[앵커]
Unlike all countries that raise the level of quarantine for new arrivals from China, Thailand deregulates entry and works hard to welcome Chinese, the biggest players in the tourism industry.
There are concerns about the possibility of Corona 19 spreading, but our compatriots and local industry workers expect the economy to recover by reviving tourism, which has been stagnant.
This is reporter Kim Ki-seong.
[기자]
In front of a large shopping center in Bangkok, a giant rabbit statue appeared with a red Chinese lantern and a necklace with the Chinese character for “fortune”.
At the international airport, there is also a banner that reads ‘We will welcome Chinese families forever’.
During the ‘Spring Festival’, the biggest holiday in China, Thailand began to host the Chinese on a large scale.
[위에스푸 / 중국인 관광객 : 코로나19 때문에 4~5년 해외여행을 못 했습니다. 지금은 중국도 방역 조치를 해제했고요. 그래서 새해를 맞아 태국에 왔습니다.]
[황레이스 / 중국인 관광객 : 제가 사는 우한과 비교해서 태국은 따뜻합니다. 물가 싸고, 공기도 좋고, 사람들도 편하게 해주고요. 아주 좋습니다.]
Unlike many countries that have strengthened quarantine measures for new arrivals from China due to concern about the spread of Corona 19, Thailand has somewhat relaxed entry restrictions.
This month, the Thai government tried to require a vaccination certificate from new foreign arrivals, but immediately withdrew due to strong opposition from the tourism industry.
Thailand’s tourism industry, which accounted for nearly 20% of its gross domestic product before the COVID-19 crisis, has been stagnant for more than three years.
In particular, the loss of Chinese tourists, who accounted for 27% of all foreign tourists, was particularly bad.
[사라붓 악손빗 / 태국 방콕 : 관광객이 많아지면 경제도 회복할 것으로 생각합니다. 지난 3년간 힘들게 버텨왔기 때문입니다.]
As Chinese tourists flock again to the news of Thailand’s easing of quarantine regulations, just one Chinese travel site reported that Chinese hotel bookings in Thailand in January increased 12 times compared to last year.
As the number of Chinese tourists increases again, the Korean community in Thailand is also welcoming it.
[명승인 / 태국 방콕 : 물론 여기에 사는 동포들도 걱정하는 부분은 코로나가 완전히 종식되지 않았기 때문에 걱정하고 있지만 많은 관광객이 자유롭게 곳곳의 관광지를 여행하고 있는 것으로 보입니다.]
Including the Lunar New Year period, between 7 and 10 million Chinese tourists are expected to visit Thailand this year.
Thai authorities are focusing their efforts on attracting Chinese tourists by planning large-scale Thai tourism promotion events in major Chinese regions, including Shanghai, and expanding direct flights.
This is Kisung Kim from YTN World in Bangkok, Thailand.
YTN Kim Ki-seong
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