Government Spokesperson Chai Wacharonke stated that international tourist arrivals in Thailand had increased significantly, as the Government had been stepping efforts to boost tourism, with the organizing of tourism activities in all parts of the country.

Speaking on 9 August 2024 at the Government Press Center, Naree Samosorn Building, Government House, the Government Spokesperson pointed out that new visa measures to facilitate foreign tourists’ entry into the Kingdom had also encouraged more tourists to visit Thailand.

Thailand welcomed about 28 million foreign tourists in 2023, generating up to 1.2 trillion baht for the country. As for 2024, from January to 4 August, the number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand came to 21 million, representing an increase of 33 percent over the same period of 2023.

The largest group of foreign visitors during the period was from China (4.2 million), followed by Malaysia (2.9 million), India (1.2 million), South Korea (1.1 million), and Russia (1 million).

It is expected that international tourist arrivals in Thailand will reach almost 38 million by the end of 2024. Thailand expects to earn 2.7 trillion baht in tourism revenue this year. Out of this amount, 1.77 trillion baht is likely to come from foreign visitors.

The Government also attaches great importance to promoting tourism in secondary destinations nationwide in order to better distribute tourism income, in line with the vision “Ignite Tourism Thailand” announced by the Prime Minister.

A target has been set to increase tourism income in secondary cities to 360 billion baht in 2024, accounting for 30 percent of the country’s tourism revenue from domestic markets. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has launched a campaign called “365 Days of Wonders in Secondary Cities” to promote tourism in secondary cities throughout 2024.

It has also cooperated with relevant agencies in implementing various measures to stimulate tourism in secondary tourist cities, such as upgrading the standards of accommodations, food shops, and tourism infrastructure, as well as developing tourism sites, products, and services.