Thailand’s Tourism Sector Confident to Reach Yearly Tourist Number Target
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Loading... - Bagaskoro Irawan
- 30 Oct 2024
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The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is optimistic about achieving its target of 36.7 million visitors for the year, with an expected influx of 10.7 million foreign tourists in the fourth quarter, averaging 3.6 million visitors per month. As of September, Thailand has already welcomed over 26 million visitors, indicating a strong recovery in the tourism sector.
TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaiboon noted several positive factors supporting this growth, including enhanced marketing activities, public relations efforts, and increased flight availability from the South Asia-Pacific region. These initiatives are designed to make travel to Thailand more convenient, particularly during the year-end holiday season.
However, there are risks that could impact the foreign tourism market. Ongoing geopolitical conflicts in regions such as the Middle East and East Asia, competition from rival destinations, and the increasing frequency of natural disasters pose potential challenges to attracting visitors.
On the domestic front, the tourism market may face hurdles due to a slow economic recovery, but there remains a strong interest among Thai travelers in international destinations. Recent statistics show that outbound travel by Thai citizens in August exceeded figures from the previous year, driven by attractive campaigns from foreign countries and favorable exchange rates, particularly for the Japanese yen. To leverage this trend, Thai tourism operators have been offering affordable travel packages abroad.
Looking ahead, TAT plans to continue organizing activities to attract tourists through the end of the year. The authority aims to increase the average stay for Thai tourists from 2.5 days to 3 days and boost average spending per trip from 3,000 THB (approximately 89 USD) to between 3,500 and 4,000 THB. For 2024, TAT projects domestic tourism revenue could reach between 950 billion and 970 billion THB (over 28.1 billion to 28.7 billion USD), reflecting a robust recovery and growth potential for the sector.
In summary, with strategic marketing and increased flight options, Thailand's tourism sector is well-positioned to meet its ambitious visitor targets. While challenges remain, the proactive measures being implemented suggest a promising outlook for the future of tourism in the country.
