Alipay+, managed by Ant International, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) have partnered to enhance tourism in Thailand. The partnership will introduce new digital innovations designed to improve the travel experience for visitors, particularly Chinese tourists, who make up Thailand’s top market. The innovations include the Alipay+ D-hub, the Amazing Thailand e-Card, and the expansion of Alipay+ acceptance across the country.
The new Experience Abu Dhabi Weixin mini-program, developed in collaboration with Tencent Cloud, provides Chinese visitors with a comprehensive platform for planning their Abu Dhabi adventure. With over a billion monthly active users in mainland China, Weixin, also known as ‘WeChat’, offers travelers access to official travel information, interactive maps, itinerary planners, map guidance, and Chinese audio commentary services throughout their trip. Khalifa, Abu Dhabi’s friendly Emirati digital ambassador for culture and tourism, serves as a virtual guide, providing personalized recommendations and insider tips to enhance the travel experience.
Korea has witnessed a decline in Chinese tourists during the Golden Week holiday, a peak travel period in China. The shift is attributed to Chinese travelers opting for visa-free destinations and Japan, which has become more attractive due to a weakened yen. Travel agents report a significant drop in Korean visa applications, with some indicating a reduction of up to one-third compared to pre-pandemic levels. This decline coincides with an increase in Japanese visa applications, as well as growing popularity for other visa-free countries, such as Thailand and Singapore. Experts attribute the shift to factors like favorable exchange rates, ease of travel, and strained diplomatic relations between Korea and China. Despite these challenges, Korea’s tourism sector has shown signs of recovery, with international tourist arrivals reaching 63% of pre-pandemic levels in 2023. Chinese tourists still contribute significantly, although their numbers remain below pre-pandemic figures.
Chinese tourists are back in action, as shown by the surge in international travel during the May Labour Day holiday. This resurgence, despite economic challenges in China, bodes well for global tourism destinations that rely heavily on Chinese travelers. The recovery is expected to reach pre-pandemic levels by 2025.
