Thai airport staff held colourful celebrations on Thursday (January 23) to welcome the surge of Chinese visitors arriving to mark the country's New Year.<br /><br />More than 2.7 million residents from the Communist Republic are expected to arrive in Thailand during the holiday period from January 19 until the end of the month.<br /><br />Officials said they are expecting around 209,000 visitors a day - a 4 percent increase on the same period last year.<br /><br />Scanners have also been installed at the airport to identify anyone carrying the dreaded coronavirus which originated in Wuhan.<br /><br />Chinese New Year, also called the Spring Festival or Luna New Year, marks the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese calendar.<br /><br />Many locals travel abroad - raising fears that the holiday period could worsen the spread of the virus.
