9-3-2024 (BANGKOK) Thailand is poised for a substantial recovery in its tourism sector, with estimates suggesting a surge in foreign arrivals, according to the Thailand Tourism Research Centre. Based on data reflecting a 50% year-on-year increase in the first two months of 2024, the centre predicts a total of 9.32 million foreign arrivals by the end of the first quarter, marking a 42.7% YoY growth and setting an optimistic tone for the rest of the year.
Data from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports indicates that specific countries, including Malaysia, Russia, South Korea, India, Germany, France, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia, have already witnessed a return of visitors to pre-Covid 2019 levels in January and February. This rebound is attributed to Thailand’s improving economy and the government’s proactive tourism promotion policies.
A notable initiative has been the visa-free policy implemented since September 2023, commencing with a five-month visa exemption for visitors from China and Kazakhstan, followed by India and Taiwan in November. Notably, Thailand and China have mutually waived visa requirements for their citizens from March 1, a significant move to facilitate travel between the two nations.
Supporting factors contributing to the surge in foreign arrivals include new flight routes and increased flight frequency. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand reports a 34% rise in international flights in January-February compared to the same period last year, comprising around 68,000 flights, or 78% of those recorded in 2019.
The centre foresees further expansion of flight routes from countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, and Scandinavian nations throughout the year, catering to both traditional and low-cost airlines. Additionally, international and sports events, including the FIFA Congress 2024 scheduled for May, are expected to attract more foreign travellers to Thailand.
While the estimates from the Thailand Tourism Research Centre are optimistic, they differ from the Tourism and Sports Ministry’s projections. The ministry anticipates around 40 million foreign arrivals in 2024, generating approximately 2.3 trillion baht in tourism revenue. Moreover, it predicts a significant contribution from domestic tourists, reaching 200-220 million person-trips and adding 1.2 trillion baht to the overall tourism revenue in 2024, bringing the total to 3.5 trillion baht.
