(CTN News) – Thailand received 20 million foreign tourists in the first seven months of this year, roughly half of the total for the same period prior to the outbreak of Covid-19.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin stated in an X post this week that more than 20 million international visitors visited the country between January 1 and July 25, a 34% rise over the previous year.
He commended all parties and sectors for promoting different initiatives, such as visa-free travel, additional flights, the establishment of an aviation hub, and enhancements to tourism destinations, which contributed to the increase in numbers.
Furthermore, the number of tourists from Taiwan and India has hit an all-time high, most likely due to the visa-free policy. Visitors from 93 countries can stay in the kingdom for up to 60 days without having to seek for a visa. It began late last year and has now been extended till November 11th. It is one of the government’s hallmark measures for supporting the industry.
Mr Srettha attributed this year’s tourism boom to cooperation among all parties involved. “Now, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is planning activities to attract tourists from various nations each month. “I would like the tourism sector to prepare because Thailand’s big door has opened today,” he added.
However, the Tourism and Sports Ministry predicts that 35 million visitors will generate 3 trillion baht in income this year, falling short of Thailand’s record of 1.91 trillion baht and 40 million tourists in 2019.
Thailand welcomed 20,001,405 visitors between January 1 and July 25, 2024.
According to ministry data, Thailand received 20,001,405 visitors between January 1 and July 25, this year. The majority of visitors (3,994,343) were from mainland China, 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).
Russia had the highest number of long-haul arrivals, followed by the United States, Germany (481,733), France (420,446), and the United Kingdom (539,884).
Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, TAT deputy governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas, believes the long-haul sector has a bright future. The TAT anticipates that the number of long-haul tourists and revenue generated by the market will exceed 2019 levels.
He stated that the TAT is aiming to recruit European tourists to Thailand in the second half of this year, with the 2024 Summer Olympics, or Paris 2024, providing an excellent opportunity to urge French people to visit the nation.
Mr Siripakorn stated that the TAT’s Paris office collaborated with Carrefour Voyages, a travel business in France, to promote package trips to Thailand between May 20 and June 16. The packages’ prices varied from €1,469 to €1,849.
Meanwhile, the TAT has collaborated with Malaysian travel operators to market a trip that offers Malaysian visitors a scenic voyage from Kuala Lumpur to Hat Yai aboard the “Special Charter Sawasdee Train.” That excursion, with Malaysians arriving aboard promotional trains, takes happen today and tomorrow.
Source: Bangkok Post
