Thailand Anticipates a Boost in Tourist Numbers with Over 30 Million Tourists Expected This Year

Thailand’s Prime Minister is optimistic about the country’s travel industry and expects a sharp uptick in the number of international tourists this year. According to Reuters, the Thai government’s previous target of 20 million visitors has been revised upward, with a new estimate of 30 million tourists. Most of the boost comes from the return of Chinese tourists

The Reopening of China’s Borders Boosts Tourist Projections

With the reopening of China’s borders, the return of Chinese tourists is projected to significantly contribute to this year’s growth in the number of international tourists. The administration now forecasts between seven and eight million Chinese tourists this year, an increase from the earlier projection of five million.

The Increase in Chinese Tourist Numbers

The governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Yuthasak Supasorn, spoke to Reuters about the forecasted increase in Chinese tourists. He stated that earlier, the government had not expected China to allow group tours, but now it is seeing at least seven to eight million visitors. This would be a significant boost from the 11 million Chinese visitors recorded in 2019, before the pandemic.

Positive Results So Far

According to Yuthasak, Thailand has already received more than 99,000 Chinese tourists up until February 2 of this year. Overall, the nation recorded 2.1 million foreign tourist arrivals in January. These numbers are encouraging, especially considering the worldwide Covid travel restrictions that have clamped down on international travel.

Thailand’s Tourism Industry Before and After the Pandemic

Before the Covid pandemic wreaked havoc on Thailand’s tourism industry, the kingdom saw a record of nearly 40 million foreign tourists in 2019, contributing to the country’s economy with 1.91 trillion baht in tourist expenditures. However, in 2021, the number of tourists entering the country dropped to only 428,000 due to Covid restrictions. Last year, however, Thailand beat its tourism target with 11.15 million foreign visitors.

SOURCE: Thaiger

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