Thailand welcomes 32.7 million tourists since Jan 2024

BANGKOK: Thailand welcomed 32.7 cardinal planetary tourists betwixt January 1 and December 8, 2024, generating astir 1.535 trillion baht (100 Baht = RM13.12) successful tourism revenue, Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thianthong said.

He said that during the week of December 2 to 8, the state saw 699,129 planetary arrivals, averaging 99,876 visitors per day.

He emphasised that portion this represented a flimsy 1.03 per cent diminution compared to the erstwhile week, a beardown rebound successful Malaysian tourists helped offset the decreases successful different markets.

“Malaysian tourer arrivals surged by 24.58 per cent to 79,386, driven by improved question conditions pursuing the caller floods successful Hat Yai District and the 3 confederate borderline provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat,” helium said successful a connection here, Tuesday.

Sorawong said different cardinal markets for the week included China (111,468 visitors), Russia (47,893), India (46,094), and South Korea (37,823). However, arrivals from China, South Korea, India, and Russia saw flimsy declines.

He besides noted a flimsy uptick successful long-haul markets, peculiarly from Scandinavia — specified arsenic Sweden, Norway, and Finland.

Looking ahead, the ministry anticipates an summation successful planetary arrivals driven by respective factors, including the highest question play for European tourists and accrued hose spot capacity.

He said flights to Thailand person risen by 10 per cent from July to the year’s end.

“The government’s initiatives, specified arsenic removing the request for the TM6 migration signifier astatine onshore checkpoints and promoting higher formation frequencies, are expected to further heighten question convenience,” Sorawong said.

As of December 9, China remained Thailand’s largest tourer root market, with 6.3 cardinal visitors, followed by Malaysia (4.6 million), India (1.96 million), South Korea (1.72 million), and Russia (1.55 million).

Sorawong added that the robust betterment of the short-haul market, particularly from neighboring Malaysia, reflects the effectiveness of ongoing tourism betterment efforts.