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TAT Partners with Chinese Firms to Boost Tourism

TAT Partners with Chinese Firms to Boost Tourism

Thairath•Politics•39m ago

Reader Briefing

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul leads a tourism push in China to expand flight routes and digital marketing for Thai tourism.

  • •TAT is coordinating with Sichuan Airlines to open direct flights to Hua Hin and U-Tapao airports.
  • •TAT signed Letters of Intent with five major Chinese companies on July 19, 2026, in Beijing.
  • •The Tourism Authority of Thailand expects 5 million Chinese tourists in 2026, generating 288,385 million baht.

Overview

  • •Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul conducted an official visit to Shanghai, Chengdu, and Beijing from July 16–20, 2026.
  • •Sichuan Airlines, led by Mr. Wang Fei, discussed increasing flights from western China to Thailand, specifically reviving the Chengdu-Chiang Mai route and exploring Hua Hin and U-Tapao airports.
  • •Meituan, led by Mr. Li Jinfei, aims to use digital marketing via Two-Way Tourism campaigns and the Black Pearl restaurant guide to promote Thailand as a World Class Gastronomy Destination.
  • •The Tourism Authority of Thailand signed Letters of Intent (LOI) with China Tourism Group, Utour Group, China Comfort Group, AMAP, and TCP Red Bull on July 19, 2026.
  • •From January 1 to July 11, 2026, over 2.8 million Chinese tourists visited Thailand, a 14 percent increase compared to the same period in 2025.
  • •The Tourism Authority of Thailand targets high-value and premium tourists as Chinese travel behavior shifts from group tours to Free Independent Travelers (FIT).
  • •Thapanee Kiatphaiboon stated that the visit aimed to restore confidence and expand market opportunities.

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Source: Thairath (Original)

Key Quotes

Thapanee Kiatphaiboon
"On the occasion of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's visit to the People's Republic of China, One-on-One business meetings were held with executives of Sichuan Airlines and Meituan on July 18, 2026 in Chengdu to push for tourism and travel cooperation between Thailand and China."
ในโอกาสการเยือนสาธารณรัฐประชาชนจีนของนายอนุทิน ชาญวีรกูล นายกรัฐมนตรี ในครั้งนี้ ได้มีการจัดประชุมหารือธุรกิจแบบ One-on-One กับผู้บริหารสายการบิน Sichuan Airlines และบริษัท Meituan ในวันที่ 18 กรกฎาคม 2569 ณ นครเฉิงตู เพื่อผลักดันความร่วมมือด้านการท่องเที่ยวและการเดินทางระหว่างไทย–จีน

Key Entities

Person

Anutin Charnvirakul(อนุทิน ชาญวีรกูล)ℹ️
The Prime Minister who led the economic mission to China.
Thapanee Kiatphaiboon(ฐาปนีย์ เกียรติไพบูลย์)
The Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Wang Fei
The Executive Chairman of Sichuan Airlines.
Li Jinfei
The leader of Meituan.
Sihasak Phuangketkeow(สีหศักดิ์ พวงเกตุแก้ว)ℹ️
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Chaichanok Chidchob(ไชยชนก ชิดชอบ)ℹ️
The Minister of Digital Economy and Society.

Organization

Tourism Authority of Thailand(การท่องเที่ยวแห่งประเทศไทย)ℹ️
The agency partnering with Chinese airlines and platforms to attract tourists.
Sichuan Airlinesℹ️
An airline discussing the expansion of direct flights from western China to Thailand.
Meituanℹ️
A leading Chinese lifestyle platform promoting digital marketing for Thai tourism.
China Tourism Groupℹ️
One of the five Chinese giants that signed an LOI with the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Utour Group
One of the five Chinese giants that signed an LOI with the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
China Comfort Group
One of the five Chinese giants that signed an LOI with the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
AMAPℹ️
One of the five Chinese giants that signed an LOI with the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
TCP Red Bull
One of the five Chinese giants that signed an LOI with the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Ministry of Tourism and Sports(กระทรวงการท่องเที่ยวและกีฬา)ℹ️
The government body providing statistics on Chinese tourists visiting Thailand.

Place

People's Republic of China(สาธารณรัฐประชาชนจีน)ℹ️
The country visited by the Thai delegation.
Shanghai(นครเซี่ยงไฮ้)ℹ️
One of the cities visited during the official trip.
Chengdu(เฉิงตู)ℹ️
The city where the business meetings with Sichuan Airlines and Meituan took place.
Beijing(กรุงปักกิ่ง)ℹ️
The city where the LOI signing ceremony occurred on July 19, 2026.
Hua Hin Airport(สนามบินหัวหิน)ℹ️
A potential destination for new direct flights from China.
U-Tapao Airport(สนามบินอู่ตะเภา)ℹ️
A potential destination for new direct flights from China.
Chiang Mai(เชียงใหม่)ℹ️
A destination for the proposed revival of the Chengdu-Chiang Mai flight route.