Thailand is set on capturing the interest of long-haul travellers through a strategy that marries improved airline connectivity and sustainable tourism practices.

 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) unveiled plans to attract visitors from distant markets at the Thailand Travel Mart+ 2024 in Khao Lak.

 

Long-haul markets, including Europe, the Americas, Africa, and the Middle East, are pivotal. Representing 28% of Thailand’s international arrivals, these regions brought in nearly 8 million visitors in 2023.

 

This year, from January to June alone, arrivals from these areas have surpassed 4.3 million. TAT’s goal for 2024 is 9.9 million arrivals, contributing THB769,824 million in receipts.

 

To support this, TAT is focusing on flight connectivity. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand reported a 28% increase in international flights this summer.

 

Several airlines are stepping up, including Air Canada’s new Vancouver-Bangkok route, Condor’s Frankfurt-Bangkok flights, and Finnair’s expansions from Helsinki.

 

Meanwhile, THAI Airways is enhancing its services with new routes from Milan, Oslo, and more, while AirAsia X is eyeing European routes for winter 2024.

 

Additionally, TAT is adapting visa policies to entice longer stays. Visitors from 93 countries will soon enjoy up to 60 days visa-free, compared to the previous 30 days.

 

Plans are underway to introduce long-stay airfares, encouraging stays of at least 21 days, and offering hotel bonus nights and added services.

 

On the sustainability front, TAT aims to lead with initiatives like the Thailand Tourism Awards and Sustainable Tourism Goals (STGs).

 

Collaborating with the US-based Tourism Cares, TAT will host the Tourism Care Summit and Meaningful Travel Fair in 2025, spotlighting sustainable tourism and community involvement.

 

Siripakorn Cheawsamoot of TAT highlighted that travellers are willing to pay more for sustainable practices, urging global standards for Thai tourism.

 

This strategic fusion of extended travel options and a commitment to sustainable practices sets a promising future for Thailand’s tourism.

 

File photo courtesy: Wikimedia

 

 

-- 2024-06-13

 

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48 minutes ago, webfact said:

long-haul travellers

 

So they can implement the long-haul tax

 

Siripakorn Cheawsamoot of TAT highlighted that travellers are willing to pay more taxes for sustainable practices, urging global standards for Thai tourism.

--> there fixed it

 

 

Pita in  /  sreta taxin out

Now there's an oxymoron - Thailand and 'sustainable practices'

Has the 60 day visa actually been implemented yet 2 weeks down the line ? seems immigration didn't get the memo last I heard....🙄🙄🙄

5 hours ago, JoePai said:

Now there's an oxymoron - Thailand and 'sustainable practices'

Agreed, saturation does not result in sustainability...

If you target everyone....rich Indians, poor Chinese, wealthy Saudis, poor Indians, digital nomads, back packers.....then you are not really targeting.....this is just a panicked, blunderbuss approach.

Doesn't Thailand still build coal-fired power plants? Isn't its air pollution caused by unfettered burning of crop stubble?

 

Sustainable, my donkey.

So just exclude the currently most favoured nations, China, Russia, India and Kazakhstan, who also supply maybe 70% of the criminal entrants to Thailand, and you're left with your most valuable markets. Pity you overlooked them for so long.

1 hour ago, bradiston said:

So just exclude the currently most favoured nations, China, Russia, India and Kazakhstan, who also supply maybe 70% of the criminal entrants to Thailand, and you're left with your most valuable markets. Pity you overlooked them for so long.

And in addition, count the cost of chinese scammers and illegal russian workers. Bottom line is, they've stolen more than the legit tourists have brought in. And most of the money they have brought in to buy property etc has been dirty, and just being laundered here. It's a case of not knowing who your friends are Thailand. Kick 'em in the nuts and they'll soon go elsewhere.