Flight booking data reveals immediate impact of Phuket boat tragedy on Chinese tourism to Thailand

The capsizing of two tourist boats near Phuket, Thailand on July 5 this summer saw the deaths of close to 50 international visitors, all of which were Chinese nationals.

As has been the case with similar tragedies given high-profile coverage in Chinese media in the past, it can be anticipated that, in the wake of the event, Thailand will suffer a downturn in numbers of Chinese tourists, who are renowned for placing high emphasis on ‘safety’ when choosing overseas travel destinations.

While the impact such crises may have on visitor numbers may not be fully felt for a few months after the incident (given the timeframe in which most tourists will purchase their trips before travelling), data surrounding consumers’ flight booking patterns allows for a more immediate insight into the impending impact high-profile catastrophes will have on the travel patterns of security-conscious Chinese tourists […]

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Image: Beijing Capital International Airport by Bernt Rostad Source: Flickr Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)