China has resumed outbound group tours to selected countries for the first time since the pandemic began. The move is raising hopes in Thailand, which is one of the 20 designated destinations, that the country's tourism industry will be revitalized.

In 2019, Thailand had about 11 million Chinese travelers -- over a quarter of all foreign visitors.

On Monday, while no large group tours were noticeable, Chinese travelers on private trips were sightseeing at Bangkok's famous Wat Pho temple.

One tourist from Shanghai said she was traveling abroad for the first time since the pandemic began and found staying in Bangkok "comfortable."

Meanwhile, bus companies in the capital are busy preparing for an expected spike in Chinese group tours.

An official of a bus company, Saowaros Thanyakhunakorn, said 40 percent of the firm's customers came from China before the pandemic, but the number subsequently tumbled. She said the company expects the figure to recover to the previous level in about six months.

"The buses are ready. The only thing we can do is wait for tourists to return," she said.