The income from restaurants along Banthat Thong, which is among Thailand’s premier culinary strips, has plunged by 40-50% during the initial five-month period of this year because of a significant decrease in international tourists, particularly those from China.
International travelers usually account for between 20% and 30% of the region’s daily pedestrian traffic, with most being from China. The decrease in Chinese visitors has had a notable effect on nearby enterprises, according to Sittichan Vuttipornkul, an advisor to the Bantadthong Association, as reported by them.
Bangkok Post
.
From January 1 to May 18, Thailand saw 13.4 million international visitors, marking a decrease of 1.75% compared to the same period last year.
Reuters
reported.
The number of Chinese visitors fell by 25%, totaling 1.64 million. Before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, China represented Thailand’s biggest source of tourists, reaching a high point of 11.13 million arrivals in 2019.
Issues regarding tourist safety have likewise played a role in the decline of visitor numbers, especially following the widely reported abduction incident.
Chinese actor Xing Xing
in January.
Banthat Thong, featuring more than 300 eateries, earned the title of the planet’s 14th most stylish street according to
Time Out
The magazine in 2024 reported that the street sees anywhere from 10,000 to 30,000 visitors each day.
Along with declining tourist attendance, Banthat Thong is also encountering backlash on social media platforms. Certain visitors have voiced concerns about deteriorating food quality coupled with rising costs, posing additional difficulties for those running eateries.
