Picture courtesy: Thai Newsroom

 

Thailand's government has unveiled an ambitious plan to generate 3.5 trillion baht from tourism by 2025, a target primarily reliant on international markets. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is spearheading this drive with a host of year-round events and robust promotions under the banner of the Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Year 2025, aiming to attract 39 million visitors.

 

Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong has expressed optimism about achieving pre-pandemic levels of tourism revenue and arrivals by the end of this year. While the recent numbers fall short of Japan's, Sorawong emphasises that Thailand's focus is not on competing with other countries but on surpassing its own 2019 success.

 

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra's vision extends beyond the official 3 trillion baht target set for TAT, hoping to reach the 3.5 trillion baht mark. To achieve this monumental goal, the government plans to enhance the flow of tourists by increasing inbound flights, introducing an online TM6 immigration form tied to a 300-Baht fee, and improving transport links between primary and secondary cities.

 

The TAT’s promotional strategy revolves around five key concepts:

 

1. Grand Festivity: Emphasising art, cultural, and music events.

2. Grand Moment: Featuring must-visit routes across Thailand's five regions.

3. Grand Privilege: Offering exclusive promotions for tourists.

4. Grand Invitation: Showcasing the country with visits from well-known figures.

5. Grand Celebration: Highlighting anniversaries with nations like China and France.

Key events planned for the first half of the year include the "Maha Songkran: Saneh Thai Carnival" in April and the "Amazing Thailand Love Wins Festival" in June, celebrating the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Thailand.

 

Despite the ambitious targets, tourism operators like Thanet Supornsahasrungsi of the Association of Chonburi Tourism Federation have voiced concerns. Challenges such as the delay in the return of Chinese tour groups, affected by safety perceptions and economic tensions, might hinder attaining the target. Meanwhile, the Chinese economy's sluggish growth and trade tensions with the US are contributing factors.

 

In response, the government plans to bolster domestic tourism through campaigns like "We Travel Together," slated to relaunch in June, which could boost local tourism despite weak domestic purchasing power. Initiatives that enable remote work for travellers could further energise the domestic market.

 

Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, former Thai Hotels Association president, acknowledged the challenges yet remains optimistic that the increase in new hotels, flights, and events could make the 3.5 trillion baht target feasible, provided the strategic plans are effectively implemented, reported TAT News, Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2025-02-04

 

 

When will it ever be enough ?

Whatever happened to sustainable tourism .

maybe one day the locals will push back against  over tourism like they they are in Europe now ? 

10 hours ago, webfact said:

The TAT’s promotional strategy revolves around five key concepts:

 

1. Grand Festivity: Emphasising art, cultural, and music events.

2. Grand Moment: Featuring must-visit routes across Thailand's five regions.

3. Grand Privilege: Offering exclusive promotions for tourists.

4. Grand Invitation: Showcasing the country with visits from well-known figures.

5. Grand Celebration: Highlighting anniversaries with nations like China and France.

Need to add:

6. Grand Healthy Lifestyle: Offering exclusive opportunities to get lung cancer in record time

10 hours ago, webfact said:

To achieve this monumental goal, the government plans to enhance the flow of tourists by increasing inbound flights, introducing an online TM6 immigration form tied to a 300-Baht fee,

 

That'll have people fighting for a seat.

I wonder if they will publish the true figures at the end of the year.

1 minute ago, stoutfella said:

I wonder if they will publish the true figures at the end of the year.

 

555.....nice one.

1 hour ago, stoutfella said:

I wonder if they will publish the true figures at the end of the year.

 

Maybe along these lines:

 

They will have to do this by letting in more cheap mass tourism. Hell on earth for any visitors though and any great experience.

 

They will turn away high quality tourists. 

 

No sense of diversifying their economy like many economic think tanks have told Thailand. Any sort of war, trade war, dip in economy that hurts tourism is going to destroy the Thai economy due to an over reliance on cheap tourism. 

 

Ex Pm Sretta (who is still around it seems by the picture) decision to open up the borders to the word to anyone with a passport, to allow them to stay longer, be it criminals or very cheap tourists was a disgrace.

 

Less is sometimes more. 

15 hours ago, stoutfella said:

I wonder if they will publish the true figures at the end of the year.

Phuket, krabi are very busy, Bangkok and CM also from what I hear. Thailand will break all records this year, 40 million or more. The real question is at what cost?  Traffic horrible, plastic waste everywhere, scams, drunk tourists, and so on.

If they want to achieve more money, and they are not going to attract more wealtheir tourists, they will simply open the flood gates and let in more dross. 

 

This place is over. It's becoming Benidorm. 

By the time the country is a stinky ashpile the people who enact these policies will have fled to western countries

Today's Another ASEAN news headline.

• Thailand Poised to Implement Carbon Tax to Curb Emissions

2 contradictory aims cannot be attained at the same time.

The More outside people come in, more resources(electricity, fuel, and water) will be consumed... 

 

 

 

 

On 2/4/2025 at 1:51 PM, supersomchai said:

Whatever happened to sustainable tourism .

maybe one day the locals will push back against  over tourism like they they are in Europe now ? 

 

If foreign nationals/commercial entities are granted land/building ownership here, it could happen.

Property speculators will flock here and this kingdom will soon end up as bad as the rest of the 1st world(skyrocketing housing price and rental cost).

Locals will certainly be enraged when it takes place.

 

At this moment, Thai government is still clever enough; No foreign Land Ownership(as stated in their national anthem).

 

Land is the primary meaning of "Production".

If it is taken over by foreign interests, the people of any countries will end up as the "Tenant" in own nation.