Adith Chairattananon, secretary general of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, said Thai tour operators need to adapt to compete with Chinese rivals.
He said Chinese products were flooding Thailand through online channels, allowing Thai consumers access to cheaper products amid declining purchasing power.
Thai companies need to become bolder when it comes to competing with their Chinese rivals on quality while increasing the value of Thai brands, he stressed.
He pointed out that Thai consumers were paying less attention to Thai products. He also blamed the government for not taking measures to address people’s problems.
Thailand should build consumer confidence that the country is competitive in the global market, he said.
Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool confirmed that the government is monitoring Chinese companies for compliance with Thai laws.
Since domestic consumers want Chinese products at reasonable prices, clear tariff measures for these items are important, she said.
However, tariffs and other restrictions on goods affect not only Chinese market participants but also companies from other countries, Thapanee added.
