Accused of urinating in public, spitting on the street, or kicking a sacred temple bell — free-spending Chinese tourists are receiving a mixed welcome as their soaring numbers help Thailand’s economy.
Growing outrage over the perceived disrespect of visitors from the China saw authorities print thousands of Chinese-language etiquette manuals earlier this year in a bid to keep the tourists in check.
Last month a photo of a young girl urinating in the grounds of Bangkok’s Grand Palace triggered outrage and sometimes racist comments, as Thai netizens claimed she was Chinese.
In March a Thai model’s video of tourists from China jumping the queue at an airport was viewed more than 2 million times and saw a similar rant against Thailand’s largest group of foreign holidaymakers.
At the Wat Rong Khun, also known as the White Temple, in northern Chiang Rai Province, owner Chalermchai Kositpipat complained about the state of the toilets after a recent visit by a Chinese group.
“We had problems with some Chinese who defecated anywhere, so I asked the guides to explain to them that rules must be respected in Thailand,” Chalermchai told media, having earlier threatened to refuse the nationals entry.
However, he stopped short of issuing a ban and like Thai authorities is loath to cut out the Chinese at a time when they are bucking the trend of dipping visitor figures in the kingdom, where tourism accounts for 8.5 percent of GDP.
Last year around 4.6 million Chinese nationals visited Thailand, with the average tourist spending 5,500 baht (US$169) per day — more than the average European visitor.
Their collective contribution, expected to reach US$5.6 billion this year, is not one the ruling junta can afford to lose as it struggles to revive a sclerotic economy — one of its key promises after seizing power from an elected government in May 2014 that was paralyzed by months of protests in Bangkok.
At the White Temple tour guide Pin Su says her job has become an art in diplomacy due to the growing number of Chinese visitors.
“They do not always pay attention, they spit, talk loudly, sometimes they leave the toilet in a catastrophic state,” she said.
“But I cannot remind them every day that we must be careful to be clean. I do not want to offend them. And all these tourists, it is for Thailand,” she added.
Bangkok’s generals have been busy courting Beijing as they build diplomatic allies after last year’s coup was widely condemned by Western nations, including longtime friend the US.
Late last year the two nations forged new agricultural ties, and Beijing was also granted a railway contract to construct two new lines crossing Thailand.
With the easing of visa rules between Thailand and China, where the middle classes are increasingly holidaying abroad, even more Chinese tourists are expected to arrive in Thailand this year.
Thai authorities appear keen to downplay the incidents.
“Chinese tourists do not create problems for us. They are nice tourists,” executive director at the Tourism Authority of Thailand Srisuda Wanapinyosak said.
“But sometimes there might be cultural misunderstandings as we have different cultures,” she added before running through the tips laid out for the Chinese in the new manuals.
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