Date: 18 July 2003

A big group of delegation from China including 1,137 travel agents, media and tourists from six major Chinese cities are to arrive in Bangkok as part of the official campaign to jump-start arrivals from Thailand's third largest source of visitors.

Following the announcement that China has heaved its ban on outbound travel from China to the first 22 Approved Destination Status (ADS) countries including Thailand, the Tourism Authority of Thailand together with its branch office in China then set for promotional campaign to attract visitors from China during the rest of 2003.

According to the promotional campaign TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand) corporate with the Chinese authorities to boost tourism after being slumped by the Sars crisis, the group from the key cities in China including Guangzhou, Beijing, Xiamen, Kunming, Shanghai and Shantou will start arriving in Thailand during July 18-20 2003.

The TAT campaign includes an offer of 300-baht shopping coupons to the first 15,000 visitors, and free postcards of tourist attractions in Bangkok, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Phuket and Chiang Mai, to the first 300,000 Chinese visitors. Those who visit the five destinations can send the postcards to participate in a lucky draw that features an Audi car as the first prize.

In 2002, arrivals from China totaled 763,139, an increase of 9.82% over 2001. China was the third largest market in terms of arrivals to Thailand after Malaysia and Japan but was very badly affected by Sars outbreak.

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