Thailand seeks to woo more Chinese tourists

Thailand's tourism authorities expressed confidence that China will continue to be the top source of international visitors as the kingdom's efforts to diversify its tourism offerings and restore its image as a safe destination are expected to reverse the recent decline in arrivals from the Asian powerhouse.

"China will remain Thailand's top source of international tourists as it has been for years. We are working closely with Thai service providers and China's domestic travel agencies to diversify our products," said Thapanee Kiatphaibool, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, or TAT.

Speaking at the kingdom's major annual tourism trade fair, known as Thailand Travel Mart Plus or TTM+, on Thursday, Thapanee said TAT has collaborated with key opinion leaders from China to promote second and third-tier destinations to give travelers new experiences.