Tourism Council of Thailand

  • Thailand NewsSurvey reveals Chinese tourists’ spending habits in Thailand

    Survey reveals Chinese tourists’ spending habits in Thailand

    The majority of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand in the second quarter of this year were lured by the country’s delectable cuisine and exotic fruits, according to the Tourism Council of Thailand. The Council’s report, published last Thursday, July 4, surveyed 205 Chinese nationals. The participants included 44% from Mainland China, 24% from Hong Kong, 18% from Taiwan, and 14% from…

  • Thailand NewsOnly 57% of Thais to holiday at home this quarter

    Only 57% of Thais to holiday at home this quarter

    A recent survey reveals a dramatic decline in domestic travel plans among Thais, with only 57% intending to holiday within the country in the third quarter of this year. This is a significant drop from 64% in the second quarter and a steep decline from 74% in the first quarter. The Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) surveyed 450 Thai nationals,…

  • Tourism NewsThai tourism index for Q4 2023 signals risk of deflation

    Thai tourism index for Q4 2023 signals risk of deflation

    The Tourism Council of Thailand’s (TCT) quarterly index has reported a lower-than-normal confidence level for the fourth quarter of 2023, signalling concerns among operators about the risk of deflation and delayed fiscal budget disbursement. The Thai tourism index for the last quarter of the year scored 77, with 100 being the average; this is an increase from the third quarter’s…

  • Business NewsTourism promotion: TCT urges government to market Thailand as prime retiree destination

    Tourism promotion: TCT urges government to market Thailand as prime retiree destination

    Tourism promotion has driven the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) to urge the new government to market Thailand as a prime destination for retirees while advocating for regulatory changes that would encourage the development of the tourism industry. The TCT yesterday met with representatives from the Thai Sang Thai Party to discuss these proposed changes, following the party’s consultation with…

  • Phuket NewsThailand’s tourism industry struggles to deal with chronic labour shortage

    Thailand’s tourism industry struggles to deal with chronic labour shortage

    Thailand is facing a major crisis: the Land of Smiles’ tourism industry is struggling to deal with its chronic labour shortage. With over 11 million foreign tourists visiting Thailand since the country’s reopening in July 2022, the country is facing a major shortage of workers. According to data from the Labour Ministry, popular tourist destinations such as Phuket, Chiang Mai,…

  • ExpatsThailand’s taxi troubles: Tourists slam overpriced rides and shoddy service

    Thailand’s taxi troubles: Tourists slam overpriced rides and shoddy service

    Thailand‘s taxi services have received a poor rating in a recent survey conducted by the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), with foreign tourists slamming the country’s taxis for overpriced fares and shoddy service. The survey, which was conducted on 200 foreign tourists during the final quarter of 2022, showed a rating of just 3.5 out of 5 for taxi services…

  • EventsAre people worried about events in Thailand after the Korean stampede?

    Are people worried about events in Thailand after the Korean stampede?

    Tourism officials and industry operators are nervously assessing what effect the Halloween stampede in South Korea may have on travellers’ confidence in upcoming events in Thailand. Operators in the tourism industry have asked police and other authorities to be ready for crowd-related incidents. But the vice-president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, Suthiphong Phuenphiphop, says that he does not think…

  • Covid-19 NewsChina key to Thailand’s tourism industry recovery

    China key to Thailand’s tourism industry recovery

    The Tourism Council of Thailand yesterday confessed that building up tourism to pre-Covid-19 levels is going to be a challenge to the kingdom despite encouraging signs of recovery this year. And without Chinese tourists, the task remains even harder. The last of Thailand’s Covid-related restrictions were lifted today. Tourists no longer need a Thailand Pass or insurance, and you don’t…

  • Tourism NewsTourism Council of Thailand calls for PCR testing on arrival to be dropped asap

    Tourism Council of Thailand calls for PCR testing on arrival to be dropped asap

    Tourism businesses in Thailand are struggling to survive and barriers to increasing the number of foreign visitors to the kingdom must be removed immediately. That’s the view of Chamnan Srisawat from the Tourism Council of Thailand, who says the Omicron variant, coupled with Russia’s war on Ukraine, has dealt a double blow to the sector. “Tourism operators are still struggling…

  • Tourism NewsHospitality sector, tourism operators call for entry restrictions to be dropped now

    Hospitality sector, tourism operators call for entry restrictions to be dropped now

    Businesses, particularly those in the tourism and hospitality sectors, say July 1 – the date the government hopes to declare Covid-19 endemic – is too long to wait for restrictions to be lifted. As operators watch what’s happening in neighbouring countries, Thailand’s tourism sector is feeling anxious. According to a Bangkok Post report, Chamnan Srisawat from the Tourism Council of…

  • Thailand NewsTruckers and tour bus drivers plan strike over diesel prices

    Truckers and tour bus drivers plan strike over diesel prices

    Thai truckers are set to go on strike on Monday as part of a campaign to have diesel prices capped at 25 baht per litre for one year. As reported by Thai PBS World, the strike – which will coincide with Thailand’s reopening on November 1 – will span about 80,000 trucks, including some tour buses. The campaign, labelled “truck…

  • Covid-19 NewsGovernment urged to provide booster shots in sandbox destinations

    Government urged to provide booster shots in sandbox destinations

    Tourism representatives are calling on the government to provide vaccine boosters for people who live in sandbox destinations. Chamnan Srisawat, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, says the country can’t wait for the virus to disappear completely and the only solution is for residents in sandbox areas to get maximum protection against new variants and outbreaks. “Herd immunity across…

  • Tourism NewsThailand tourism officials predict best and worst case scenarios for reopening

    Thailand tourism officials predict best and worst case scenarios for reopening

    The best-case scenario in Thailand’s reopening… 3 million foreign tourist arrivals this year, Tourism Council of Thailand says. It’s a far cry from the around 40 million welcomed to Thailand in 2019. But with Phuket set to reopening tomorrow under the “Sandbox” travel model, and other areas posed to reopen later this year, tourism officials guess, that in the best…

  • Covid-19 NewsMultiple business associations oppose lack of Bangkok lockdown

    Multiple business associations oppose lack of Bangkok lockdown

    After the government announced yesterday a one-month closure of construction camps, the Federation of Thai Industries and many other business associations complained that the action was too weak. The FTI and other business groups believe that a full lockdown is necessary to control Covid-19 outbreaks in Bangkok and half-measures like this are ineffective at best. The federation is one of…

  • Tourism NewsTourism bodies concerned vaccination uncertainty will disrupt re-opening

    Tourism bodies concerned vaccination uncertainty will disrupt re-opening

    Earlier this week, Thai PM, Prayut Chan-o-cha, pledged to re-open the country to international tourism within 120 days. But tourism operators aren’t breathing a sigh of relief just yet. Many have voiced concerns over the delays in the vaccine rollout, fearing that if Thailand doesn’t get its act together on vaccination, the re-opening could be affected. According to the Bangkok…

  • Phuket NewsTourism officials push for “One Night, One Dollar” campaign in Phuket

    Tourism officials push for “One Night, One Dollar” campaign in Phuket

    “…have been suffering from the pandemic for 15 months now. Only mass tourism will save us.” A night at a Phuket resort could drop down to just $1 USD. Tourism officials are pushing for a proposed campaign they call “One Night, One Dollar” to help draw travellers back to the popular tourist island as locals prepare for its July 1…

  • Tourism News83% drop in foreign tourists expected by the end of 2020

    83% drop in foreign tourists expected by the end of 2020

    Travel restrictions brought on by the Thai government, as a response to the coronavirus pandemic, have contributed to a drastic decline in number of foreign tourists with an expected drop of 83% from last year’s count of 39.8 million foreign tourists to this year’s predicted total of 6.74 million foreign tourists, according to President of the Tourism Council of Thailand…