Tuesday, August 13, 2024 China’s aggressive expansion in the tourism sector is creating significant challenges for neighboring countries like Thailand and India. Through a combination of market-disrupting strategies and expansive visa free travel policies, China is reshaping the tourism landscape in Asia, posing a direct threat to the tourism industries of these nations. TTW Editor in Chief Mr.
Anup Kumar Keshan says: “India needs to ramp up its efforts in the tourism sector to counter China’s aggressive visa-free travel policies, which are drawing more tourists from Europe and Asia. With China now offering world visa-free travel via sea routes and making entry easy and attractive, there’s a real risk that tourists will divert to China over India. Thailand has already responded by adding more countries to its visa-free list and introducing long-haul visa policies to stay competitive.
” He continued: “India’s recent move to offer visa-on-arrival for nationals from Japan, South Korea, and the UAE is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done. To effectively compete with China and Thailand, India should consider expanding its visa-free travel options to attract a broader range of international tourists.” Chinese Investments and Market-Busting Tours in Thailand Chinese investments in Thailand’s tourism sector have rapidly increased, particularly through small-scale operations that undercut local businesses.
The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATT.