Thailand is an attractive destination for tourists from all over the world. But in the last few year, it has become very popular with the mainland Chinese.
The boom of Chinese tourists in Thailand started with Xu Zheng's 2012 movie Lost in Thailand. The comedy is about two Chinese businessmen who go to Thailand to find their boss. The movie was an enormous hit in Chaina, and only one year later a quarter of a million Chinese tourists visited Thailand. And that was only the beginning!
Of course, the tourist boom in Thailand is not only the result of the movie. Another important reason is that more and more airlines are offering low-cost flights to Bangkok from large Chinese cities. This means that flying to Thailand is now possible for low-income travelers. A third reason is that Thailand offers tourists visas when they arrive. This makes it easier to plan a short trip because you don't need to get a visa before you leave home.
This year the Tourism Authority of Thailand expects that 15 percent of its 25 mollion tourists will come from mainland China. As well as the traditional tourist destinations such as Bangkok, pattaya, and phuket, the chinese often choose to visit Chiang mai. Why? Because Lost in Thailand
Thank, Xu Zheng!