by Gregers Møller

 

A new study by Visa has revealed that the top five destinations that Thai travelers most desire to visit are Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Singapore and United Kingdom. The Nordic countries are far down on the list.

 

The survey, among 2,000 Thai respondents, also revealed three key factors when choosing an overseas destination to visit: travel expenses (65%; ) weather (49%) and desire to visit new places (48%).

 

Pipawin Sodprasert, Manager of Visa in Thailand, said, “The recent pandemic has caused cumulative demand among Thai tourists. After being unable to travel the world for a long time And when many countries have opened their borders again We therefore want to study more deeply the behavior. and the changing needs of Thai tourists to explore this uncertain world again.”

 

This study also found that Thai tourists are ready to overlook travel barriers related to COVID-19 control measures abroad. Only a third (35%) are concerned about the destination’s opening-up policy. And only one in five (23%) of respondents were concerned about the spread of COVID-19 while planning their trip.

 

Full story: https://scandasia.com/japan-is-the-number-one-destination-for-thais/

 

-- © Copyright ScandAsia 2022-11-30

 

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Maybe it should read, Japan is the number one destination for 'Rich' Thais?????

3 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

Maybe it should read, Japan is the number one destination for 'Rich' Thais?????

It's not really though, is it? Those are the ones going to New Zealand and UK. Plenty of middle class Thais can afford to travel in Asia. Might not be your ordinary labouring types but Thais don't have to be 'rich' for a few days in Japan. 

Korea is probably just a one way ticket for many thais.

I am surprise that South Korea is not on the list as well with Japan being the top destinations for Thaias

52 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

Maybe it should read, Japan is the number one destination for 'Rich' Thais?????

There’s a huge and growing ‘middle class / middle income bracket’ in Thailand...  

 

Many foreigners still thing all the Thai’s are on the minimum wage, working in Bars or as Taxi / motorcycle drivers - because thats all they are exposed to. 

 

Whenever we travel outside of Thailand we always see loads of other Thai’s... Japan is no exception, whether its a ski-resort or Omote-Sando... 

 

Japan also made a very smart move and allowed Thai’s a 15 days visa exempt entry, making it very simple for any Thai to travel there. 

     I'm American and it might be my number 1 destination, too.  Lived there for several years as a child and was back for a visit in a few years ago.  Hope to go again sometime next year. 

5 hours ago, Bryan Kent said:

I am surprise that South Korea is not on the list as well with Japan being the top destinations for Thaias

How much of the first paragraph of this story did you actually read?

SIL used to go to Japan at least twice a year, load up with cosmetics etc to sell back home. Used to pay the airfare

6 minutes ago, proton said:

SIL used to go to Japan at least twice a year, load up with cosmetics etc to sell back home. Used to pay the airfare

Before the 'rona, vid all the airports here had electronics shops opening branches to sell appliances to CHinese tourists- rice cookers, etc.  Plus the aforementioned cosmetics, as well as baby food, condiments.... it was a wonder that any flights back to the Middle Kingdom even got off the ground with the amount of stuff the passengers were carrying. 

Any country that offers visa on arrival for Thai's is going to be a preferred destination. Another survey question should have been "effect of ease of visa process on travel destination".

I mean seriously, If you had that view would you want to go to Thailand ? 

On Sunday there were a lot of Thais on My JAL flight from Tokyo to BKK.  There were at least three Thai flight attendants as well.  

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

I mean seriously, If you had that view would you want to go to Thailand ? 

Lovely but happens about once a decade.  Mount Fuji is notoriously shy. 

21 hours ago, webfact said:

Pipawin Sodprasert, Manager of Visa in Thailand, said, “The recent pandemic has caused cumulative demand among Thai tourists. After being unable to travel the world for a long time And when many countries have opened their borders again We therefore want to study more deeply the behavior. and the changing needs of Thai tourists to explore this uncertain world again.”

From my observations most Thais don't know anything of the outside world..

in fact my friends daughter didn't even understand time zones and that if it's midday in Thailand and the sun is shining it must be dark on the other side of the world..

I had to draw her a sketch to prove the sun cannot be in the east and west at the same time.

19 hours ago, Bryan Kent said:

I am surprise that South Korea is not on the list as well with Japan being the top destinations for Thaias

Japan for tourism, Korea for employment.

13 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

I mean seriously, If you had that view would you want to go to Thailand ? 

Is this Liverpool?

yes sure,,, I always tell my partner not to believe the Thai news as it is made to show how good everything is going in Thailand, but the reality is different as my partner always tell me too many people complain and don't have money, while on the internet they are telling that Japenese tourist can't come to Thailand as there are no seats available in the planes..... who want to hear such a rubbish???? 

Japan is nice yes but now winter, in spring with the blossoms it is better to visit, so surely fake news now 

On 11/30/2022 at 1:18 PM, RichardColeman said:

I mean seriously, If you had that view would you want to go to Thailand ? 

Beautiful,Fuji-san in the background and the cherry blossom in the foreground!

On 11/30/2022 at 8:18 PM, RichardColeman said:

I mean seriously, If you had that view would you want to go to Thailand ? 

Can’t see any bar girls so yes 

On 11/30/2022 at 8:18 PM, RichardColeman said:

I mean seriously, If you had that view would you want to go to Thailand ? 

Yep. Looks like the view from Gotemba. Nice place to stay if you enjoy skiing on Fuji.

 

Air fares have more than doubled since last time I visited in 2019, so not sure how many Thais are actually visiting Japan, as opposed to it being a "most desired" destination described in the OP.  Pretty misleading storyline, tbh..

 

I can understand why. Thailand seems very chaotic, whilst Japan is very ordered. Even natural beauty is ordered in Japan, see Bonsai. It's like the ideal many people would like to see in their lives. The fact it's a stagnating, dying, society seems to escape their notice

On 11/30/2022 at 4:18 PM, RichardColeman said:

I mean seriously, If you had that view would you want to go to Thailand ? 

Of course many would... so they could have this view... 

 

Interesting that Thais would choose to visit the country that finally colonised them in the '40's, despite apparently Thais being so proud of never being colonised.

 

One thing Japan does very well, is keeping their citizens completely ignorant of their real history, including that of the Second World War, a trait that is evidently shared by the Thai education system.

I notice it reads 'most desired'.......so all rather meaningless......most Brits would like to go to some exotic, expensive location in the South Pacific.....but they won't/can't.

I have visited Japan twice.  I would think that travel to Japan would be too costly for most Thais.  As the rest of the countries mentioned in the article. 

On 12/3/2022 at 1:03 PM, Mr Meeseeks said:

Interesting that Thais would choose to visit the country that finally colonised them in the '40's, despite apparently Thais being so proud of never being colonised.

 

One thing Japan does very well, is keeping their citizens completely ignorant of their real history, including that of the Second World War, a trait that is evidently shared by the Thai education system.

Speaking as someone who has lived here for more than 20 years, I would have to say that you are wrong.  People are very aware of history and are generally averse to repeating it. 

 

The one weak point in their historical education is concerning the atomic bombings. They have a certain political need to portray them selves as victims of an unnecessary barbaric act.  

1 hour ago, swm59nj said:

I have visited Japan twice.  I would think that travel to Japan would be too costly for most Thais.  As the rest of the countries mentioned in the article. 

Travelling ANYWHERE would be too costly for most Thais, even domestically.  However for those with enough jingle in their jeans, I understand why Japan is a good destination. A completely opposite country in many ways, from geography to weather to general cultural norms. 

On 12/1/2022 at 6:57 AM, hotchilli said:

Japan for tourism, Korea for employment.

The "K" in K-Pop stands for Japan?

2 hours ago, Hanaguma said:

Speaking as someone who has lived here for more than 20 years, I would have to say that you are wrong.  People are very aware of history and are generally averse to repeating it. 

 

The one weak point in their historical education is concerning the atomic bombings. They have a certain political need to portray them selves as victims of an unnecessary barbaric act.  

Really?

 

What Japanese history lessons leave out

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-21226068

 

Japan's struggle with history
As the nation marks the 72nd anniversary of its surrender at the end of World War II, there are still many here who insist that Japan acted honorably throughout the conflict. Julian Ryall reports from Tokyo.

https://www.dw.com/en/japans-nationalist-school-books-teach-a-different-view-of-history/a-40092325