TAT Signs Haikou and Tongcheng Partnerships to Support Two-Way Tourism with China
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has signed two Letters of Intent to establish strategic tourism partnerships with the Haikou Municipal Bureau of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports and with Tongcheng Group and Tongcheng Travel Holdings. The agreements aim to strengthen two-way tourism cooperation between Thailand and China.
The signings took place during TAT’s participation at the China International Travel Mart 2025 (CITM 2025), where Thailand is the Guest Country of Honour. The agreements were formalised at The Langham Haikou by Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of TAT, together with Mr. Wang Ke, Director and Senior Researcher at the Haikou Municipal Bureau of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports, and Mr. Li Minghao, Vice President of Tongcheng Group and Tongcheng Travel Holdings.
Commenting on the signings, Ms. Thapanee said the partnerships support Thailand’s focus on the China market and its approach to balanced and sustainable two-way tourism. She noted that collaboration with Haikou and Tongcheng is intended to enhance connectivity, increase destination awareness, and create opportunities for travellers and tourism businesses in both countries, while also supporting digital travel services and sustainable tourism development.
Haikou, located on China’s Hainan Island, is an economic and tourism centre within the Hainan Free Trade Port. With a development strategy centred on sustainability, urban living, and coastal culture, the city is emerging as an international tourism destination and a potential partner for Thailand in southern China.
Building on existing cooperation between TAT and authorities in Haikou and Hainan, the partnership will focus on joint destination promotion and marketing activities. These include participation in international travel fairs, roadshows, trade engagements, KOL exchanges, and the development of tourism products linking Haikou with destinations in Thailand. The collaboration also aligns with Thailand’s role as Guest Country of Honour at CITM 2025. It follows discussions with Hainan Wenhua Tourism Group regarding potential charter flight connections between Haikou and Thai cities, including Phuket and Chiang Mai.
Under the agreement with Tongcheng Group and Tongcheng Travel Holdings, TAT will expand cooperation in digital marketing, communications, and travel promotion. By leveraging Tongcheng’s big data and AI capabilities, the partnership aims to engage Chinese travellers at different stages of the travel journey and support the digital infrastructure for two-way tourism. This collaboration builds on earlier joint campaigns, including Green Season hotel promotions scheduled for September–October 2025 and targeted initiatives planned for January–March 2026, with a focus on female travellers and the Chinese New Year travel period.
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