Thailand is fast becoming a popular destination for tourists from China, providing a boost for the country’s economy. Less than 500,000 Chinese were holidaying in Thailand 15 years ago but now they have surpassed Malaysia and Vietnam to become the country sending the most tourists to Thailand, according to the latest statistics from the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

It reported that in the first half of this year, 1.124m Chinese tourists visited Thailand, accounting for around 10% of the total number of inbound tourists in the country.

Some Chinese tour providers have reported a 100% increase in bookings this summer. Bangkok, the capital, and Phuket are two of the country’s most popular destinations for visiting tourists.

The main reasons for Chinese tourists favouring Thailand include simple visa applications and a relatively near distance as most flights from China can reach Bangkok within 5 hours.

The consumption of the average Chinese tourists has also risen from 5000 Yuan ($790) to 6000 Yuan ($944), and the products they buy range from 3,000 Yuan ($472) to over 10,000 Yuan ($1,573), which is more than the average Brit spends in Thailand.

With over 100m Chinese expected to be travelling annually by 2020 the battle to win their affections is only just beginning and it won’t be long before they start buying holiday homes in Thailand.