The Thailand-China visa-free agreement came into effect on March 1, 2024, boosting tourism between the two nations as interest in Chinese tourism grows among Thais.
Social media trends reveal that Sichuan, Yunnan, and Beijing are the top three most popular provinces among Thais. Jiuzhai Valley National Park, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and the Great Wall of China emerge as the most favored tourist attractions. Many tour agencies are currently promoting 5-day, 4-night packages for under 30,000 baht, and these offerings have garnered significant attention.
Dataxet Limited gathered data from January 1 to February 20, 2024, using the DXT360 platform as a social listening tool.
The data revealed that the term “China tour packages” had 1,035 mentions and 48,411 engagements. Facebook emerged as the channel with the most mentions and engagements.
The data collected using the DXT360 tool also showed that netizens express strong interest and engagement in searching for information and discussing tourist destinations in China. This has led to the hashtags—#เที่ยวจีน (#TravelChina) #ฟรีวีซ่าจีน (#VisFreeVisa) #วีซ่าจีน (#ChinaVisa) #เศรษฐาทวีสิน (#SretthaThavisin) #เศรษฐา (#Srettha) #เพื่อไทย (#PheuThai), #พรรคเพื่อไทย (#PheuThaiParty)—to trend on various social media platforms.
These hashtags trended after Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced the Thai-China visa-free policy after New Year’s, which takes effect March 1, 2024.
China’s Top 5 Provinces for Tourism
Based on the promotional information from tour agencies, the top five most popular provinces in China are: Sichuan (15.95%), Yunnan (14.27%), Beijing (12.32%), Hunan (12.06%), and Shanghai (9.08%). The highlights or attractions of each province are:
1) Sichuan Province
Widely known for its spicy Sichuan cuisine, the province is also renowned for its cultural and natural attractions. The provincial capital city of Chengdu is a tourist hotspot. The other most promoted tourist destinations by tour companies include;
- Jiuzhai Valley National Park
29.70% - Huanglong/Yellow Dragon National Park
19.39% - IFS Building
17.58% - Daci Temple
9.09% - Mount Siguniang
6.35% - Others
17.89%
2) Yunnan Province
Renowned for its natural wonders, Yunnan Province is often hailed as the ‘Global Heritage Route’ for its abundance of UNESCO World Heritage-listed destinations. The province boasts prominent tourist cities such as Kunming, Lijiang, and Dali. Among the significant tourist attractions promoted most by tour companies in Yunnan Province are:
- Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
43.53% - Lijiang Old Town
16.81% - Blue Moon Valley
13.36% - Tiger Leaping Gorge
12.50% - Shangri-La City
6.03% - Others
7.77%
3) Beijing
China’s capital city and the center for government, economy, transportation, education, and culture. The city boasts a rich and illustrious history spanning over 3,000 years. The most popular tourist attractions, according to tour companies are:
- The Great Wall of China
24.01% - Tiananmen Square
15.86% - Forbidden City
14.43% - Temple of Heaven
12.98% - Lama Temple
10.02% - Universal Studios Beijing
10.02% - Others
12.68%
4) Hunan
Located in central China, the province is home to the city of Changsha, positioned along the historic Maritime Silk Road. Renowned for its cultural richness and breathtaking natural scenery, Hunan takes pride in hosting China’s first national park in Zhangjiajie. This province consistently attracts a significant number of tourists, drawn by its diverse attractions. Among the most heavily promoted tourist destinations in Hunan by tour companies are:
- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
32.72% - The Heaven’s Gate of Tianmen Shan
27.55% - Avatar Hallelujah Mountain
10.72% - Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture
9.43% - Tuojiang River
7.76% - Others
11.82%
5) Shanghai
Considered as China’s most prosperous metropolis, Shanghai seamlessly blends the new and old, creating a cityscape that effortlessly harmonizes contemporary and traditional elements. Its accessibility to neighboring cities like Beijing, Hangzhou, and Suzhou makes it a convenient stop for tourists, often bundled together in travel packages. Popular attractions in Shanghai promoted by tour companies are:
- Shanghai Disneyland
32.78% - Oriental Pearl TV Tower
26.70% - Xi Lake
25.28% - The Bund (Wai Tan)
9.24% - Nanhu Lake Park
3.69% - Others
2.31%
China Tour Packages Under 30,000 Baht Spark Highest Interest!
Based on a survey and data analysis of China travel package promotions on social media, it’s evident that tour companies predominantly showcase packages within the price ranges of 16,000-20,000 baht and 26,000-30,000 baht.
Tour companies also offer last-minute deals costing less than 10,000 baht. Tour agencies also promote private tours that cost upwards of 50,000 baht but they are usually marketed through LINE official accounts to a more exclusive audience.
5-Days and 4 Nights: The Perfect Tour Duration
The most popular durations for China tour packages, customized by tour companies for Thai tourists, are 5 days and 4 nights, followed by 4 days and 3 nights, and 6 days and 5 nights, respectively. The package prices vary depending on the number of nights spent in hotel accommodation
Air China, the Go-To Airline Brand for Tour Companies!
Another key factor determining the pricing of tour packages is air travel. It is found that the most favored airline whose flights are usually included in tour packages is Air China, accounting for 21.9% of the total sample group. Following this are Thai Vietjet with 16.2% and Thai AirAsia with 11.4%.
- Air China (CA)
21.9% - Thai Vietjet (VZ)
16.2% - Thai AirAsia (FD)
11.4% - China Eastern Airlines (MU)
11.1% - Thai Airways (TG)
6.7% - 9 AIR (AQ)
4.7% - Lucky Air (8L)
3.7% - China Southern Airlines (CZ)
3.4% - Urumqi Air (UQ)
3.4% - Thai Lion Air (SL)
3.0% - Others
14.5%
A closer examination of the details reveals that the prominently featured tour packages are priced between 16,000 – 20,000 baht and 26,000 – 30,000 baht. Within the 16,000 – 20,000 baht range, the packages offer durations of 4 days and 3 nights, or 5 days and 4 nights, inclusive of Thai Vietjet flights and accommodations at 4-star hotels. In the 26,000 – 30,000 baht range, the packages span 5 days and 4 nights, or 6 days and 5 nights, featuring Air China Airlines and accommodations at 4-star hotels.
"Shopping tours" VS "non-shopping tours" the difference behind different tour prices
“Shopping tours” refer to tours that include visits to stores affiliated with the tour company. Having visits to highlight stores in different cities as part of the itinerary is the defining feature of shopping tours. “Non-shopping tours” exclusively focus on taking tourists to different tourist attractions without any stops at stores.
While shopping tours are more affordable, those seeking an immersive travel experience might be better off with the higher priced, non-shopping tours. The average price of shopping tours is 16,673 baht, lower than the average price of non-shopping tours, which is 28,658 baht.
Therefore, it is crucial that tourists read the details and itinerary of the tour package in order to make an informed decision and have a more fulfilling experience.
The data used for this insight analysis were aggregated from the DXT360 platform, a social listening tool by dataxet:infoquest. The data was collected from January 1 to February 27, 2024.
The visa-free entry agreement between China and Thailand for Thai and Chinese citizens was signed on January 28, 2024 . The policy takes effect on March 1, 2024 and has been shown to stimulate tourism between the two countries as searches on the two travel destinations have dramatically increased. This article, however, primarily focuses on the interest of Thais planning their trips to China.
By Pongpipat Tungkavichitwat, Chareef Soudon and Supisara Nirahanee
