Chinese tourists lead 4.8m visitors to Thailand, boosting revenue
Over 4 million tourists have visited Thailand since the start of the year, with Chinese visitors leading the numbers.
Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong announced yesterday that from January 1 to February 9, Thailand hosted 4.8 million international tourists, contributing more than 234.9 billion baht in revenue.
Chinese tourists ranked highest with 825,617 arrivals, followed by Malaysia with 617,631, Russia with 330,628, South Korea with 263,572, and India with 232,828 visitors.
From February 3 to 9, there was a 4.15% rise in arrivals from long-haul markets due to an increase in Russian and French tourists. This growth of 41.53% was facilitated by enhanced market promotions, additional flights, and school holidays.
In contrast, short-haul markets experienced a slowdown following the Chinese New Year celebrations. South Korean arrivals decreased due to domestic challenges such as aviation incidents, political issues, and currency fluctuations.
Consequently, the total number of foreign arrivals in the first week of February was 837,407, reflecting an 11.57% drop, or 109,551 fewer visitors compared to the previous week. The average daily arrivals were 119,630.
Foreign arrivals are expected to maintain stability from Monday to Sunday, bolstered by government promotional campaigns, including the Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Year 2025 initiative and various tourism and sports events. The government is also implementing safety measures to reassure Chinese tourists, reported Bangkok Post.
Thailand is experiencing a surge in foreign tourist arrivals despite concerns over safety following the high-profile trafficking case of Chinese actor Wang Xing. According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 3.97 million visitors arrived by February 2, a 21% rise from the same period last year.
Chinese tourists led with 710,687 arrivals, despite some tour group cancellations over security fears. January alone saw 3.7 million arrivals, driven by Chinese New Year celebrations.
In response to safety concerns, Thailand has strengthened security measures. China remains the top tourist source, with 6.7 million of the projected 35.5 million visitors in 2024.
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