A group of Chinese tourists taking a photo at Saigon Central Post Office, June 2023, photo by VnExpress/Thanh Tung
Thailand received the most Chinese tourists in Southeast Asia from January to November, with over 3.1 million.
Vietnam ranks second with 1.5 million Chinese arrivals, followed by Malaysia with 1.4 million, according to data collected from tourism ministries of regional countries.
Singapore has welcomed 1.23 million Chinese tourists since the beginning of the year.
Singapore, considered one of the safest places in the world and famous for its strict gun laws and low crime rates, is starting to benefit from a shift in Chinese travel psychology.
The city-state is the most popular destination for Chinese tourists, according to a recent study by Singapore-based digital marketing firm China Trading Desk that surveyed more than 10,000 Chinese residents about their upcoming overseas travel plans. It was an overseas travel destination.
As of October, Indonesia received more than 637,000 Chinese tourists, making it the fourth-largest tourist destination for Southeast Asia’s largest economy.
Cambodia welcomed 498,250 Chinese tourists in the first 11 months of this year, accounting for 10% of all foreign tourists.
During the same period, the Philippines welcomed only 240,000 Chinese tourists.
Southeast Asian countries are rushing to waive visas for Chinese tourists amid fierce tourism competition in the region.
Thailand offered visa exemptions for Chinese tourists last September, and Malaysia followed suit this month.
Indonesia recently considered allowing visa-free entry for citizens of 20 countries, including China.
Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Nguyen Van Hung also suggested that the Vietnamese government consider lifting visas for tourists from China and India, two of the world’s most populous countries.
