Thailand’s tourist industry saw a notable uptick, drawing in 20 million foreign visitors in the first seven months of the year—nearly half of the pre-COVID-19 numbers.
Thailand Welcomes 20 Million Tourists: 20 Key Points To Know
- Tourism Surge: Thailand attracted 20 million foreign visitors in the first seven months of 2024.
- Significant Growth: This figure represents a 34% increase compared to the same period last year.
- Visa-Free Program: The success is largely attributed to the visa-free program, allowing visitors from 93 countries to stay for up to 60 days without a visa.
- Top Contributors: Mainland China led with 3,994,343 visitors, followed by Malaysia, India, South Korea, and Russia.
- Economic Impact: Despite the surge, the projected 35 million tourists for the year still fall short of the 40 million visitors in 2019.
- Revenue Generation: The expected tourism revenue for 2024 is estimated at 3 trillion baht (US$83 billion), compared to 1.91 trillion baht (US$53 billion) in 2019.
- Government Efforts: Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin credited the success to collaborative efforts and initiatives like visa-free travel, more airline choices, and tourism upgrades.
- Long-Haul Visitors: Russia and the United States topped the list for long-haul visitors, with notable increases from the UK, Germany, and France.
- Future Prospects: The TAT Deputy Governor expressed optimism about surpassing 2019 visitor numbers and revenue, especially from European travelers.
- Special Initiatives: Promotional activities include package travel during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics and a special charter train from Kuala Lumpur to Hat Yai to boost regional tourism.
On X, previously known as Twitter, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said that Thailand saw over 20 million foreign visitors between January 1 and July 25, a 34% increase over the same period last year.
He emphasized the execution of programs like visa-free travel, more airline choices, the creation of an aviation hub, and upgrades to tourist destinations while acknowledging the roles played by several organizations and sectors in attaining this success.
Thanks in large part to the visa-free program that allows visitors from 93 countries to remain in Thailand for up to 60 days without a visa, record numbers of tourists arrived from Taiwan and India. This initiative is a vital part of the government’s tourism strategy; it was introduced late last year and has been extended till November 11.
The prime minister of Thailand attributed the notable surge in tourism to the collaborative efforts of several parties involved.
Thailand’s Trends of Foreign Visitors
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports said that even with the recent surge in tourism, the projected 35 million foreign tourists for the year—which is expected to bring in an estimated 3 trillion baht (US$83 billion) in revenue—still falls short of 2019 numbers. 40 million visitors visited Thailand in 2019, bringing in 1.91 trillion baht (US$53 billion).
Between January 1 and July 25, 2024, Thailand had a notable surge in international tourism, with 20,001,405 visits. With 3,994,343 visits, mainland China took the lead, followed by Malaysia (2,784,598), India (1,170,419), South Korea (1,053,077), and Russia (987,861). Laos (714,564), Taiwan (610,270), Vietnam (597,695), and the United States (575,268) were among the other noteworthy donors.
Russia topped the list of countries visited by long-haul visitors, followed by the US. The number of tourists from the United Kingdom (539,884), Germany (481,733), and France (420,446) was also considerably increased.
Also Read: Thailand Expands Visa Programs to Boost Travel and Economy
The TAT Deputy Governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas, Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, voiced confidence in the possibilities of the long-haul sector. He thinks that these areas’ visitor counts and income might exceed those of 2019, with a particular emphasis on drawing in European travelers in the second half of the year.
According to the Bangkok Post, there is a special chance to draw French visitors to Thailand during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. The TAT’s Paris office has been marketing package travel to Thailand in association with the French tour operator Carrefour Voyages. These packages are priced between 1,469 and 1,849 euros (US$1,600 and US$2,010), and they are available from May 20 to June 16.
Furthermore, the TAT has collaborated with Malaysian travel operators to provide a picturesque ride on the Special Charter Sawasdee Train between Kuala Lumpur and Hat Yai. Today and tomorrow are the dates of this promotional excursion, which aims to increase tourism in the area.
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