More Chinese tourists are visiting ASEAN countries

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Li Kai has become quite the fan of Southeast Asia. In the past five years, Li, from Taiyuan City of north China's Shanxi Province, has visited Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket in Thailand, and Siem Reap in Cambodia. The 55-year-old plans to visit more of Southeast Asia soon.

"It's close to China geographically. Their visa process is also quite simple. Many offer visa on arrival or are free of visa fees," he said.

As a retiree, Li Kai often visits a nearby travel agency to ask about tourist deals. /CGTN Photo

Li said he likes Thailand most. Aside from tourist attractions and great services, he recalls seeing many fellow Chinese travelers there. "They received us with great hospitality and their services have improved. Sometimes I even felt like I was in China, because of tourists there like me."

Li also said one of the area's perks is the affordability. A week-long trip only costs him about 3,000 yuan.

Zhang Xiaoyong has worked in the tourism industry for nearly two decades. /CGTN Photo

Zhang Xiaoyong is the deputy general manager of Baohua Int'l Travel Agency, one of the top agencies in the province. He said in recent years, Southeast Asia has seen a major spike in Chinese tourists, noting that Thailand is the most popular destination among his clients.

"Direct flights from Taiyuan to cities in Thailand started in 2011. Since then, our client numbers have skyrocketed. Now we have around 40,000 trips to Thailand each year, about 13 times that before 2011," Zhang told CGTN.

More inland cities in China have opened direct flights to Cambodia. Angkor Wat is always the hottest scenic spot. /VCG Photo

He believes active cooperation between China and ASEAN nations has contributed to the tourism boom on both sides. "China has been promoting the Belt and Road Initiative and also launched the China-ASEAN Expo Tourism Exposition. I think these moves have greatly boosted tourism. Now more Chinese tourists go to ASEAN countries and vice-versa," Zhang said.

The Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Brunei, a beautiful ASEAN country that has attracted many visitors in recent years. /VCG Photo

Statistics from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs show trips between China and ASEAN countries increased by more than 10 times from 2003 to 2017. And experts say the annual China-ASEAN Expo Tourism Exposition will only help those numbers grow in the coming years.