Representatives from Thailand's tourism sector have met with Chinese officials in Beijing to discuss ways Thailand can further tap the market potential in China.
Representatives from a total of 61 Thai hotels, travel companies, airline companies, theme parks and other recreational venues have gathered in Beijing for a consultation titled "amazing Thailand".
They aim to promote four tourism products to Chinese travelers, including high-end luxury tour, medical tourism, honeymoon romantic tour and a golf tour.
Runjuan Tongrut, Executive Director of East Asia Region, with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, has pointed out an obvious advantage for a rehabilitation tour in her country.
"One of the most importances is affordable price. If you compare the costs for medical treatment with that in the U.S. and Europe, same standard, same treatment, Thai's price is cheaper, lower than other countries two to three times."
Though it is largely known as a tourist destination among Chinese people, Thailand has long won its name as a rehabilitation resort among Europeans, Americans and people from the Middle East.
China currently undergoes a shortage of quality medical services. Middle and high-income Chinese people have high demands for high-end, verified medical services, which domestic medical system might fail to offer.
This comes with another advantage that Thai tourism authority boasts. Runjuan Tongrut explains:
"The other thing also important is no queue. When you come to Thailand for medical treatment it's no queue because we have many private hospitals and private medical institutions, you can just walk in and it would just cost you one hour or two hours."
Li Mei, a supervisor of Southeast Asia Division of China International Travel Service, has over twenty years of experiences in taking Chinese tour groups to Thailand.
"I have been on an inspection tour to Thailand. The services local Thai hospitals offer their patients may vary. I also heard that the birth of test-tube babies costs much less in Thailand than in the U.S. or within China. That explains why Thailand could always successfully attract tourists. Also travelers may do a medical checkup when they are in Thailand, and get a detailed report on their health before returning home."
Statistics of the tourism authority of Thailand show Thailand received nearly eight million Chinese travelers last year, almost one third of Thailand's entire inbound tourists for the whole year.
