BANGKOK, Aug. 2 (Xinhua)-- The Tourism Authority of Thailand aims to penetrate high-end tourist markets in Beijing and Shanghai where Chinese tourists will be drawn to Chiang Rai province in northern Thailand, said a senior TAT official on Tuesday.

Lertchai Wangtrakuldee, director of the TAT Chiang Rai office, said the tourism agency will launch a fresh campaign in Beijing and Shanghai to penetrate the tourist markets in northern China in addition to travelers from Yunnan province and Kunming city in southern China.

"Chinese tourists from the high-end markets of Beijing and Shanghai may fly a new airline between Hong Kong and Chiang Rai, which is scheduled to open in November,'' Lertchai said.

He added that Chiang Rai province expects an estimated 70,000 Chinese visitors, followed by about 57,000 French tourists, throughout this year.

Of that total of the Chinese visitors, as many as 60,000 travel by car from Kunming via R3A route, crossing a bridge over Mekong River from Laos into Chiang Rai.

Chiang Rai is one of the favorite tourist spots in northern Thailand apart from the neighboring Chiang Mai province.