"This is the first time to travel abroad after the COVID-19. I was very excited and happy. Everything went well on my way to Thailand. I can feel the enthusiasm of the local people and the welcome to the Chinese everywhere after I arrived in Thailand." Liu Lingling, a Chinese tourist who was traveling in Thailand, told Xinhua News Agency excitedly. Liu Lingling, a family of four from Wuhan, chose to spend the Chinese Lunar New Year in Thailand this year. As China continues to optimize its epidemic prevention and control policies and orderly resume outbound tourism for citizens, Thailand's clean and sandy beaches, magnificent temples and modern shopping malls are welcoming the return of Chinese tourists. During the Spring Festival, the Chinatown in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, was decorated with lights and decorations, and the festival atmosphere was strong. The decoration of several shopping centers in Bangkok during the Spring Festival also has its own characteristics, attracting many tourists to take photos. In addition to Bangkok, many places also held Spring Festival celebrations in Phuket, Beilam, Sungka and Latburi. "Every Spring Festival is the peak tourist season. Chinese tourists have always been our main source of tourists. This year, Chinese tourists have returned, and we have made sufficient preparations for the Spring Festival. We believe that this year's business can recover to the pre-epidemic level." said Natapon, a chef of a hotel in Bangkok's Chinatown. Tourism is one of the pillar industries in Thailand, and Chinese tourists are an important source of tourism in Thailand. Before the outbreak of the epidemic, Chinese tourists accounted for more than a quarter of the total number of inbound tourists in Thailand throughout the year. However, the epidemic has caused a huge impact on the tourism industry, and Thailand's economy and employment are under great pressure. Relevant practitioners are looking forward to the return of more Chinese tourists, adding impetus to the tourism industry and economic recovery. On the 9th of this month, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Anutin and other officials made a special trip to the airport to put up the slogan of "China and Thailand are one family" to send flowers and souvenirs to the first batch of passengers who arrived in Thailand after China optimized the epidemic prevention at borders policy. "After the epidemic, we are more aware of the importance of Chinese tourists." Chai Naiban, vice president of the Thai-China Tourism General Chamber of Commerce, said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency that Chinese tourists have injected vitality into the Thai economy and society. Now the return of Chinese tourists is a "great joy". Tourism and service agencies are making preparations in all aspects, including intensive cultivation of market segments, improvement of product quality and service quality, and improvement of service level of service personnel. It is expected that more Chinese tourists will visit Thailand in the future. According to the estimate of the Thai government, 7 million to 10 million Chinese tourists will enter the country this year. The report issued by the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of Thailand on the 25th pointed out that with the return of Chinese tourists, Thailand's tourism industry will show an accelerated recovery trend, and the sustained recovery of tourism and residents' consumption will support Thailand's economic growth. (Xinhua News Agency)