Thai food tourism gathers popularity, Chinese tourists are the mainstream
Officials of the Thai tourism department said in Chiang Mai on the 26th that Thailand is committed to promoting food tourism and turning the country into an ASEAN food center to upgrade tourists' travel experience, develop more tourism products, and increase tourism revenue.
In an interview with reporters at the press conference held on the same day, the Director of the Advertising and Public Relations Office of the National Tourism Administration of Thailand, Kitsana said that food is an indispensable part of tourism. Thailand hopes to use food as a medium to develop different tourism products and products. The route guides tourists to understand Thailand from many aspects and experience the charm of Thai tourism in depth.
In order to increase the popularity of Thai cuisine, the National Tourism Administration of Thailand and Michelin, an internationally renowned restaurant and hotel selection agency, have been cooperating for a period of five years starting in 2017. It plans to launch a guide covering Bangkok and Qinghai on the basis of the previously launched Thai food guide at the end of this year. Food guide for tourist destinations such as Mai, Phuket and Phang Nga.
"Chiang Mai and other areas have beautiful scenery, rich products, diverse cultures, and nurture the northern Thai cuisine known for its "fresh". Tourists taste the unique dishes here and are interested in the fresh ingredients and cooking methods used to make the dishes. Many provide one-day trips to learn how to cook Thai food, from picking ingredients to cooking instruction." Gisana said.
Gisana told reporters that since the release of the Michelin Guide to Thai Food, the number of foreign tourists who come to explore food has increased significantly, and Chinese tourists who travel independently have accounted for a larger proportion. "Free-guided Chinese tourists have become one of the main sources of Thai food tourism. In order to meet their needs, Thailand has launched a Chinese version of the food guide."
Tourism is the engine of Thailand's economic growth, accounting for nearly 20% of Thailand's total economy. Chinese tourists are the largest source of tourists in Thailand. Last year, Thailand received more than 10 million Chinese tourists, generating approximately 580 billion baht (approximately 123.4 billion yuan) in revenue for Thailand.