Thailand's Tourism Boom: 5.5 Million Visitors and $8B Revenue

[snoop1130]

Picture courtesy of Erik Karits, Unsplash

 

Thailand is enjoying a tourism resurgence with over 5.5 million international visitors arriving between January 1 and February 16, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports led by Sorawong Thienthong. This boom has generated more than 270 billion baht (about $8 billion), boosting the nation's economic recovery.

 

Long-distance travelers have increased by 1.3% in the last week, with Russia, France, and the United States leading the charge. Notably, Russian visitors grew by 7.54% week-on-week.

 

Despite this growth, weekly international arrivals dipped slightly to 784,175, a 6.36% decline from the previous week.

 

 

Malaysia, China, Russia, South Korea, and India rank as Thailand’s top five tourism sources, sustaining strong visitor flows.

 

The ministry projects an increase in visitors soon, driven by upcoming events, improved travel measures, and favorable conditions to attract more tourists to the country, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-02-20

 

 

[DonniePeverley]

2024 tourism statisitics 

 

INDIA - 13 MILLION VISITORS - income generated from international tourism 38 BILLION (without domestic tourism income)

 

Thailand 35 MILLION VISITORS - income generated from international tourism 48 BILLION (however it is not known if Thailand adds domestic tourism to this total)

 

Tell me Thailand isn't just allowing cheap visitors to wreck this place for hardly much net increase revenue. 

 

India also has a soul destroying visa entry requriements to even countries like UK, USA. Thailand's borders are open to the world. 

 

THERE IS NO NEED FOR CHEAP MASS TOURISM. Thailand is turning away quality tourists. 

[hotchilli]

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand is enjoying a tourism resurgence with over 5.5 million international visitors arriving between January 1 and February 16, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports led by Sorawong Thienthong. This boom has generated more than 270 billion baht (about $8 billion), boosting the nation's economic recovery.

Good work, businesses and the girls are working flat-out to keep up

[freedomnow]

11 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

2024 tourism statisitics 

THERE IS NO NEED FOR CHEAP MASS TOURISM. Thailand is turning away quality tourists. 

How are they turning away quality tourists exactly ? Please explain ?

[hotsun]

4 minutes ago, freedomnow said:

How are they turning away quality tourists exactly ? Please explain ?

By allowing india china and russia in. Cant be helped. Thailands neighbors have the worst tourists

[freedomnow]

30 minutes ago, hotsun said:

By allowing india china and russia in. Cant be helped. Thailands neighbors have the worst tourists

and yet again, to repeat "How does that turn away quality tourists ?"

 

[kinyara]

13 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

2024 tourism statisitics 

 

INDIA - 13 MILLION VISITORS - income generated from international tourism 38 BILLION (without domestic tourism income)

 

Thailand 35 MILLION VISITORS - income generated from international tourism 48 BILLION (however it is not known if Thailand adds domestic tourism to this total)

 

Tell me Thailand isn't just allowing cheap visitors to wreck this place for hardly much net increase revenue. 

 

India also has a soul destroying visa entry requriements to even countries like UK, USA. Thailand's borders are open to the world. 

 

THERE IS NO NEED FOR CHEAP MASS TOURISM. Thailand is turning away quality tourists. 

 

The amount of spend is directly related to length of stay, so what was the average length of stay for tourists to India compared to Thailand ? 

 

Thailand's main, and growth, tourism markets are its near neighbours who are typically short stay tourists of 4-5 days on average. This is why an increase in tourist numbers doesn't necessarily equate to a large increase in overall tourism revenue.

[worrab]

I may be complete stupid but can someone please explain to me how they know it has generated more than 270 billion THB? 

[kinyara]

49 minutes ago, worrab said:

I may be complete stupid but can someone please explain to me how they know it has generated more than 270 billion THB? 

 

Currency exchange figures possibly.

[ozz1]

I don't understand one minute they say it's quiet next there is a boom of tourists please make up your minds but it is tat talking so the calculators are working over time

[FritsSikkink]

16 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

 Thailand is turning away quality tourists. 

Quality tourists or 2-week millionaire sexpats?

[DonniePeverley]

21 hours ago, freedomnow said:

How are they turning away quality tourists exactly ? Please explain ?

 

 

Go to Pattaya. It is now predominately catering to cheap tourists from India. If you have money, or a middle class family you will most likely say no to going there now, and head elsewhere. 

 

Go to Phuket. It is now predominately made up of cheap trash tourists, crime, drugs, violence everywhere, Russians. Benidorm Brits. If you have money, middle class with a family you will vacation elsewhere. 

 

That is what i mean. 

 

Go see islands like Barbados, Aruba, St Lucia, upper class islands in the Caribbean. I'd say Sri Lanka still caters for decent tourists too. Maldives. Thailand could cater for a decent sort of customer - but it always pivots to mass trashy tourism. 

[DonniePeverley]

18 hours ago, kinyara said:

 

The amount of spend is directly related to length of stay, so what was the average length of stay for tourists to India compared to Thailand ? 

 

Thailand's main, and growth, tourism markets are its near neighbours who are typically short stay tourists of 4-5 days on average. This is why an increase in tourist numbers doesn't necessarily equate to a large increase in overall tourism revenue.

 

 

The new visas are having many people staying in Thailand now for longer. You see it everywhere. 

 

See Russians in Phuket. Isrealis in Pai. You feel it - change in landscape. 

[BayArea]

2 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

 

 

Go to Pattaya. It is now predominately catering to cheap tourists from India. If you have money, or a middle class family you will most likely say no to going there now, and head elsewhere. 

 

Go to Phuket. It is now predominately made up of cheap trash tourists, crime, drugs, violence everywhere, Russians. Benidorm Brits. If you have money, middle class with a family you will vacation elsewhere. 

 

That is what i mean. 

 

Go see islands like Barbados, Aruba, St Lucia, upper class islands in the Caribbean. I'd say Sri Lanka still caters for decent tourists too. Maldives. Thailand could cater for a decent sort of customer - but it always pivots to mass trashy tourism. 

it's simple. Thailand and TAT don't care about so- called quality tourists, never have. They are only concerned about spending of the baht, period!

quantity over quality has been their formula. TAT loves to tell the world how many tourists they received each month. 

All the while, the incidents of violence, scams, and accidents related to tourism continues to rise each year without any proper resolve from the clowns in charge. 

[kinyara]

5 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

 

 

The new visas are having many people staying in Thailand now for longer. You see it everywhere. 

 

See Russians in Phuket. Isrealis in Pai. You feel it - change in landscape. 

 

Correct, all my friends from the UK have taken advantage of the extension to 60 days visa free this high season. Similar situation with Europeans from the likes of Germany and France in my condo. I would class these as wealthier tourists and you said in an earlier post Thailand is turning away these quality tourists, when in fact it has encouraged them to stay longer by extending visa free.

 

As I said before I very much doubt the high volume near markets like Malaysia, China and India are spending longer here, they are typically short stay visitors. You didn't answer my question about average length of stay in India compared to Thailand, I'm genuinely curious.

[DonniePeverley]

16 hours ago, kinyara said:

 

Correct, all my friends from the UK have taken advantage of the extension to 60 days visa free this high season. Similar situation with Europeans from the likes of Germany and France in my condo. I would class these as wealthier tourists and you said in an earlier post Thailand is turning away these quality tourists, when in fact it has encouraged them to stay longer by extending visa free.

 

As I said before I very much doubt the high volume near markets like Malaysia, China and India are spending longer here, they are typically short stay visitors. You didn't answer my question about average length of stay in India compared to Thailand, I'm genuinely curious.

 

 

The 60 days is also being taken advantage of by Indians, Nigerians, Russians and Chinese too. Altogether meaning far more over crowding than what is normally seen in Thailand.  

[kinyara]

7 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

 

 

The 60 days is also being taken advantage of by Indians, Nigerians, Russians and Chinese too. Altogether meaning far more over crowding than what is normally seen in Thailand.  

 

From the TAT Governor, " Indian tourists to Thailand stay on average 7-8 days with daily spending of around 5,500 baht. "

[Aussie999]

On 2/21/2025 at 12:15 PM, FritsSikkink said:

Quality tourists or 2-week millionaire sexpats?

oh dear... I think your Thailand acquired STI is starting to affect your brain, you seem to see sexpats everywhere, fact is, most tourists do not fit what you think... and I use the term "think" lightly.

[Aussie999]

On 2/22/2025 at 3:49 AM, DonniePeverley said:

 

 

Go to Pattaya. It is now predominately catering to cheap tourists from India. If you have money, or a middle class family you will most likely say no to going there now, and head elsewhere. 

 

Go to Phuket. It is now predominately made up of cheap trash tourists, crime, drugs, violence everywhere, Russians. Benidorm Brits. If you have money, middle class with a family you will vacation elsewhere. 

 

That is what i mean. 

 

Go see islands like Barbados, Aruba, St Lucia, upper class islands in the Caribbean. I'd say Sri Lanka still caters for decent tourists too. Maldives. Thailand could cater for a decent sort of customer - but it always pivots to mass trashy tourism. 

I agree, concerning Pattaya, and Phuket, the only reason I would go to either, most likely Phuket, as it's just down the road, from Hua Hin, 555, is if family, or friends come over, and they've never been.... they then realise what they never really missed.

[Mr Meeseeks]

The article presents a rosy picture of the Thai economy, but that is far from the case. 

 

The Thai corporate sector has a debt burden of 129.4% of GDP, and it can no longer rely on private funding, which means a crash is coming. 

 

 

Good article in the BP today about it, but most will ignore it and sleepwalk into oblivion as usual. 

 

[FritsSikkink]

On 2/23/2025 at 8:40 AM, Aussie999 said:

oh dear... I think your Thailand acquired STI is starting to affect your brain, you seem to see sexpats everywhere, fact is, most tourists do not fit what you think... and I use the term "think" lightly.

I live and work here for a long time and seen loads of them.

Keep your moronic remark for yourself.

 

[Aussie999]

1 hour ago, FritsSikkink said:

I live and work here for a long time and seen loads of them.

Keep your moronic remark for yourself.

 

the moronic remark comes from you... yes I admit, there are some that come for sex, as they do in many countries... but I stated most do not.... you have no way to prove your accusations, they only manifest themselves in your moronic mind...

[FritsSikkink]

5 hours ago, Aussie999 said:

you have no way to prove your accusations,

Have a look in Bangla road Patong, Walking street Pattaya, Nana / Patpong / Soi Cowboy Bangkok to start with. Many more in the country. Loads of bogan's too.

Troll

[Aussie999]

15 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

Have a look in Bangla road Patong, Walking street Pattaya, Nana / Patpong / Soi Cowboy Bangkok to start with. Many more in the country. Loads of bogan's too.

Troll

yes, but not everyone in those areas are after sex, and also are only a small number of total tourist, you are simply being selective in in choosing areas to back up your comments, but in reality, they represent a small percentage, eg, walk down soi Bangla, how many are chatting with the girls, compared to those sightseeing, or simply having a drink... you are so very wrong, in your accusations, and you need to grow up.

[bamnutsak]

On 2/21/2025 at 9:24 AM, worrab said:

I may be complete stupid but can someone please explain to me how they know it has generated more than 270 billion THB? 

 

 

Based on articles of this type published over the last twenty-five years, which sometimes mention this...

 

they use an Average Spend per Tourist figure, presumably based on historical data, and then just multiply the two numbers.

 

That's my best guess - because they sometimes mention this average spend figure in press releases.

 

They have a different ASPT for international and domestic 'tourists'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[StayinThailand2much]

Wow, that's 49,090 baht for one person's holiday! 😲

 

Are people sleeping on the beach again, splurging on Mama noodles, or both?