Visiting Thailand, more Chinese tourists face language barriers

Global Business

There is no slow down in traveling when it comes to Chinese and Thailand is one of their top destinations.

This year ten million Chinese tourists are expected there. However, visitors may be facing some hurdles on the way.

CCTV’s Tony Cheng reports.

Hundreds of Chinese tourists pour off tour buses to visit Bangkok’s Grand Palace. Tour guides, many of who have come with the groups from China, shepherd the tourists through the sites.

But, The Thai government requires all guides to have an official license from the government, and they’ve been trying to stop the guides coming with groups from China.

That’s a problem for the Thai tour operators. They said there are not enough Chinese speakers within Thailand to do the job, or handle the number of Chinese visitors that are growing so fast.

It’s estimated that ten million Chinese tourists will enter Thailand this year, double the number of 3 years ago and the government is aiming for twenty million in less than a decade. However, miscommunication is common and frustrating for all concerned.

That is precisely why the Thai government maintains there is a need to have guides that understand the needs of the Thai hosts, as much as the Chinese visitors.