Road, and Soi Rommani, Krabi Road
Trang
8-10 Feb 2013
Trang Chinese New Year Festival 2013
Ratchadamnoen Road, and in front of Trang City Municipality
Contact information:
International Public Relations Division
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48
Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.tatnews.org
