Thailand Eyes Senior Tourists for '25, Aiming for 40 Million Visitors

[snoop1130]

File photo for reference only

 

Thailand is setting its sights on retirees and other older tourists as part of a robust plan to attract 40 million international visitors by 2025. This initiative is part of the "Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism & Sports" campaign, anticipated to yield at least 3 trillion baht in revenue. With a focus on enhancing Thailand’s global reputation through exciting events and improved tourist infrastructure, the effort seeks to elevate the nation's status as a premier destination.

 

Associate Professor Saifon Suindramedhi from Thammasat University advocates for this targeted approach. She argues that older tourists, known for their extended stays and higher spending, are crucial to reaching the ambitious visitor and revenue goals. Last year, Thailand hosted about 35.5 million tourists, and snagging the additional 5 million could be more feasible by enticing older demographics.

 

Despite the emphasis on traditional tourism models such as music and sporting events, Saifon believes that these attractions primarily captivate younger visitors, who often have a lower economic impact due to shorter visits. The proposed shift would cater to seniors, with developments fostering elder-friendly environments.

 

 

Creating senior-friendly spaces, Saifon suggests, involves revising urban designs and policies to accommodate slower-paced travel preferences. Older tourists typically appreciate fewer daily activities, secondary city experiences, and a focus on comfort and security. Infrastructure enhancements, like elder-accessible hotels and healthcare facilities, alongside culturally enriching local interactions, are pivotal for delivering satisfying, sustainable tourism experiences.

 

This strategic pivot underscores a broader vision to craft a supportive ecosystem for senior travellers, thus embedding Thailand as a restful yet vibrant retreat, pivotal for achieving its tourism aspirations for 2025, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-02-17

 

 

[DaLa]

Just release the full moon dates to SAGA in the UK, that should take care of a good 15 million.

[bdenner]

Don't forget to tell em you are going to tax their income!

 

Idiots

[blaze master]

They should visit pai.

[TheAppletons]

Yes, especially senior Indians, Russians, and Chinese.

[ikke1959]

Seniors are welcome...... but what changed in the past weeks?? Still limited alcohol sales hours, too expensive low quality wines, forbidden vaping, no volunteer work for long stayers without a workpermit, no able to play cardgames, double pricing in attractions and hospitals... indeed a number 1 destination for the elderly... Unless you are a Chinese one of course

[Banana7]

Senior citizens like to walk but Thailand is one of the most pedestrian unfriendly countries in the world. Less than 10% of the streets have decent sidewalks, that are level, unobstructed and wide enough for 2 people to walk side-by-side. Additionally, traffic laws are only enforced when there is an accident, and most pedestrian crossing lights don’t work and when they do work, rarely do motor vehicles stop for people crossing. Pattaya is a perfect example pedestrian unfriendly infrastructure and support.

[candide]

4 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Despite the emphasis on traditional tourism models such as music and sporting events, Saifon believes that these attractions primarily captivate younger visitors, who often have a lower economic impact due to shorter visits.

It seems he's never been to Pattaya! 

[DonniePeverley]

They appear to be targetting instaed Benidorm British crowd, indian sex pests, and draft dodging Russians. 

 

The thought of any retireee moving to Phuket with all the mayhem going on there is for the birds, or crazy retirees who haven't thought about everything fully. 

 

The tourist policy, with open visas, is ironically turning away quality tourists. 

[TedG]

Thailand should work on senior crosswalks for safety. 

[Puccini]

2 hours ago, TedG said:

Thailand should work on senior crosswalks for safety. 

 

What does a senior crosswalk look like?

 

[JimHuaHin]

Come to dangerously polluted Thailand.

 

Hasten your death.

[StayinThailand2much]

Will they encourage all those senior tourists to come just once a year, spending the average 7 or 8 days per trip?

[StayinThailand2much]

2 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

Come to dangerously polluted Thailand.

 

Hasten your death.

 

Apply for a retirement visa first, with 800,000 in the bank. Thai bureaucrats and bankers will love the extra cash after you cark it... 😆 

[KireB]

I don't think senior tourist will be very positive about their stay.

[MikeandDow]

Another lot of TAT Quality Tourists

[proton]

Drunks, sex tourists, the penniless, Chinese, annoying back packers, even Americans, all welcome 😆

[norsurin]

Just another fantasy.This time 3 trillion baht.Waiting in excitement for the next fantasy.

[newbee2022]

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

File photo for reference only

 

Thailand is setting its sights on retirees and other older tourists as part of a robust plan to attract 40 million international visitors by 2025. This initiative is part of the "Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism & Sports" campaign, anticipated to yield at least 3 trillion baht in revenue. With a focus on enhancing Thailand’s global reputation through exciting events and improved tourist infrastructure, the effort seeks to elevate the nation's status as a premier destination.

 

Associate Professor Saifon Suindramedhi from Thammasat University advocates for this targeted approach. She argues that older tourists, known for their extended stays and higher spending, are crucial to reaching the ambitious visitor and revenue goals. Last year, Thailand hosted about 35.5 million tourists, and snagging the additional 5 million could be more feasible by enticing older demographics.

 

Despite the emphasis on traditional tourism models such as music and sporting events, Saifon believes that these attractions primarily captivate younger visitors, who often have a lower economic impact due to shorter visits. The proposed shift would cater to seniors, with developments fostering elder-friendly environments.

 

 

 

Creating senior-friendly spaces, Saifon suggests, involves revising urban designs and policies to accommodate slower-paced travel preferences. Older tourists typically appreciate fewer daily activities, secondary city experiences, and a focus on comfort and security. Infrastructure enhancements, like elder-accessible hotels and healthcare facilities, alongside culturally enriching local interactions, are pivotal for delivering satisfying, sustainable tourism experiences.

 

This strategic pivot underscores a broader vision to craft a supportive ecosystem for senior travellers, thus embedding Thailand as a restful yet vibrant retreat, pivotal for achieving its tourism aspirations for 2025, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-02-17

 

 

Seniors are unlikely to enjoy the road safety rules, pollution, dirty environment, obstacles to walk on pavements, insufficient Public transport and inability of Thais to speak English/french/German/Italian aso. And the heat!

There are better countries

[hotchilli]

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand is setting its sights on retirees and other older tourists as part of a robust plan to attract 40 million international visitors by 2025.

Numbers again not quality... When will TAT stop, at 50 million, 60 million, 70 million?

[Letseng]

18 hours ago, bdenner said:

Don't forget to tell em you are going to tax their income!

 

Idiots

Tourists don't stay 180 days.

[Aussie999]

12 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

They appear to be targetting instaed Benidorm British crowd, indian sex pests, and draft dodging Russians. 

 

The thought of any retireee moving to Phuket with all the mayhem going on there is for the birds, or crazy retirees who haven't thought about everything fully. 

 

The tourist policy, with open visas, is ironically turning away quality tourists. 

Um, there's more to Thailand than Phuket.

[DonniePeverley]

2 hours ago, Aussie999 said:

Um, there's more to Thailand than Phuket.

 

Not just Phuket. 

 

Go Koh Samui .. boats are packed heading there. The place is crazy packed. 

 

Thailand needs to ban hostels. This is the mecca of cheap tourists. 

[The Old Bull]

Start by having Thai Airways bring back the senior discount Thai Smile used to have.

[lordgrinz]

Senior tourists (aka Elderly), in this case slower and more likely to be injured, traversing a country where safety of movement (via vehicle/walking/street-crossing) is the most dangerous, is a recipe for disaster.

[Aussie999]

10 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

 

Not just Phuket. 

 

Go Koh Samui .. boats are packed heading there. The place is crazy packed. 

 

Thailand needs to ban hostels. This is the mecca of cheap tourists. 

These more to Thailand than Phuket, and Koh Samui.... And Pattaya.

[DonniePeverley]

Just now, Aussie999 said:

These more to Thailand than Phuket, and Koh Samui.... And Pattaya.

 

I went to Pai it was packed out too. 

 

Went to Chiang Mai too, it too was packed out.

 

What's left ?

[Aussie999]

1 minute ago, DonniePeverley said:

 

I went to Pai it was packed out too. 

 

Went to Chiang Mai too, it too was packed out.

 

What's left ?

I think you missed the gist of my comment.. smh

[DonniePeverley]

7 minutes ago, Aussie999 said:

I think you missed the gist of my comment.. smh

 

Where is this utopia in Thailand, with low tourists, but still enough culture, entertainment, amenities, infrustructure around to enjoy. 

[steven100]

come senior citizens   !   bring a good walker frame because the damn footpath will be your TH challenge. Wheelchairs are out ... it's just too dangerous ..   

 

take the bus to Pai and join the party of drunks there ....   they'll love to see you  

 

then off to Khoasan road to say hello to the backpackers ...  smoke some hoochy cooch and then back on the bus as high as a kite  

 

a stop at an authentic thai food market for dinner,  10hr fermented chicken ice cold with cold rice....  

 

then off to Soi Nana for a few beers,  say hi to the locals, get your bill padded then on the bus half cut ...

 

a stop at soi cowboy for a drink and a chat,  get some excitement that you haven't had in 50yrs upstairs for an hour, then more bill padding and back to the bed bug hotel to rest.