A safari park in North Thailand is currying favor with Chinese tourists as new restrictions on vehicles from China and tensions between locals and visitors continue to affect tourism, media reported.

"I love Chinese," reads a banner held by employees at the Chiang Mai Night Safari park in both Chinese and the Thai, photos posted by Chinese-language newspaper Sing Sian Yer Pao Daily show.

According to the park's manager, the fawning display was prompted by the sharp plummet in Chinese visitors compared to last year.

The manager said increased complaints about Chinese tourists on Thai social media were behind the decrease, reported the Sing Sian Yer Pao Daily.

Though the paper also claims the drop in numbers is due to Chinese tourists "boycotting Thailand," a recent restriction on Chinese vehicles is more likely to blame.

The new restriction, which took effect June 27, limits Chinese motorists from leaving their province of entry and driving their cars deeper into Thailand, the Bangkok Post reported.

Global Times