Government Spokesperson Chai Wacharonke stated that Thailand continues to be one of the favorite cities for tourists from all over the world. Bangkok, in particular, has been ranked by readers of travel magazine DestinAsian as the “best city” for tourism in the Asia-Pacific region.

Referring to the 2024 DestinAsian Readers’ Choice Awards, the Government Spokesperson said that, after Bangkok, Tokyo came in second place, Singapore in third, and Kuala Lumpur in fourth, followed by Hong Kong, Seoul, Sydney, Shanghai, Taipei, and Ho Chi Minh City (https://destinasian.com/readers-choice-awards/2024-winners/best-cities.)

Phuket and Ko Samui in southern Thailand were ranked third and fourth “best islands,” respectively, while Bali came first and Mauritius came in second place.

As for airports, Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport was named the second “best airport,” after Singapore Changi Airport. Coming third was Hong Kong International Airport. Thai Airways International (THAI) was ranked the third “best airline,” after Singapore Airlines and Emirates. As for “the best low-cost airlines,” AirAsia came first, followed by Bangkok Airways.

The Government Spokesperson said that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin attaches great importance to tourism development. For Thailand, tourism does not only contribute to the economy, but also brings employment opportunities for a huge portion of the Thai population.

The Thai government has granted temporary visa exemptions for citizens of many countries. It has also revised rules and regulations to facilitate tourism development, as well as stepping up safety measures to create confidence among tourists.

Thailand is leveraging its cultural heritage or “soft power” as a selling point to promote unique and meaningful travels. For example, Thailand’s unique and beautiful festivals have been used to make the country a world-class festival destination.

The Government also aims to see an explosive growth in the tourism sector in the coming years.