TAT helps Chinese and Thailand tourism industry adapt to the “new normal” after COVID-19
With the gradual alleviation of the epidemic in China, China’s tourism industry has ushered in pleasurable recovery, under which circumstance some countries that have basically controlled the epidemic begin to prepare for receiving Chinese tourists after the epidemic. In order to ensure the safety and health of tourists and help Thailand tourism industry adapt to the “new normal” after the epidemic, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (“TAT”) has made great efforts, thus promoting the recovery of tourism in Thailand.
It is reported that Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of TAT, has welcomed Chinese tourists to Thailand after the epidemic in several public speeches in the past few months. Meanwhile, TAT Shanghai Office has launched an integrated campaign with Trip.com Group, showing the charm of Thailand to Chinese tourists through online methods.
Actively responding to the outbreak
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the government of Thailand has taken a series of active actions to curb its spread in Thailand and achieved fruitful results.
Thailand media coverage on July 28 shows that among the 184 countries suffering COVID-19, Thailand has won the first place in the world in terms of “Global Recovery Index”.
In order to better protect the health and safety of tourists to Thailand, TAT, together with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (Thailand) and the Ministry of Public Health (Thailand), launched “Amazing Thailand Safety & Health Administration” (“SHA”) certification as early as April, 2020. All Thailand tourism businesses with SHA certification are safe and healthy tourism institutions recognized by the government of Thailand.
SHA certification is to upgrade the safety and health standards for Thailand tourism services, encourage the tourism industry to participate in epidemic control practices and protect the health and safety of domestic and foreign tourists through providing high-quality products and services. In addition, this certification is also one of the efforts made by TAT to alleviate the adverse impact of COVID-19 on tourism and speed up the recovery of tourism and related industries.
Thailand welcomes Chinese tourists after the epidemic
China has always been an important source of foreign tourists for Thailand. Despite the outbreak, Chinese tourists still remain great enthusiasm to travel to Thailand. According to “Google x Trip.com Group | 2020 APAC Consumer Behavior and Attitude Research Report of the Tourism Industry” jointly released by Trip.com Group and Google, Thailand ranked the second among the dream destinations of Trip.com Group’s users in Asia-Pacific region from January to June, 2020.
TOP 20 Dream Destinations of Trip.com Group’s Users in Asia-Pacific Region in 2020
Data Source: Google x Trip.com Group | 2020 APAC Consumer Behavior and Attitude Research Report of the Tourism Industry
The Thailand government is also looking forward to reopening borders to Chinese tourists after the epidemic. Governor of TAT Yuthasak Supasorn said that China had effectively controlled the epidemic, the quick response of the Chinese government and medical personnel was admirable. It was a pleasure to see that Chinese people had got their life back on track. Yuthasak Supasorn also stressed that Thailand attaches great importance to the Chinese tourism market. He was looking forward to receiving Chinese tourists again in the upcoming future.
Anutin Charnvirakul, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Health, said that in order to ensure the health and safety of inbound tourists, relevant government departments are about to carry out cooperation with countries that have been able to bring COVID-19 under control. The deputy spokesperson of Thailand Prime Minister’s Office also expressed her belief that the tourism industry will be gradually back on track, and it is vital to promote sustainable development of the Thailand economy.
Help Chinese and Thailand tourism operators adapt to the “new normal” after COVID-19
While preparing for resuming the reception of Chinese tourists after the epidemic, TAT Shanghai Office also carried out active cooperation with Trip.com Group, the world’s leading online travel platform, and deeply participated in Trip.com Group’s live-streaming activities centered on “BOSS Live-streaming” and “KOL Live-streaming”.
Since April, Trip.com Group has cooperated with TAT Shanghai Office in two themed KOL live-streaming events in Bangkok and Shanghai, with an overall impression exposure of over 10 million and a total viewer of over 400,000. In the “BOSS Live-streaming” in early July, the Thailand hotels achieved excellent sales performance, which exceeded RMB 10 million. In addition, Trip.com Group has also updated the Thailand official flagship store on Ctrip in line with the changes in users’ travel mode after the epidemic, providing the Chinese travelers with inspiration for traveling to Thailand.
In addition, TAT Shanghai Office developed a free online platform named “TAT Shanghai Online Marketplace”, which provides an effective channel for information exchange between the Chinese and Thailand tourism industry during the special period.
Combining the characteristics of Thailand tourism and the preferences of Chinese tourists, this platform presents various Thailand tourism services to Chinese tour operators by modules. Chinese tour operators can find the products and services they need in a more direct and quick way, and establish an effective communication bridge.
TAT Shanghai Office will update the tourism products and information services of Thailand on a regular basis, thereby promoting multi-channel business cooperation between the Chinese and Thailand tourism industry and preparing for the industrial recovery after the epidemic.