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PM Srettha Praises the Success of Thailand’s Visa-Free Scheme

Thailand has welcomed 20 million international tourists in the first seven months of this year, approximately half the number from the same period before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced this week in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that from January 1 to July 25, the country saw over 20 million foreign arrivals, marking a 34% increase compared to last year.

He expressed gratitude toward all stakeholders for implementing various initiatives, such as visa-free entry, increased flight options, the establishment of an aviation hub, and enhancements to tourist attractions, all of which contributed to the rise in tourist numbers.

Moreover, the influx of tourists from Taiwan and India set new records, likely driven by the visa exemption policy. This policy allows citizens from 93 countries to visit Thailand without a visa for up to 60 days.

The program started late last year and was recently extended to November 11, highlighting it as a key strategy to uplift the tourism industry.

Mr. Srettha credited the growth in tourism this year to the collaborative efforts of all involved.

“Now, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is preparing activities to attract tourists from various countries every month. I would like the tourism sector to get ready as Thailand’s big door has opened today,” the prime minister stated.

However, the Tourism and Sports Ministry noted that despite the forecast of 35 million tourists generating three trillion baht this year, these figures still fall short of the record set in 2019 when Thailand generated 1.91 trillion baht from 40 million tourists.

According to ministry data, from January 1 to July 25, Thailand welcomed a total of 20,001,405 visitors.

The largest groups came from mainland China (3,994,343 visitors), followed by Malaysia (2,784,598), India (1,170,419), South Korea (1,053,077), Russia (987,861), Laos (714,564), Taiwan (610,270), Vietnam (597,695), and the United States (575,268).

In terms of long-distance travel, Russia ranked first, followed by the U.S., Germany (481,733), France (420,446), and the United Kingdom (539,884).

Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, TAT deputy governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas, reported a positive outlook for the long-haul market.

The TAT anticipates that both the number of long-haul tourists and the revenue they generate will surpass the figures from 2019.

He mentioned that the TAT is focusing on attracting European visitors to Thailand in the latter half of this year, using the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris as a prime opportunity to encourage French tourists to visit.

Mr. Siripakorn revealed that the TAT’s Paris office collaborated with Carrefour Voyages, a French tour operator, to offer travel packages to Thailand from May 20 to June 16, priced between €1,469 and €1,849.

Additionally, the TAT has partnered with Malaysian tour operators to promote a scenic train journey from Kuala Lumpur to Hat Yai on the “Special Charter Sawasdee Train,” which is currently underway.