Bangkok (Thailand) – February 19, 2015 – To demonstrate the country's enthusiasm and willingness to welcome Chinese tourists and facilitate their arrival, Thailand organized a special ceremony to welcome 500 passengers arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok on China Southern Airlines flight CZ357 from Guangzhou and Thai Airways International flight TG8085 from Shanghai.

The ceremonial welcome was enhanced by an impressive lion dance performance. High-ranking delegations from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Airports of Thailand (AOT), the Immigration Bureau of Thailand, the Association of Travel Agencies of Thailand (ATTA), and the Tourism Cooperation of Thailand (TCTA) were also present to warmly welcome the passengers of flight CZ357 at arrival gate D4 and of flight TG8085 at gate D6 and to present them with a small gift.

These two flights are among a total of 890 flights carrying approximately 305,000 passengers from various Chinese cities and Hong Kong. These flights are scheduled to land at four international airports in Thailand during the Chinese New Year holidays from February 18th to 24th, 2015: Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Krabi.

Ms. Srisuda Wanapinyosak, Director of the East Asia Region, stated: “The number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand during the 2015 Chinese New Year holidays represents a 49 percent increase compared to the same period in 2014. They are estimated to contribute approximately 6.9 billion baht in revenue to the Thai economy, a 58 percent increase over the previous year. The average travel cost for Chinese tourists in Thailand is approximately 22,600 baht per person per trip.”

To accommodate the anticipated high volume of Chinese tourists during the 2015 Chinese New Year holidays, Suvarnabhumi Airport was equipped with a Chinese-style pavilion and screens displaying a welcome message in Chinese. Dedicated visa-on-arrival lanes were set up for Chinese tourists, including three "Chinese Lanes" and five "Premium Lanes." Additionally, Chinese-speaking interpreters are available at various locations throughout the airport.

In February 2015, the TAT estimated that Thailand would attract 530,000 tourists from China and generate revenue of 22.93 billion baht, representing an increase of 47 and 54 percent respectively.

International Public Relations Department, Tourism Authority of Thailand, 1600 New Petchaburi Road, Makkasan, Ratchathevi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand, Tel.: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48, Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419, E-mail: [email protected], Website: www.TATnews.org