Erik Nilsson

China Daily

Publication Date : 07-10-2014

Southeast Asian countries continue to lure Chinese tourists, but fewer are answering their call

The relative decline of Chinese tourists to Southeast Asia is to an extent a story of paradise lost-but is perhaps more so a testament to new paradises found.

Outbound Chinese travel to the region has plummeted this year-by nearly 40 per cent in Singapore's case.

Discussion surrounding the startling drop-the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' five-year tourism development plan is aimed toward Chinese and Indian visitor influxes-has largely honed in on a new, perceived undesirability of old favourite destinations.

Media point to territorial disputes with the Philippines and Vietnam; the disappearance of flight MH370; Thailand's instability; and Singapore losing influence as a gateway to aforementioned destinations.

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Southeast Asian travel destinations desolated by some Chinese