EYE ON CHINA: Wishing for Chinese Tourists

In Thailand's northern city of Chiang Mai, Chinese tourists are becoming a regular sight in the old city's temples. The Thais have been developing a tourist industry since the 1960s. By 1986 the country was making more money from tourists than any other commercial activity but recent political instability and the global economic downturn has hit the industry hard with many European and American tourists choosing to holiday more locally.

Thailand's solution was to look to its neighbors and in particular China, which has become an increasingly important market for the tourism industry across the globe. Last year Chinese tourists spent come $42 billion in overseas destinations, with as many as 47 Million Chinese traveling outsides the country. A recent report named "Opportunities in Thailand Tourism Industry (2007-2009)", also points out China as a top tourist generating country for Thailand, which at the moment only accounts for about 10% of their tourism market.

Video: D J Clark