22-2-2024 (BANGKOK) Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced on February 22 that his government is set to implement additional measures aimed at revitalizing the tourism sector. These measures include incentives designed to attract global artists and boost the economy of Southeast Asia’s second-largest nation.
Speaking at a government forum, Prime Minister Srettha expressed optimism about the significant growth anticipated in the tourism industry over the next four years as it rebounds from the pandemic-induced lows. To illustrate the potential, he referred to the highly anticipated and sold-out concerts of musician Taylor Swift in Singapore scheduled for March, highlighting the need for Thailand to host similar international events.
“We can bring A-listers and world-class acts to Thailand. This must be done,” asserted Prime Minister Srettha. As part of the strategy to enhance Thailand’s appeal as a tourist destination, the government plans to introduce visa-free travel, reconsider regulations on alcohol consumption at concerts, and adjust operating hours of entertainment venues along with the permissible sale hours for alcohol.
In a bid to attract more visitors, Thailand had previously waived visa requirements for citizens of countries such as China and India. Despite welcoming approximately 28 million foreign tourists in 2023, the numbers fell short of the pre-pandemic record of nearly 40 million, resulting in a spending decline to 1.91 trillion baht (S$71.5 billion).
For the year 2024, the government is optimistic about a rebound, targeting approximately 34 to 35 million foreign visitors.
