A composite picture of tourism in Thailand. Credit: Matichon

 

by TNR Staff 

 

THE TOURISM Authority of Thailand (TAT) said altogether 913,013 foreign tourists came to the country the first 15 days of 2023 with Russians topping the list followed by Malaysians, South Koreans, Indians and Laotians, Matichon newspaper said today (Jan. 19).

 

TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn revealed that during Jan. 1-15 there were 99,593 Russians arrivals followed by 89,461 Malaysians, 76,057 South Koreans, 47,471 Indians and 41,863 Laotians. Just on Jan. 14 altogether 58,528 foreign tourists arrived.

 

“In terms of incoming foreign tourists, it was found that Chinese nationals ranked tenth totalling 28,643. This in line with expectation that the Chinese market will gradually improve in 2023,” he said.

 

Full story: https://thainewsroom.com/2023/01/19/over-900000-foreign-tourists-came-to-thailand-during-jan-1-15-tat/

 

-- © Copyright  THAI NEWSROOM 2023-01-20

 

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12 minutes ago, webfact said:

Russians arrivals followed by 89,461 Malaysians, 76,057 South Koreans, 47,471 Indians and 41,863 Laotians.

Malaysians and Lao, huh?? I'm surprised they didn't count all the crossings into LOS from Myanmar and Cambodia too. ????

Enjoy it while it lasts. I’m sure after the holidays it’ll go back down. I highly doubt that it will be like pre pandemic as we are constantly being told by TAT. 

3 hours ago, BayArea said:

 

Malaysians and Lao, huh?? I'm surprised they didn't count all the crossings into LOS from Myanmar and Cambodia too. ????

They most probably did. However, there is more demand for wor..., I mean tourism, from Laotians, it seems...

3 hours ago, webfact said:

THE TOURISM Authority of Thailand (TAT) said altogether 913,013 foreign tourists came to the country the first 15 days of 2023 with Russians topping the list followed by Malaysians, South Koreans, Indians and Laotians, Matichon newspaper said today (Jan. 19).

More daily figures from a desperate TAT to prove it's worth.

52 minutes ago, jcmj said:

Enjoy it while it lasts. I’m sure after the holidays it’ll go back down. I highly doubt that it will be like pre pandemic as we are constantly being told by TAT. 

I get the impression we will still have Russians..... 

What about tourists from NorthAmerica,Europe and Australia?Guess declining same as pre Covid.Guess in 10 years no more westerners at all in Thailand 

21 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

I get the impression we will still have Russians..... 

I reckon they're not too keen on going back. I reckon we'll then see a lot of overstays, or border runs, or dodgy ed/volunteer visas, or perhaps they've brushed up on their English and will now be hitting up all the schools for Non-Bs. Any "real" teachers out there better grab those positions now, for the new term in May.

Not all entries are tourists.....People living in Thailand and coming back from their families in the neighbouring countries because of Christmas and New Year celebrations, are no tourists..Same for expats who went back for the holidays and now retgurning to Thailand  again... So what do TAT descripes as a tourist??

9 minutes ago, mrmicbkktxl said:

What about tourists from NorthAmerica,Europe and Australia?Guess declining same as pre Covid.Guess in 10 years no more westerners at all in Thailand 

Domestic tourism. In the States, Vegas, Disneyland, Disney World, absolutely packed. Disney's ridiculous queueing system to deal with the crowds has been leading to riots, haha.

2 minutes ago, CrunchWrapSupreme said:

Domestic tourism. In the States, Vegas, Disneyland, Disney World, absolutely packed. Disney's ridiculous queueing system to deal with the crowds has been leading to riots, haha.

Good feedback..... people want to travel just not overseas. 

37 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

I get the impression we will still have Russians..... 

It isn't an impression, it's a fact.

They normally stick to Jomtein and Naklua but Central Pattaya is swarming with them.

I mean cannot walk in Central Festival Mall, without hearing a Russian accent.

Same same Terminal 21.

Never seen anything like it, mainly young couples and young families.

Pattaya is packed with Russians.

 

 

 

 

Remember when TAT was making claims of huge Chinese numbers...  They aint coming (or the CCP aint letting them leave... same same)...

 

https://apnews.com/article/travel-and-tourism-china-asia-business-6303cb348fca243abe0aa8eb37de87c6

 

Lunar New Year tourism hopes fizzle as Chinese stay home

5 minutes ago, Saddic said:

Lunar New Year tourism hopes fizzle as Chinese stay home

Hasn't stopped prices going up and limited supplies at the markets.

About the only place on earth you will find Russian arrivals trumpeted most want permanent departures literally ????    

Believe what you want.  After visiting 3 major tourist spots during the listed dates, my observations were there were more people then 2019.  Traffic and crowds everywhere more then I have seen in 10 years.

I saw a young Russian Cpl with at least 6 cases in Patong. In my opinion most of these Russians are Pdd.s  " Putins draft dodgers "

10 minutes ago, BarraMarra said:

I saw a young Russian Cpl with at least 6 cases in Patong. In my opinion most of these Russians are Pdd.s  " Putins draft dodgers "

Thought all service age men weren’t allowed to leave?, assumed all the Russian arrivals were much older

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

Not all entries are tourists.....People living in Thailand and coming back from their families in the neighbouring countries because of Christmas and New Year celebrations, are no tourists..Same for expats who went back for the holidays and now retgurning to Thailand  again... So what do TAT descripes as a tourist??

Fairly simple really, It's based on visa type as recorded in immigration system on entry. I don't think such a large number is skewed by some outliers, they are all spending money here after all. 

2 minutes ago, ourmanflint said:

Thought all service age men weren’t allowed to leave?, assumed all the Russian arrivals were much older

Sneaking out because they don't want to fight in Ukraine.

Hmmm... I flew back to Swampy on Jan 5th after a 3 month return to the US (including a Holiday visit to Europe) so I'm guessing I'm counted as one of TAT's "tourists".

I believe all the naysayers live in Isaan or some other buffalo friendly rural armpit of Thailand.

 

Bangkok is absolutely full of tourists. I am trying to find a new rental for my wife to be closer to work and everything is up 30% since 2 weeks ago.

OMG, with all these Russians Phuket must be now the second most unpleasant place in the world, just after Moscow.

18 minutes ago, Jimbo in Thailand said:

Hmmm... I flew back to Swampy on Jan 5th after a 3 month return to the US (including a Holiday visit to Europe) so I'm guessing I'm counted as one of TAT's "tourists".

Only if you entered on a tourist visa, if a retiree with a Re-entry permit then no.

23 minutes ago, Boomer6969 said:

OMG, with all these Russians Phuket must be now the second most unpleasant place in the world, just after Moscow.

Far far better weather!

6 hours ago, webfact said:

913,013 foreign tourists came to the country the first 15 days of 2023

Hard to believe....names and addresses please!

17 minutes ago, kinyara said:

Only if you entered on a tourist visa, if a retiree with a Re-entry permit then no.

LOL yes I'm a l-o-n-g time O-A expat with re-entry permit (of course), but we're talking about TAT's creative accounting system here! ????????

2 hours ago, PCUSHING said:

It isn't an impression, it's a fact.

They normally stick to Jomtein and Naklua but Central Pattaya is swarming with them.

I mean cannot walk in Central Festival Mall, without hearing a Russian accent.

Same same Terminal 21.

Never seen anything like it, mainly young couples and young families.

Pattaya is packed with Russians.

 

 

 

 

These mainly young couples are possibly the " Brain Drain " and conscription dodges from Russia.

The big question is how they are able to receive funds for any possible long stay what with all the sanctions on their  Banks etc

Maybe Thailand has " facilitators " 

 

I have noticed lately much less air traffic in the sky's than the last 2 weeks, so the down trend is happening. 

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Not all entries are tourists....

TAT have a history of calling all arrivals 'tourists'.  Patently wrong.  Like Dr. Yong TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn is a media whore.