The "Amazing Thailand, Mid-Autumn Night" event kicked off at Siam Paragon shopping complex on Tuesday evening. [Photo by Yang Wanli / China Daily]
On Tuesday evening, the "Amazing Thailand, Mid-Autumn Night" event at Bangkok city center shined a spotlight on the "Nihao Month" in Thailand to celebrate the upcoming 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China next year.
The event featured impressive cultural shows celebrating Thailand-China cultural ties, a much-hyped appearance by Chinese actor Luo Yunxi, and special performances by Thai stars DaOu Pittaya Sae-chow and Mai Davika Hoorne.
Sorawong Thienthong, minister of tourism and sports, said stimulating the international market is one of the key approaches to reviving tourism revenue, particularly the Chinese tourist market.
"Today's event celebrates the time-honoured tradition of the Mid-Autumn Festival and strengthens cultural and tourism ties between Thailand and China. The event will indeed help pave the way for mutually beneficial tourism cooperation between the two countries in the next decade and beyond," he said.
Wu Zhiwu, charge d'Affaires at the Chinese Embassy in the Kingdom of Thailand, said that the Mid-Autumn Festival is a symbol of people coming together. The joint organization of the event between China and Thailand today allows both nations to celebrate together as one close and warm family.
"This reflects the long-standing close relationship between the people of both countries," Wu noted.
Wu Zhiwu, charge d'Affaires at the Chinese Embassy in the Kingdom of Thailand, delivers a speech at the event. [Photo by Yang Wanli / China Daily]
According to Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the "Amazing Thailand, Mid-Autumn Night" also marked a grand welcome for 102 Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) from China to experience Thailand's charms and "five must-do" activities in tailor-made routes up and down the kingdom.
"Through content shared with followers of the participating KOLs via various online platforms in China, we hope the special activities for Mid-Autumn celebration will further promote Thailand as a cultural tourism destination for Chinese tourists," said TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool.
She said the "Amazing Thailand, Mid-Autumn Night" event is part of a series of special events and promotions scheduled between this month and the next leading up to the year-long celebration to mark the 50th Anniversary of Thailand-China relations next year.
Other activities include various joint promotions between TAT and China's leading travel platforms between this month and December, the "Chinese passport special deals" from now until the end of next month, and two Thailand-China friendship caravan trips scheduled between this month and the next.
TAT has set a target for the Nihao Month festival to attract 250,000 arrivals from China during the upcoming Golden Week. Special events and promotions would help generate about 500 million reaches and further enhance the positive image of Thailand as the preferred destination for Chinese tourists.
As of Sept 8, Thailand welcomed 4,895,707 tourists from China, maintaining its position as the country's top source of international visitors. Thailand is optimistic about reaching its ambitious target of 7.3 million Chinese visitors within this year.
