SET Announcements

VGI PLC, the market leader in Offline-to-Online (“O2O”) Solutions across Advertising, Payment and Logistics platforms, joined forces with iClick Interactive Asia Group Ltd., a leading independent online marketing and data technology platform in China, to host a virtual conference under the theme, “CHINA POST-COVID RETHINK – Navigating the New Normal of Tourism; How to Attract the Chinese Tourist Market,” inviting brands and marketers to come together to rethink and re-strategize to rise to the challenges of COVID-19 recovery. As over the past years Chinese tourists have brought in more than THB 600bn annually, the virtual conference focuses on China’s economic rebound – with more than 90% of the country gradually returning to normal – and how brands can discover opportunity in the “new normal” of tourism once Thailand has fully recovered from the COVID-19 crisis and prepare themselves to welcome Chinese travelers back.

Nelson Leung, CEO of VGI, said, “The coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact globally, with the travel industry among the hardest hit. Brands and marketers must discover new ways of doing business to respond to changing consumer needs in the new normal era.”

He further added, “When we think about travel and tourism, we think directly about China, as Thailand’s biggest incoming tourists and regional spenders and one of the world’s largest consumer markets. With a population of 1.393 billion, research shows that once China begins to recover economically and its domestic travel resumes, 55% of Chinese tourists who had cancelled their travel plans will start to plan their trips again, and 73% are expected to make their first trips 6 months from now (or around October 2020). More outbound tourism from China is also expected in the beginning of 2021 during the country’s National Day holiday, when domestic travel is expected to be at 52% and international travel at 35%, with Thailand being the number one destination post COVID-19 crisis, followed by Japan and Singapore. Therefore, it will be crucial that we prepare way ahead, or least 1 to 2 months in advance, to win back the confidence of Chinese travelers. We believe this virtual conference presents a great opportunity for businesses to better prepare themselves to tap into China’s huge consumer market as Thailand embarks on the road to recovery.” Those interested in marketing in China, can contact us for more information and assistance at digitallab@vgi.co.th