Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

By Bright Choomanee

 

Thailand welcomed over 35 million travellers in 2024, with visitors contributing more than 1.6 trillion baht (US$46.8 billion) to the economy, reported the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Tourism Minister Sorawong Thienthong announced that from January 1 to December 29, a total of 35.32 million people visited the country, spending 1.66 trillion baht (US$48.5 billion).

 

Chinese tourists led the influx with 6.70 million arrivals, followed by Malaysians with 4.93 million, Indians with 2.12 million, South Koreans with 1.86 million, and Russians with 1.72 million. Domestically, Thais embarked on 197.53 million trips within the nation, spending 952.77 billion baht (US$27.8 billion).

 

In the last week alone, Thailand saw 943,269 arrivals, marking the highest weekly rate since 2020. Sorawong noted an uptick in both short and long-haul visitors across various market segments.

 

“The past fortnight has seen Malaysia leading with about 100,000 weekly arrivals,” he stated, “followed by tourists from China, Russia, India, and South Korea.”

 

 

Interestingly, there was a significant increase in visitors from Russia, Malaysia, and India by 17.01%, 7.86%, and 5.14% respectively, compared to the previous week. Conversely, tourist numbers from China and South Korea saw a decline, with decreases of 7.86% and 6.51% respectively.

 

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor, Thapanee Kiatphaibool, recognised that the revenue figures fell short of the anticipated 3 trillion baht (US$87.7 billion) due to global economic challenges, conflicts in the Middle East, and gaps in tracking tourists’ online expenditures.

 

“Our target was 2 trillion baht (US$58.5 billion) from international tourism and 930 billion baht (US$27.2 billion) from domestic tourism,” she explained. Despite the shortfall exceeding 400 billion baht (US$11.7 billion), both international and domestic tourist numbers reached the top targets, reported Bangkok Post.

 

The tourism sector generated 2.6 trillion baht (US$76 billion) for the economy in 2023, reflecting a 25% increase compared to the previous year.

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2025-01-02

 

Revenue is down from it's peak pre pandemic. Indiciating the open border policy is allowing in mass cheap tourism. 

 

With crime up, infrustructure costing more, less revenue is calamatous. 

56 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

Revenue is down from it's peak pre pandemic. Indiciating the open border policy is allowing in mass cheap tourism. 

 

With crime up, infrustructure costing more, less revenue is calamatous. 

 

so then....

 

a.  This seems to be the revenue....46 billion USD.

b. But, what is the cost, in billions of USD?

 

Meaning TOTAL cost to the environment, etc.

 

c.  What is the real net benefit, in USD?

 

Just asking....

 

Note:  Just viewing the image included in the topic....who would wish to be a member of this bunch?

 

This works out to less than $1400 per tourist visit

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Tourism Minister Sorawong Thienthong announced that from January 1 to December 29, a total of 35.32 million people visited the country, spending 1.66 trillion baht (US$48.5 billion).

And he knows this how?

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

And he knows this how?

Most likely from information gathered from/supplied by the banking sector. The foreign exchange companies, credit card providers etc. 

Quick search tells me this is 9% of the total GDP. 

How much is from the sex industry?

It's all about the MONEY, MONEY, MONEY!

4 hours ago, Tom100 said:

This works out to less than $1400 per tourist visit

 

What? So much?

 

Remember, each arrival in Thailand is counted as "a tourist" and this also includes the border bouncers. If I make four entries into Thailand in a year, I am counted as four tourists.

Numbers never match the actual number of people visiting Thailand, and they are going for all the cheap tourists just to get the “numbers “ up. Wonder why they came so short on income. 🧐😂🤣

It truly is the greatest place. Everyone in the world wants to come here.

Congratulations Thailand. 

On 1/2/2025 at 4:07 PM, snoop1130 said:

Tourism Minister Sorawong Thienthong announced that from January 1 to December 29, a total of 35.32 million people visited the country, spending 1.66 trillion baht (US$48.5 billion).

 

That's a whopping US$1,373.16 per person/holiday... Hope, there is no 'Mama' shortage... 😁

On 1/3/2025 at 10:59 AM, Puccini said:

Remember, each arrival in Thailand is counted as "a tourist" and this also includes the border bouncers. If I make four entries into Thailand in a year, I am counted as four tourists.

And if you shop at Lotus and don't have one of those member cards your receipt is printed out at the bottom that you are a tourist. Today I looked at the bottom of my receipt and it shows that I'm Russian (NOT).    I always tell the cashier I'm not a tourist but they don't do anything.   Interesting, I wonder what their marketing department does with THAT information.

On 1/3/2025 at 4:42 PM, jcmj said:

Numbers never match the actual number of people visiting Thailand, and they are going for all the cheap tourists just to get the “numbers “ up. Wonder why they came so short on income. 🧐😂🤣

 

True. Just add up the four top countries (with more than 1 million visitors). It doesn't even add up to 18 million, and with no information where the other 17 million tourists came from... Seriously, what are they hiding; 5 or ten million "tourists" from Laos and Cambodia?

22 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

True. Just add up the four top countries (with more than 1 million visitors). It doesn't even add up to 18 million, and with no information where the other 17 million tourists came from... Seriously, what are they hiding; 5 or ten million "tourists" from Laos and Cambodia?

Good point.  Where are the other 17 million tourists coming from? The numbers don't add up. But they never do, do they?

 

3 hours ago, LivingNThailand said:

Good point.  Where are the other 17 million tourists coming from? The numbers don't add up. But they never do, do they?

 

They had great tourism statistics on the TAT website until 18 years, or so. Then the numbers fell, and the statistics weren't published anymore...

Shame they had to visit, rather than stay at home and just send the money.