2016年CRI Thai Tourism Authority Hopes to Woo More Chinese in 2016（在线收听）

Representatives from a total of 61 Thai hotels, travel companies, airline companies, theme parks and other recreational venues have gathered in Beijing for anew tourismproject titled "amazing Thailand". 

They aim to promote four tourism products to Chinese travelers, including high-end luxury tour, medical tourism, honeymoon romantic tour and a golf tour. 

Runjuan Tongrut, Executive Director of East Asia Region, with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, has pointed out an obvious advantage for a rehabilitation tour in her country.

"One of the most importances is affordable price. If you compare the costs for medical treatment with that in the U.S. and Europe, same standard, same treatment, Thai's price is cheaper, lower than other countries two to three times."

Though it is largely known as a tourist destination among Chinese people, Thailand has long won its name as a rehabilitation resort among Europeans, Americans and people from the Middle East. 

China currently undergoes a shortage of quality medical services. Middle and high-income Chinese people have high demands for high-end, verified medical services, which domestic medical system might fail to offer.

This comes with anther advantage that Thai tourism authority boasts. Runjuan Tongrut explains:

"The other thing also important is no queue. When you come to Thailand for medical treatment it's no queue because we have many private hospitals and private medical institutions, you can just walk in and it would just cost you one hour or two hours. If you compare to many other countries, you have to make an appointment one week, one month and in Thailand we have 20 medical teams. In addition, our nurses can speak many languages, including Chinese and Arabic."

Li Mei, a supervisor of Southeast Asia Division of China International Travel Service, has over twenty years of experiences in taking Chinese tour groups to Thailand.

"I have been on an inspection tour to Thailand. The services local Thai hospitals offer their patients may vary, including cosmetic surgery, expulsion of toxin, DNA-based medical tests and test-tube babies. I also heard that the birth of test-tube babies costs much less in Thailand than in the U.S. or within China. That explains why Thailand could always successfully attract tourists. Also travelers may do a medical checkup when they are in Thailand, and get a detailed report on their health before returning home."

Runjuan Tongrut, the Executive Director of East Asia Region for Thailand Tourism, wasspeaking with a group of journalists from various Chinese media organizations on Tuesday, March 1, 2016.[Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]

As many may wonder why travelers should bother to conduct a medical checkup on their body during a tour to Thailand, the answer came up easily if you are clear about these local hospitals' location. 

According to Runjuan Tongrut, the Executive Director of East Asia Region for Thailand Tourism, these private hospitals are located near either shopping mall or tour attractions, which may be convenient for patients and their family members.

"Some hospitals are connected to the hotel; some hospitals are located in the shopping areas. You go to a hospital for treatment and in the same time you can enjoy the beach, sea because hospitals are not too far from the beach." 

Some Thailand hospitals are hiring Chinese-speaking staff as they anticipate a rise in Chinese patients.

Statistics of the tourism authority of Thailand show Thailand received nearly eight million Chinese travelers last year, almost one third of Thailand's entire inbound tourists for the whole year.

For Studio Plus, I'm Xu Fei.