PM delight as tourism rebounds in Thailand

34 % guest increase picked for time

Tourists pose for pictures at the Tha Tien pier by the Chao Phraya River opposite the Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun) in Bangkok in June. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)
In Bangkok in June, tourists pos for pictures at the Tha Tien Pier by the Chao Phraya River, which is directly opposite the Temple of Dawn ( Wat Arun ). ( Photo: Apichart Jinakul )

In the first seven months of this year, Thailand welcomed 20 million foreign visitors, which is roughly half the number from the same time last season before Covid-19.

In an X post during the week, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said that from Jan 1 to July 25 this year, more than 20 million international visitors came to the country, a 34 % increase on last year’s number.

He thanked all events and sectors for pushing numerous measures, including visa-free vacation, more flights, the development of an aircraft hub and improvements in holiday attractions, which led to the boom in numbers.

In contrast, the number of visitors from Taiwan and India has reached a traditional higher, which was probably a result of the visa-free system. Visitors from 93 nations are able to stay in the country without having to apply for a card for up to 60 times thanks to the program. It was introduced later last year and has since been extended until Nov. 11, making it one of the government’s flagship initiatives to boost the industry.

Mr. Srettha attributed the cooperation between all factions to the development in tourism this year. The Tourism Authority of Thailand ( TAT ) is currently developing activities to entice visitors from various nations each month. I would like the hospitality industry to get ready as Thailand’s great lock has opened today”, he said.

However, Thailand’s projected 35 million customers and$ 3 trillion in revenue this year, according to the Hospitality and Sports Ministry, are still below the nation’s history in 2019, when the nation welcomed 40 million visitors in total and earned 1.91 trillion ringgit.

Data from the government showed that between Jan 1 and July 25 this month, Thailand welcomed 20, 001, 405 customers. Most came from mainland China (3, 994, 343 visitors ), followed by Malaysia (2, 784, 598 ), India ( 1, 170, 419 ), South Korea ( 1, 053, 077 ), Russia (987, 861 ), Laos ( 714, 564 ), Taiwan ( 610, 270 ), Vietnam ( 597, 695 ) and the United States ( 575, 268 ).

When it comes to long-haul arrivals, Russia ranked first, followed by the US, Germany ( 481, 733 ), France ( 420, 446 ) and the United Kingdom ( 539, 884 ).

Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, Invoice lieutenant governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas, said the long-haul business has a good perspective. The Po anticipates a 2019-plus-age visitor population and earnings increase.

With the 2024 Summer Olympics or Paris 2024 providing a great chance to urge French people to visit Thailand in the second quarter of this year, he claimed the Po is working to get European visitors.

Mr. Siripakorn claimed that the TAT’s Paris company collaborated with French tour company Carrefour Voyages to encourage package vacations to Thailand between May 20 and June 16. The items had ranged from €1, 469 to €1, 849 in value. The Po has also collaborated with travel agencies in Malaysia to encourage a stunning trip aboard the” Unique Charter Sawasdee Train” from Kuala Lumpur to Hat Yai. That journey, with Malaysians arriving on the special carriages, is taking place today and tomorrow.