According to the Vietnam News Agency , figures released by Thailand's Minister of Tourism and Sports Sudawan Wangsupakijkosol showed that 5,981,234 foreign visitors came to Thailand from January 1 to February 25, bringing in revenue of about 290.92 billion baht.
During this period, China was the leading source market of foreign tourists to Thailand with 1,114,316 arrivals, followed by Malaysia with 59,828 arrivals, Russia with 397,006 arrivals, South Korea with 387,475 arrivals and India with 293,129 arrivals.
The Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports expects the number of foreign visitors to increase again this week (February 26-March 3), thanks to the permanent visa exemption agreement between Thailand and China, as well as the increase in the number of flights to Thailand.
Visa exemption for Chinese tourists to Thailand was implemented in September 2023 and has now become a permanent policy.
Last year, China ranked second in the top five sources of international visitors to Thailand with 3.5 million visitors. India ranked fourth with 1.6 million visitors, but the US will be Thailand's largest source market in 2023 with 4.6 million visitors.
The Indian market is also a priority for the Thai tourism industry, with the goal of welcoming 2 million visitors by 2024. From November 2023 to May 10, 2024, Indians can travel to Thailand without a visa for stays of up to 30 days. In addition, air connectivity between Thailand and India will be further improved, as from April 2, Thai Airways will operate a new route from Bangkok to Kochi with a frequency of 3 flights/week.
“India is a high-quality and high-spending market, which is why Thailand introduced a visa waiver for Indian tourists last year. We are now assessing whether we can extend the visa waiver to Indian tourists permanently,” said Thapanee Kiatphaibool.
To boost demand from the Indian market, the Tourism Authority of Thailand plans to focus on new segments such as senior citizens and women, while promoting youth and adventure sports tours to Indian tourists. In addition, Thailand is promoting new products and destinations, such as UNESCO-listed sites in Nakhon Ratchasima; Khao Yai National Park; Thann Wellness in Ayutthaya; Mon Bridge and Pilok Village in Kanchanaburi, etc.
Minh Hoa (reported by VOV, Vietnam+)
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