Thailand tourism China-ing bright with visitor boom
Hold onto your tuk tuks, folks, Thailand’s tourism scene is making a triumphant comeback, with Chinese travellers leading the charge of foreign visitors.
Thanks to more lenient visa rules, and especially to Thailand’s Chinese friends, the Land of Smiles is grinning wider than ever.
The South China Morning Post reported that an impressive 35.5 million international jet-setters flocked to Thailand in 2024, filling the country’s coffers with a whopping 1.67 trillion baht.
While this didn’t quite hit the Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ ambitious target of 36.7 million, it was tantalisingly close to the Bank of Thailand’s forecast of 36 million.
Leading the charge were 6.7 million holiday-hungry Chinese tourists, rebounding to 60% of their pre-pandemic numbers.
Not far behind, visitors from Malaysia and India poured in, with arrivals from Europe, India, and Russia even surpassing the stats from the good old pre-Covid-19 days. Credit for this boost goes to the relaxed visa policies dreamt up by former Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.
Looking ahead to 2025, Thailand’s got its sights set on a bumper crop of 40 million foreign tourists. Add in an aspirational 200 million domestic jaunts, and the kingdom could be laughing all the way to the bank with 2.8 trillion baht. With tourism making up 12% of Thailand’s GDP and a hefty slice of jobs, this sector is no small beer.
The economy’s set for a further boost from The White Lotus season 3, which showcases Thailand’s posh resorts on screens across the globe. And let’s not forget the newly-minted same-sex marriage law – an inviting lure for more LGBTQ+ jet-setters.
Looks like Thailand’s getting ready for a dazzling year ahead!
In related visa news, the Embassy of Thailand rolled out the e-visa carpet for nine African nations on January 1 in a further bid to boost tourism.
The popular e-visa programme is designed to bolster security and streamline the application process, as reported by VisaGuide.World. By simplifying the visa procedure, Thailand hopes to lure more visitors, vital for its thriving tourism sector.
While Thailand’s tourism is heavily concentrated in major hubs like Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai, the rest of the country sees far fewer visitors, reported The South African.
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