File photo

 

By Online Reporter

 

Thailand is on course to welcome its millionth tourist of the year later this month following the easing of travel rules.

 

According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), there has been a sharp increase in the number of arrivals into the country in May compared to March and April, following the cancellation of the Test & Go program.

 

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Between January 1 and May 11, a total of 966,686 people entered Thailand, with TAT forecasting that a total of one million tourists will have entered the country by the end of May.

 

By comparison, Thailand only welcomed a total of 428,000 foreign arrivals for the whole of 2021.

 

Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/thailand-news/thailand-on-course-to-welcome-one-millionth-tourist-later-this-month/

 

-- © Copyright Hua Hin Today 2022-05-17

 

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don't they mean 1 million entering Thai airports? 

21 minutes ago, webfact said:

Between January 1 and May 11, a total of 966,686 people entered Thailand, with TAT forecasting that a total of one million tourists will have entered the country by the end of May.

entering Thailand equates to 1 million tourists according to TAT?? ????

2 hours ago, BayArea said:

don't they mean 1 million entering Thai airports? 

Because most will be in transit after they find out the bars are closed?

Thailand. The hub of places nobody wants to go to !

Before or after it Sinks “;0)

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand is on course to welcome its millionth tourist of the year later this month following the easing of travel rules

You know there's trouble at the mill when they're so fixated on giving us daily numbers of tourists.

The one millionth 'tourist', is coming back to his wife, rather annoyed 'coz he quit smoking and now vapes, and he also can't visit his favourite bar for a drink, he also will risk skin cancer as he's not allowed to use sun-screen on his favourite beach and must wear a mask at all times. Welcome to Thailand have a nice day.  

Personally I think if it has taken them 5 months to hit 1 million - if they are actual tourists and I do not believe it as most I know are all returning expats - the I think the maximum they are looking at this year is 4 million. People have already booked others places now, it's too late for booking holidays to Thailand  - especially as entry rules are yoyo and up in the air all the time. PM stating 20 million to me should mean a padded cell after 6pm till 6 am

1 minute ago, RichardColeman said:

padded cell after 6pm till 6 am

more like 24/7 ????

I have noticed an increasing number of arrivals, some of them even families.

 

Still, of those "1 million", I would guess that around 925,000 are like the image attached to this article: single males

 

(And he isn't coming here for the temples)

10 minutes ago, Walker88 said:

I have noticed an increasing number of arrivals, some of them even families.

 

Still, of those "1 million", I would guess that around 925,000 are like the image attached to this article: single males

I wouldn't have risked bringing my young UK children to Thailand.

Spain and France are much safer.

I'm a long time resident of this country and in Pattaya for business at the moment and i can see many foreignness milling about in Pattaya klang many of whom don't wear face masks and i'm thinking that this could be a problem if someone would see it as breaking Thailand's health rules will make an issue out of it...

So they are on track for 2.2 million tourists for the year.  Things are looking up, but how many are returning Thai's and Foreigners, it would be nice to see a breakdown by Visa class and country, as well as those returning using a re-entry permit etc...

1 hour ago, Walker88 said:

I have noticed an increasing number of arrivals, some of them even families.

 

Still, of those "1 million", I would guess that around 925,000 are like the image attached to this article: single males

 

(And he isn't coming here for the temples)

The Temple of Hoi ????

1 hour ago, brianthainess said:

The one millionth 'tourist', is coming back to his wife, rather annoyed 'coz he quit smoking and now vapes, and he also can't visit his favourite bar for a drink, he also will risk skin cancer as he's not allowed to use sun-screen on his favourite beach and must wear a mask at all times. Welcome to Thailand have a nice day.  

I have it on good authority that things are heading towards 'normal' in  the tourist areas of Pattaya and Bangkok.....

1 hour ago, Walker88 said:

I have noticed an increasing number of arrivals, some of them even families.

 

Still, of those "1 million", I would guess that around 925,000 are like the image attached to this article: single males

 

(And he isn't coming here for the temples)

Temples eh! 1 over there and 2 more back there and 3 more up the road !!

Besides the bars and beaches there is very little see in Thailand.  Travel from Ubon to Pattaya there is nothing to see ... No nice towns or villages just PTT service stations ..

 

11 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

So they are on track for 2.2 million tourists for the year.  Things are looking up, but how many are returning Thai's and Foreigners, it would be nice to see a breakdown by Visa class and country, as well as those returning using a re-entry permit etc...

Catch all ..  all international arrivals .. could count the same tourist 3 times if he/she travelled to Cambodia and Malaysia and back !!

8 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

I have it on good authority that things are heading towards 'normal' in  the tourist areas of Pattaya and Bangkok.....

'Building' on anticipation !

19 minutes ago, drgoon said:

The Temple of Hoi ????

He ain't coming here because it's cheap anymore ..expensive flights, poor exchange rates, bars doing catch up with high prices and the Japanese and Koreans have serious pushed up 'entertainment' costs .. 

More like a trickle than tourists flooding in, not quite what they had expected.

 

Also, "people" vs. "tourists" in the article, seemingly used interchangeably. Returning expats and Thais included?

13 minutes ago, RmcaIssan said:

Temples eh! 1 over there and 2 more back there and 3 more up the road !!

Besides the bars and beaches there is very little see in Thailand.  Travel from Ubon to Pattaya there is nothing to see ... No nice towns or villages just PTT service stations ..

 

You really believe that between Ubon and Pattaya there is nothing to see?  Khao Yai, Farm Chok Chai, Pimai and so very many things to see along the drive down, even in BKK there are many things to see.  

Quick math...........

 

966k divided by 130 days (Jan 1 to May 11) equals roughly 7,500 per day.

 

That means the 1 million mark should have been passed sometime yesterday. But they are saying "before the end of the month?"

 

If we're only 34,000 away from this landmark and getting 7,500/day, why not wait just a few days more and announce "We did it!" instead?

 

After all, "by the end of the month," there should be at least 100k more than a million.........at 7,500/day!

 

(And remember, 7,500 per day is based on much of that time having big restrictions. With the big restrictions lifted, our numbers are supposed to be surging. So shouldn't we be closer to, say, 1.2 million or 1.3 million "by the end of the month?")

 

Why announce "1 million" as a big deal for "the end of the month"............. when by their own surging numbers, we should be well passed that? (Again, 1.2 to 1.3 million, possibly)

 

Odd, huh?

 

Cheers!

 

????????????

2 minutes ago, KanchanaburiGuy said:

Quick math...........

 

966k divided by 130 days (Jan 1 to May 11) equals roughly 7,500 per day.

 

That means the 1 million mark should have been passed sometime yesterday. But they are saying "before the end of the month?"

 

If we're only 34,000 away from this landmark and getting 7,500/day, why not wait just a few days nmore and announce "We did it!" instead?

 

After all, "by the end of the month," there should be at least 100k more than a million.........at 7,500/day!

 

(And remember, 7,500 per day is based on much of that time having big restrictions. With the big restrictions lifted, our numbers are supposed to be surging! So shouldn't we be closer to 1.2 million or 1.3 million "by the end of the month?")

 

Why is announcing "1 million" a big deal for "the end of the month"............. when by their own surging numbers, we should be well passed that? (Again, 1.2 to 1.3 million, probably!)

 

Odd, huh?

 

Cheers!

 

????????????

Waiting for the 1 millionth visitor to be given a special Key to the country, a free massage, and maybe even a voucher for a 5 day hotel stay and roundtrip air tickets like they have done before.

 

https://www.tatnews.org/2019/12/thailand-lays-out-red-carpet-to-welcome-its-39th-millionth-tourist/

A ‘Luckiest Visitor’ jacket was presented to Mrs. Pavlovskaya in addition to a certificate, round-trip tickets for two between her country of residence and Thailand valid for one year, and a voucher for five nights’ accommodation at a four or five-star hotel in Thailand.

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

I'm a long time resident of this country and in Pattaya for business at the moment and i can see many foreignness milling about in Pattaya klang many of whom don't wear face masks and i'm thinking that this could be a problem if someone would see it as breaking Thailand's health rules will make an issue out of it...

amen to that. I've been physically threatened for politely asking foreigners to wear masks when on baht buses. Morons. No one enforces the "rule".

Am in Bangkok right now: have seen two foreigners walking about either without masks or below the nose in two weeks. Thais all wear the masks.

 

Just now, Emster23 said:

I've been physically threatened for politely asking foreigners to wear masks when on baht buses.

Best to mind your own business.

You aren't the police, you have no authority here.

7 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Waiting for the 1 millionth visitor to be given a special Key to the country, a free massage, and maybe even a voucher for a 5 day hotel stay and roundtrip air tickets like they have done before.

Imagine the millionth arrival was Prayut coming back from the states ????

7 minutes ago, warrima said:

Imagine the millionth arrival was Prayut coming back from the states ????

They would give him the new budget as his payment to lead the country .......lol

2 hours ago, brianthainess said:

The one millionth 'tourist', is coming back to his wife, rather annoyed 'coz he quit smoking and now vapes, and he also can't visit his favourite bar for a drink, he also will risk skin cancer as he's not allowed to use sun-screen on his favourite beach and must wear a mask at all times. Welcome to Thailand have a nice day.  

arnt vaps illegal as well!!!

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

I'm a long time resident of this country and in Pattaya for business at the moment and i can see many foreignness milling about in Pattaya klang many of whom don't wear face masks and i'm thinking that this could be a problem if someone would see it as breaking Thailand's health rules will make an issue out of it...

the same is said for both phuket and koh samui....100% of foreigners i have seen since december 2021 refuse to use masks, yet it is the thais that always have masks on......