Thailand expects 250,000 Chinese tourists during Sept 25–Oct 7, coinciding with Golden Week and Mid-Autumn Festival, to generate 11.5 billion baht in revenue. New direct flights between Bangkok, Xiamen, and Shanghai, combined with a weak baht (down ~10% YoY against the yuan), are making Thailand a competitive destination. Year-on-year Chinese visitor growth is up 24%, but TAT acknowledges ongoing challenges in competing for longer-haul trips to destinations like Brazil and Portugal.