tourist arrivals in thailand

• Travel, Tourism & Hospitality ›

Leisure Travel

Foreign tourist arrivals Thailand 2015-2023

In 2023, the number of tourist arrivals amounted to around 28.15 million, which drastically increased from the previous years, which were approximately 11 million. The tourism industry in Thailand was one of the most negatively affected industries by the COVID-19 pandemic.   Thai tourism industry rebound post-CIOVID-19 The vibrant culture, mouthwatering dishes, and breathtaking scenery make Thailand a top destination in the region. With the globally wide-spread COVID-19 outbreak, the Thai tourism industry was heavily affected due to global travel restrictions. However, since the pandemic was brought under control and restrictions were lifted, the sector showed signs of rebound and was expected to regain its momentum. In 2022, the Thai government eased COVID-19 restrictions, resulting in a significant increase in the annual volume of airport passengers in Thailand in 2023.  Thailand's visa waivers program

The primary factor that tourists take into account when planning their travel is the travel expense. An increase in the price of travel was the most common concern about traveling among visitors to Thailand.  In order to subsidize the expenses and increase the number of international tourists visiting the country, the Thai government has waived visas for citizens of China and India in 2024, and intends to provide visa-free travel to citizens of several additional nations in the future.

Number of international tourist arrivals in Thailand from 2015 to 2023 (in millions)

Additional Information

Show sources information Show publisher information Use Ask Statista Research Service

Asia, Thailand

2015 to 2023

*Preliminary figure.

Other statistics on the topic Tourism industry in Thailand

Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

• Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Greece 2019-2022
• Travel and tourism: share of GDP in the EU-27 and the UK 2019-2022, by country
• Leading international travel markets in Greece 2019-2023, by arrivals
• Leading inbound travel markets in Crete, Greece 2019-2022, by number of visits
• Immediate access to statistics, forecasts & reports
• Usage and publication rights
• Download in various formats

You only have access to basic statistics.

• Instant access  to 1m statistics
• Download  in XLS, PDF & PNG format
• Detailed  references

Business Solutions including all features.

Statistics on " Travel and tourism in Greece "

• Distribution of travel and tourism expenditure in Greece 2019-2022, by type
• Distribution of travel and tourism expenditure in Greece 2019-2022, by tourist type
• Travel and tourism's total contribution to employment in Greece 2019-2022
• Number of inbound tourists in Greece 2005-2023
• Average duration of stay by inbound tourists in Greece 2022, by country
• Number of inbound tourist visits to Greece 2019-2022, by region
• International travel receipts in Greece 2003-2023
• International tourist expenditure in Greece 2019-2023, by purpose of trip
• Number of international air arrivals in Athens, Greece 2010-2023
• Number of international air arrivals in Thessaloniki, Greece 2010-2023
• International air arrivals to South Aegean region of Greece 2010-2023, by island
• Number of international air arrivals in Crete, Greece 2010-2023
• International air arrivals on the Ionian Islands, Greece 2010-2023, by island
• Leading inbound tourist markets in the Ionian Islands, Greece 2019-2023
• Total number of domestic trips in Greece 2015-2021
• Number of domestic trips in Greece 2015-2021, by type
• Number of domestic overnight trips in Greece 2015-2021, by purpose
• Number of domestic overnight trips in Greece 2015-2021, by transport
• Domestic tourism spending in Greece 2019-2022
• Number of outbound tourists from Greece 2005-2023
• Leading outbound travel destinations from Greece 2016-2023
• Outbound travel expenditure in Greece 2003-2023
• Outbound travel expenditure by Greek residents 2016-2023, by destination
• Number of tourist accommodation establishments in Greece 2013-2022
• Number of nights in tourist accommodation in Greece 2013-2022
• Number of tourist accommodation establishments in Greece 2022, by type
• Number of hotels and similar accommodation in Greece 2013-2022
• Travel and tourism revenue in Greece 2017-2027, by segment

Other statistics that may interest you Travel and tourism in Greece

• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Greece 2019-2022
• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism: share of GDP in the EU-27 and the UK 2019-2022, by country
• Basic Statistic Distribution of travel and tourism expenditure in Greece 2019-2022, by type
• Basic Statistic Distribution of travel and tourism expenditure in Greece 2019-2022, by tourist type
• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism's total contribution to employment in Greece 2019-2022

Inbound tourism

• Premium Statistic Number of inbound tourists in Greece 2005-2023
• Premium Statistic Leading international travel markets in Greece 2019-2023, by arrivals
• Premium Statistic Average duration of stay by inbound tourists in Greece 2022, by country
• Premium Statistic Number of inbound tourist visits to Greece 2019-2022, by region
• Premium Statistic International travel receipts in Greece 2003-2023
• Premium Statistic International tourist expenditure in Greece 2019-2023, by purpose of trip

Inbound tourist destinations

• Premium Statistic Number of international air arrivals in Athens, Greece 2010-2023
• Premium Statistic Number of international air arrivals in Thessaloniki, Greece 2010-2023
• Premium Statistic International air arrivals to South Aegean region of Greece 2010-2023, by island
• Premium Statistic Number of international air arrivals in Crete, Greece 2010-2023
• Premium Statistic Leading inbound travel markets in Crete, Greece 2019-2022, by number of visits
• Premium Statistic International air arrivals on the Ionian Islands, Greece 2010-2023, by island
• Premium Statistic Leading inbound tourist markets in the Ionian Islands, Greece 2019-2023

Domestic tourism

• Premium Statistic Total number of domestic trips in Greece 2015-2021
• Premium Statistic Number of domestic trips in Greece 2015-2021, by type
• Premium Statistic Number of domestic overnight trips in Greece 2015-2021, by purpose
• Premium Statistic Number of domestic overnight trips in Greece 2015-2021, by transport
• Basic Statistic Domestic tourism spending in Greece 2019-2022

Outbound tourism

• Premium Statistic Number of outbound tourists from Greece 2005-2023
• Premium Statistic Leading outbound travel destinations from Greece 2016-2023
• Premium Statistic Outbound travel expenditure in Greece 2003-2023
• Premium Statistic Outbound travel expenditure by Greek residents 2016-2023, by destination

Accommodation

• Basic Statistic Number of tourist accommodation establishments in Greece 2013-2022
• Basic Statistic Number of nights in tourist accommodation in Greece 2013-2022
• Basic Statistic Number of tourist accommodation establishments in Greece 2022, by type
• Premium Statistic Number of hotels and similar accommodation in Greece 2013-2022
• Premium Statistic Travel and tourism revenue in Greece 2017-2027, by segment

Further related statistics

• Premium Statistic Change in number of visitors from Mexico to the U.S. 2018-2024
• Premium Statistic Countries with the highest number of inbound tourist arrivals worldwide 2019-2022
• Basic Statistic Number of international tourist arrivals in India 2010-2021
• Premium Statistic Passenger traffic at Dubai Airports from 2010 to 2020*
• Premium Statistic International tourist arrivals in Europe 2006-2023
• Premium Statistic Annual revenue of China Tourism Group Duty Free 2013-2023
• Premium Statistic Countries with the highest outbound tourism expenditure worldwide 2019-2022
• Basic Statistic Foreign exchange earnings from tourism in India 2000-2022
• Basic Statistic Number of Marriott International hotels worldwide 2009-2023
• Basic Statistic International tourism receipts of India 2011-2022

Further Content: You might find this interesting as well

• Change in number of visitors from Mexico to the U.S. 2018-2024
• Countries with the highest number of inbound tourist arrivals worldwide 2019-2022
• Number of international tourist arrivals in India 2010-2021
• Passenger traffic at Dubai Airports from 2010 to 2020*
• International tourist arrivals in Europe 2006-2023
• Annual revenue of China Tourism Group Duty Free 2013-2023
• Countries with the highest outbound tourism expenditure worldwide 2019-2022
• Foreign exchange earnings from tourism in India 2000-2022
• Number of Marriott International hotels worldwide 2009-2023
• International tourism receipts of India 2011-2022

International tourism, number of arrivals - Thailand

Selected Countries and Economies

All countries and economies.

• Privacy Notice
• Access to Information

This site uses cookies to optimize functionality and give you the best possible experience. If you continue to navigate this website beyond this page, cookies will be placed on your browser. To learn more about cookies, click here.

Thailand Tourist Arrivals

Tourist arrivals in thailand decreased to 2982721 in march from 3352302 in february of 2024. tourist arrivals in thailand averaged 1484545.55 from 1997 until 2024, reaching an all time high of 3930800.00 in december of 2019 and a record low of 0.00 in april of 2020. source: ministry of tourism & sports, thailand, tourist arrivals in thailand is expected to be 3350000.00 by the end of this quarter, according to trading economics global macro models and analysts expectations. in the long-term, the thailand tourist arrivals is projected to trend around 3300000.00 in 2025 and 3200000.00 in 2026, according to our econometric models.,   markets,   gdp,   labour,   prices,   money,   trade,   government,   business,   consumer,   housing,   taxes,   climate.

Thailand Tourism Statistics for 2021

The Ministry of Tourism of Thailand has published the latest Tourism Statistics for the past year 2021 . As you know, Thailand started the Phuket Sandbox program on 1st July 2021 and later on, on 1st November , started the Test and Go program. Those 2 options allowed tourism to travel back to Thailand.

Feel free to use the search box to find some specific nationality:

Some interesting data from the Thailand Tourism Statistics 2021

▪️ The total of tourists that arrived to Thailand on 2021 was 427,869 people. Far from the 39.9 million of 2019.

▪️ 54% of them arrived in December.

▪️ 75% of them arrived after the Test and Go was approved.

▪️ 58% of them were from Europe.

▪️ Only 13,043 tourist were from China. In 2019 they were 10.9 million.

▪️ 24,899 tourists were from Germany, making it the country’s largest source of visitors, followed by United Kingdom (21,311 pax) and Russia (21,205 pax).

Let us design your trip to Thailand. Find out more!

➡️ tailor made holidays to thailand ⬅️.

© All Rights Reserved - Mundo Nomada Travel Co.,Ltd. 2022

• Kanchanaburi
• Sangkhlaburi
• Mae Kampong
• Golden Triangle
• Mae Hong Son
• Buriram (Isan)
• Khon Kaen (Isan)
• Koh Phi Phi Islands
• Koh Surin islands
• Similan Islands
• Hong Island
• Koh Yao Noi
• Koh Yao Yai
• Koh Pha Ngan
• Ang Thong Islands
• Khao Yai National Park
• Doi Inthanon National Park
• Khao Sok National Park
• Phu Kradueng National Park
• Dragon Crest Mount in Krabi
• Khao Kho: the Thai Alps
• Mount Phu Chi Fa
• Wild Elephants at Kui Buri
• Kaeng Krachan National Park
• ⛔️ Covid19 Restrictions
• ☀️ Best Time to Visit Thailand
• 🌧 Rainy Season in Thailand
• 🛄 Airports in Thailand
• 💉 Vaccinations for Thailand
• 🚍 Transportation In Thailand
• ✈️ Airlines in Thailand
• 🚂 Trains in Thailand
• 🇹🇭 Thai Language for Travelers
• 🌏 Cultural things you need to know
• 📋 15 days Trip Itinerary
• 🎒 25 days: Undiscovered Thailand
• 🔝 15 Must see places
• 🙋‍♀️ Solo Female Travel
• 🏝️ 30 Best Thai Islands
• 🍜 10 Best Thai Dishes
• ☸️ 20 Most Amazing Temples
• 🧘‍♀️ 20 Best Things to Do
• 🏖️ 25 Best Thai Beaches
• 📸 45 Drone Images of Thailand
• 📈 Tourism Statistics 2021
• 🐊 The Lizard in a 7 Eleven
• 🚆 Night Train: Bangkok to Chiang Mai
• 🏍️ Mae Hong Son Loop Road Trip
• 🍈 Floating Markets
• 🚣🏾‍♂️ White Water Rafting
• 🥾 Hiking in Thailand
• 🏳️‍🌈 Gays in Thailand
• 🏕️ Hill Tribes of Thailand
• 🔮 9 Thai Superstitions
• 💆 Traditional Thai Massage
• 🥊 Muay Thai in Bangkok
• 🙏 Vipassana Meditation
• 🧘 Yoga in Thailand
• Thailand for Families
• Tailor Made Trips
• Test and Go Packages

Discover Thailand with us!

Tailor made travel packages around thailand designed by our local travel experts.

• Change to white mode
• Change to normal mode
• Change to text yellow mode

Statistics on tourists traveling to Thailand in 2022

       After the COVID-19 outbreak began to improve, the Thai government started to open up the country for tourists, in the hope of creating a bustling tourism atmosphere again, resulting in the number of tourists entering the country in 2022 to increase significantly.

       The Thailand Tourism Outlook data showed details on the number of foreign tourists arriving in Thailand, and it was found that the number of tourists arriving in Thailand in the first 10 months of 2022 (January-October) reached 7,163,465; compared with the previous year, the percentage of the increase was a stunning 6,65,0.53%, a total increase of 7,057,348 from 2021.

The Top Five Countries Traveling to Thailand

1. Malaysia          1,291,381 people

2. India                  698,757 people

3. Singapore          381,940 people

4. Laos                   345,709 people

5. Vietnam             340,670 people

The Top Three Percentages of Tourists, by Continent

1. Asia                  41.74%

2. Europe             20.90%

3. East Asia          11.63%

       According to the above information, it is obvious that Asian countries have the highest number of foreign tourists traveling to Thailand, with the most visitors from Malaysia. 

Data updated on May 20, 2018 Source :Tourism Authority of Thailand Tel : +66 2250 5500

Most Popular

How to buy train tickets online

Bringing Thai or foreign currency into or out of the Kingdom

Thailand Biggest Fair 2023 (6-14 May)

Travel calendar – Pilates Day Thailand 2023 (6-7 May 2023)

Travel calendar – Beauty and the Beast in concert (20-21 May 2023)

Travel calendar –“Ilmu Teluh” art exhibition (Till 6 May 2023) (May)

Countries/Territories entitled for visa exemption for a visit of not exceeding 30 days

• Tourist Arrivals In Thailand By Country

Thailand is the leading tourist destination in Southeast Asia with its tourism industry spanning close to 70 years of history. Tourism contributes about 9 to 10% to the total GDP. The number of tourists visiting Thailand has been on a steady rise throughout the years reaching up to 30 million visitors annually, although the numbers sometimes decline due to unrests and security threats. However, Thailand’s tourism industry remains an all-time high, especially during the December-January peak festive season. Thailand is a unique place to visit for its natural, cultural and historical heritage and the warm tropical climate which is favored by tourists escaping the cold winters found in their countries. The rising medical tourism industry has attracted tourists who come for holidays while getting medical care.

China has had the largest number of tourists visiting Thailand over the decades with the number expected to keep rising. In 2016, about 8,757,466 Chinese tourists visited Thailand making up for more than 25% of the total number of tourists. During 2017's first quarter, China recorded a total of 2,439,076 tourists bound for Thailand. A large number of Chinese tourists are linked to the low-price package tours which enable small budget travelers to visit Thailand regularly. However, the Thai government has discouraged these package tours as they limit the amount of spending by the tourists, earning little revenue despite a significant number of visitors.

Malaysia is the second leading country in the world and the leading ASEAN country which sends tourists to Thailand with a total of 3,533,826 visitors in 2016 and 813,865 visitors between January and March 2017. Close relations between the two countries as well as the promotion of Thailand’s tourist attractions across ASEAN countries has played a significant role in increasing the number of Malayan visitors. The shared Buddhist traditions also attract Malaysian tourists who wish to attend pilgrimage and festivals outside their own country.

Russia is the leading western country which sends the highest number of tourists to Thailand and the third leading overall. In 2016, approximately 1,089,992 Russians toured Thailand, and another 488,987 Russians visited the country between January and March 2017. Long-term close relations between Russia and Thailand have contributed to the longstanding preference for Thailand as a tourist destination by Russian tourists. Thailand’s government is however concerned with the number of Russian tourists which is considered too small.

South Korea

South Korea and Thailand have bilateral relations, with Thailand being considered a top destination for South Korean tourists who visit in large numbers. South Korea makes up about 6% of the foreign tourists in Thailand. About 1,464,629 South Koreans toured Thailand in 2016 and another 463,278 in 2017’s first quarter. Most of the Korean tourists come in group tours and only about 20% visit Thailand as independent tourists.

Future Prospects

With the aim of improving Thailand’s tourism industry, the Tourist Authority of Thailand has put forward several measures such as banning cheap tourist packages which in turn will improve and encourage tourist spending. The goal of the initiative is to promote richer tourists to spend more while in Thailand. The authority markets Thailand through initiatives such as experience Thainess campaign and use of the slogan “Amazing Thailand.” Other countries with high numbers of tourists to Thailand include Japan, Laos, India, Germany, the US, the UK, France, Singapore, Vietnam, and Australia.

• World Facts

More in World Facts

The Largest Countries In Asia By Area

The World's Oldest Civilizations

Is England Part of Europe?

Olympic Games History

Southeast Asian Countries

How Many Countries Are There In Oceania?

Is Australia A Country Or A Continent?

Is Turkey In Europe Or Asia?

Thailand tops ASEAN tourism market, with 28 million-plus arrivals in 2023

Thailand beat other asean countries in tourist numbers last year, welcoming more than 28 million arrivals, or 154% more than the previous year, tourism and sports minister sudawan wangsuphakijkosol said..

Explaining the numbers, she said foreign tourists visiting the kingdom in 2023 had risen by 11.06 million to 28.09 million or 153.94% when compared to 2022.

In comparison, Vietnam – which is also a popular tourist destination among the 10 ASEAN members – saw 12.06 million visitors last year, marking a surge of 344.2% from 3.66 million a year earlier.

Singapore saw 12.37 million in 2023, up by 130% from 5.37 million in 2022. Cambodia recorded 5.45 million tourists last year, 139.5% more than 2.27 million a year earlier. This was followed by the Philippines, which saw the number of tourists rise by 105.38% to 5.45 million, up from 2.65 million a year earlier.

Brunei welcomed a total of 82,109 tourists last year, a jump of 345.61% from 18,426 a year earlier.

The minister said that on average, ASEAN countries saw an increase of 153% in tourist arrivals last year, which she attributed to the success of two promotional tourism campaigns launched jointly by the member states.

Tourism ministers from the 10 member states met at the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024 in the Laotian capital of Vientiane last week and agreed to promote quality, responsible and sustainable tourism to improve the region’s competitiveness in the global market.

This, Sudawan said, was in line with the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan, which promotes sustainable and inclusive tourism among member countries. The plan outlines the vision for ASEAN tourism over the decade of 2016-2025: “By 2025, ASEAN will be a quality tourism destination offering a unique, diverse ASEAN experience, and will be committed to responsible, sustainable, inclusive and balanced tourism development, to contribute significantly to the socioeconomic well-being of ASEAN people.”

Sudawan said the meeting in Vientiane followed up on measures and activities introduced to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic fallout, under the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan. The meeting encouraged member countries to review and implement certain activities in line with the strategic plan to bring about rapid recovery of the tourism sector.

The next meeting of the ASEAN tourism ministers is scheduled to be held on January 25 next year in Malaysia under the theme of “Unity in Motion: Shaping ASEAN’s Tourism Tomorrow”.

MOST VIEWED

Second vietnamese studies centre in thailand launched, khmer boxing federation bans canadian fighter for muay thai discrimination, tat hopes to invite 4 famous chinese stars to promote thai tourism, foreign minister maris sengiampongse to attend brics dialogue in russia, thaksin challenges prawit in high-stakes political showdown.

Tourism Statistics Thailand 2000-2024

• Tourism Statistics

Last update this page : May 2024.

See graph of quarterly arrivals updated at bottom of page, updated till first quarter of 2024.

Thailand has restarted its tourism industry for real in the middle of 2022, which showed arrivals of 11,153,026 people by the end of that year. Expectations were very high for 2023. Arrivals were steadily above 2 million visitors each month of the year and even passed the three million mark in December 2023. A total of 28,150,016 visitors arrived. This was an increase of 152.4% over the previous year. In the last year before Covid (2019) there were 39,916,251 visitors, so the present number is still 29.5% lower.

The number of arrivals in the first quarter of 2024 stood at 9.37 million visitors. This was just -13.2 % when compared to the first quarter of 2019. So the positive trend of arrivals is still continuing, but not rapid enough for the Thai government. A lot of incentives (mainly visa on arrival and longer lasting visa) are being issued.

This renewed interest in Thailand (despite geopolitical and financial crises abroad) was splendid. Nevertheless, the Thai government was not fully impressed. The revenue from tourism seems to be needed, and various measures were taken to promote the country for foreign tourists. Mainly it has become easier to get visas and allowed length of stay for citizens of many countries has been extended. See quarterly arrivals at the bottom of this page. Arrivals in the first quarter of 2024 numbered 9.37 million visitors.

The top 5 of countries whose inhabitants visited Thailand in 2023 (between brackets arrivals in 2019, and % change) : 1. Malaysia : 4,626,422 (4,274,458 ; + 8.2 %) : lots of day trips from the country bordering Thailand. 2. China : 3,524,095 (11,138,658) ;: - 68.4 %) 3. South Korea : 1,660,042 (1,880,465 ; -11.7 %) 4. India : 1,628,542 (1,961,069 ; -17 %) 5. Russia : 1,482,611 (1,481,837 ; +0.0005 %) Europe : 5,962,234 (6,531,220 ; -8.7%) Notes : China is clearly lagging other countries. We suspect Chinese people are traveling less in general, maybe because of the local economic situation. There was also a shooting incident in Bangkok, where a Chinese visitor was killed in a shopping mall, but we do not think this can have been a major factor. Anyway, visa are now easier for Chinese (and other) people to obtain. When reading local newspapers and listening to local news, Thailand is swamped by Russian visitors. In effect, there are about exactly the same number of visitors as before the pandemic (so relatively speaking...). European tourists have resumed visiting more than Asian tourists on average.

Tourist Arrivals last few Years before the Covid-19 Pandemic :

The number of tourists visiting Thailand increased from 35.35 million in 2017 to 38.28 million in 2018 and then 39.92 million in 2019. The increase in visitors from 2018 to 2019 was limited to 4.24 %, which actually was less than Thai authorities expected. The ever rising number of tourists arriving came to an abrupt end from March 2020 onwards. 2020 saw only a total of 6,702,396 tourists, almost all arriving in the first three months of the year. From March 2020 to end August 2020 no tourists were allowed in. Thereafter in the last three months of 2020 a total of 10,822 tourists arrived under very special stringent conditions.

Lots of people in the hospitality sector lost their jobs and/or are in dire straits. As 2020, 2021 was a dismal year with hardly any visitors arriving, but we had the 'opening' of the country as from 1 November 2021. This appears to have been an audacious move, since at the time of the announcement of the initiative, a new wave of Covid-19 (the delta strain) was hitting the country hard, much more so than during the initial infections during 2020. But it likely needed to be done, since lots of people (and a lot of smaller SME companies) have a significantly reduced income, and the government has limited resources to continue providing for them. However the impact of this relaxation of travel conditions was limited, with little effect on number of arrivals. Except for the last three months of 2021, monthly arrivals were between 5,000 and 20,000 each month, which for Thailand is a very low number. As seen in the graph before, some more tourists started coming during the last quarter of 2021. Things improved especially from the middle of 2022, when most restrictions were lifted.

In usual circumstances, tourism plays an important role in the Thai economy. The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC, recently renamed from NESDB) stated begin February 2019 that Tourism accounted for 18.4 % (or close to one fifth) of the GDP of Thailand. It had risen from a level in 14.2 % of GDP just four years earlier. Thailand expected ever more income from its tourism sector. It was never enough. However, as we know now, the Covid-19 pandemic put an end to that, at least for the last few years.

A relatively recent development has been the ever increasing number of Chinese mainland visitors. They surpassed 10.5 million visitors in 2018, making up 27.5 % of the total. Their number increased further to 10.99 million in 2019, and the increased number of Chinese visitors was quite obvious on Bangkok's streets and in its shopping malls.

2022-2023 : TAKE-OFF ?

There were modestly more visitors during the first quarter of 2022. 497,693 tourists arrived. As a result of reduced restrictions for travel, both in Thailand and worldwide, the number of visitors 'skyrocketed' to 1,582,257 in the second quarter of 2022. The number of arrivals further increased to 3,608,135 in the third quarter (when travel to Thailand for all practical purposes was unrestricted) and to 5,464,991 in the fourth quarter. The 4th quarter saw a reemergence of the Covid-19 pandemic in China, but soon after restrictions in China suddenly were lifted. The 4th quarter saw only 54,146 Chinese visitors. However, they started coming in earnest during the 1th Quarter of 2023, with 517,270 arrivals. Their reappearance is already quite visible in Bangkok. Nevertheless, since December 2022 till September 2023, the number of arrivals has been a stationary or slowly increasing. However, the last quarter (especially arrivals in December increased) saw more than 8 million arrivals.

Long-Term View : Boom Years for Thai Tourism Industry

In 2001 Thailand received 10.13 million visitors. In the early years of the millenium there was a slow rise, later a very fast increase in tourists arrivals. 18 years later in 2019, we had 39.8 million visitors, so the number quadrupled in that time period.

With 10,994,721 visitors in 2019 China provided the largest number of tourists (27.6% of total), while the country hardly provided any visitors in the first years of this millenium.

Along the way, since the turn of the century there have been a number of temporary setbacks for the Thai tourism industry. You can sometimes see their effect on the number of visitors for a certain year in the graphs on this page. After a health scare, a political uncertainty, or a natural disaster, 'traditionally' the number of visitors decreases during just 2 or 3 months, and then picks up again. Memories from travelers are short.

The following occurred the past 2 decades :

• Post-Tsunami 2004
• Global recession and riots in Thailand 2009
• Riots and political uncertainty in 2010. Major flooding of a large part of Thailand and northern Bangkok end 2011.
• Political demonstrations end 2013 and ongoing into 2014. Anti-goverment demonstrations occupied most of the first half of 2014, and were followed by declaration of martial law, and a military (bloodless)
• Coup d'Etat on 22 May 2014. Bombing of the Erawan Shrine on 17 August 2015.
• Crack-down on zero-dollar (Chinese) tour groups at the end of 2016 had a significant effect on Chinese arrivals. This persisted during the first quarter of 2017, but overall the number of visitors kept on rising in 2016 and 2017.
• 2018 : boat accident in July in Phuket with 47 Chinese casualties. Chinese arrivals decreased during the subsequent months.
• Covid-19 Pandemic from early 2020 till 2023 (?)

It is safe to say that health scares and the global recession had a more pronounced impact than local political uncertainly, riots and demonstration. Thailand experiences an unstable political scene, but overall fortunately the tourism industry continued to grow with only a moderate hick-up during the first three quarters of 2014.

Tourism Industry in Thailand. Domestic Component

Data on tourism income in 2019 and arrivals by nationality and region for the same year.

Interestingly, the tourism sector does not only depend only on foreign visitors. The number of domestic tourists may actually dwarf the number of foreign tourists,but domestic tourists do spend much less per day and their trips are shorter.

Some numbers :

As noted above, the number of international arrivals increases year by year till 2019, bringing in lots of revenue. Averaged over three years from 2017 to 2019 (before Covid), the international traveler earned Thailand 49,661 Thai baht per person (let's say 50,000 baht).

The number of domestic travelers is actually much higher, and reached almost 167 million in 2019. Averaged over the same three years, a domestic traveler spends 6.389 Thai baht on his trips.

When looking at the larger picture, it is obvious that domestic travel is a very important component. From 2017 to 2019, revenue from domestic travel amounted to 35.8 % of total revenue gained from tourism. Effects are underway to revive the Thai tourist industry, after the Covid-19 crisis, by encouraging domestic travel, and giving government sponsored promotions, however with only modest success.

Quarterly Arrivals from 2013 to 2023 :

Thailand has a tourist season when more visitors arrive. As you can see below, the number of visitors is almost consistently higher during the first quarter and the last quarter of each year. This coincides with a more pleasant climate in the country ('cold' season), and less favorable weather conditions in Europe, and large parts of Asia, like China and Japan.

From the graph you may see that the beginning of 2014 (political uncertainty) saw less than expected arrivals.

A military coup was staged and martial law was declared by the Royal Thai Army on 20 May 2014. The above contributed further to a decrease in travel arrivals during 2014, spread over the first three quarters of the year. During the first 9 months of 2014 around 2,000,000 less tourists arrived in Thailand, or a decrease of -10.28% when compared with the same period of 2013. But afterwards, the tourism industry had a very good period, with substantial increases in the number of arrivals. Military rule continued for 5 years, without further adverse effects on the tourism industry. The military government was followed by a 'civilian' government under the same prime minister in 2019.

The first quarter of 2020 saw a dramatic decrease in the number of visitors. This was totally linked to the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic. A dramatic decrease to ZERO occurred in the second quarter and also in the third quarter of 2020. As mentioned, a very limited number of tourists arrived during the 4th quarter under stringent conditions.

As noted above, from the second quarter of 2020, till the third quarter of 2021 (this covers no less than 18 months), hardly any visitors came to Thailand. We estimate loss of income for the country at 75+ billion U.S. Dollar. It was decided (as in many other countries around the same time) to open for tourists again, still under stringent conditions, as of 1 November 2021.

As can be viewed below, there was a modest increase in visitors during the last quarter, especially during the month of December, which looks promising for 2022. Of the 427,869 visitors to Thailand in 2021, no less than 250,948 (58.6 %) came from Europe. Europeans may be simply dumber, less infomed, or more audacious, than people from other regions ?

The first quarter of 2022 saw further very modest improvement in the number of tourists arriving in Thailand. A total of 497,693 tourists arrived, the highest number since the first quarter of 2020, but still a far cry of the number of visitors in the years before (between 8 and 10 million visitors per quarter). The number of arrivals further improved to 1,582,257 in the second quarter of 2022. At least during the 3rd and 4th Quarter of 2022, we saw marked improvement in the arrival numbers, measuring 3.608 million visitors in the 3rd quarter, and 5.465 million visitors in the last quarter of 2022. The first quarter of 2023 saw 6,477,538 arrivals. Recovering of tourism to Thailand is on track. Possible negative factors : higher prices of airline flights, higher prices of hotels (promoted by some), poor air quality, especially in the North of Thailand, and in Bangkok, mostly in the period between December and April.

Interestingly, the second quarter usually has less visitors to Thailand than the first quarter. This trend is not clearly visible in 2023 , with visitors in the first quarter numbering 6,477,538 and in the second quarter slightly lower at 6,437,153. The third quarter saw a further modest increase in visitors to 7.09 million visitors, and in fourth quarter we passed the 8 million mark (8.095 million visitors).

In 2024 the upward trend continues, with arrivals increasing to 9.37 million visitors. This is only behind the number of arrivals in 2018 and 2019 (-13.2 % compared to the latter year). The government is desperately promoting tourism, as the overall economy is not performing as desired. Look for the large green triangle in the chart below.

Numbers show number of tourist arrivals per quarter of each year (in millions). Source data : Department of Tourism, Thailand. Since a few years data are available at website of Ministry of Tourism and Sports .

P.S. : Wikipedia has a dedicated page covering the Covid-19 Pandemic in Thailand , which we surely can not improve upon.

Thailand beats Q1 tourism target with 6.15 million arrivals

Tourism group sees 30m foreign visitors in 2023

PUBLISHED : 29 Mar 2023 at 11:54

UPDATED : 29 Mar 2023 at 11:58

WRITER: Reuters

Thailand beat its target for tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2023, recording 6.15 million visitors in the January to March 27 period, government spokesoman Traisuree Taisaranakul said on Wednesday.

The government had set a target of 6 million arrivals in the three months ending in March this year.

The government urged hospitality businesses, especially hotels and restaurants, to charge fair prices after they were seen doubling at some outlets as more tourists arrived, Ms Traisuree said.

Chamnan Srisawat, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, an industry body, said on Wednesday that at least 30 million tourists were expected to visit the country this year and spend 1.5 trillion baht (US$43.74 billion).

• Airlines juggle demand as fares skyrocket

The government estimates between 25 million and 30 million arrivals for the full year.

Tourism is a key driver of Thailand's economy, accounting for 12% of GDP before the Covid-19 pandemic. The Southeast Asian country is hoping to generate 1.5 trillion baht from up to 30 million tourists this year.

• Tourism council

RECOMMENDED

Bitcoin etfs post longest run of inflows as token nears record, knowing your customer, plan rejig raises share of renewables, gulf, ais unite for highland solar networks, europe, us 'fearful' of chinese evs.

Thai carrier, resort optimistic on the Maldives

Tourism minister eager to add b500bn in revenue, foreign tourist arrivals jump 38% in first 5 months.

Thailand reduces quarantine period for international arrivals from 1 October 2021

Bangkok, 30 September, 2021 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) would like to provide an update that the quarantine time for fully vaccinated international travellers arriving in Thailand, including pilot reopening destinations through the Alternative Quarantine (AQ) system, will be reduced from 14 to 7 days, starting from tomorrow (1 October, 2021).

7-day Quarantine

For travellers who have been fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved by Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) or the World Health Organisation (WHO) no less than 14 days before their travel date, they are required to present the vaccine certificate (either the original or a printed copy) at the point of entry into Thailand.

During the quarantine, they are required to undergo two RT-PCR tests – first upon arrival on Day 0-1, and the second before finishing the quarantine period on Day 6-7.

10-day Quarantine

Travellers who have not been vaccinated, without a vaccine certificate, or partially vaccinated, and who arrive in Thailand by air will be required to enter a 10-day quarantine, and undergo two RT-PCR tests – first upon arrival on Day 0-1, and the second on Day 8-9.

The 10-day quarantine will also be applied to those who arrived by air before 1 October, going back until 18 September. For example, arrivals during 18-20 September could leave the AQ system on 1 October. Arrivals on 30 September, before 18.00 Hrs, can now leave on 10 October, and those arrived after 18.00 Hrs. can leave on 11 October.

14-day Quarantine

Travellers who have not been vaccinated, without a vaccine certificate, or partially vaccinated, and who arrive in Thailand by land will be required to enter a 14-day quarantine, and undergo two RT-PCR tests – first upon arrival on Day 0-1, and the second on Day 12-13.

In order to be eligible to enter in Thailand, vaccinated international travellers still need to have all of their advance arrangements in good order for arrival and entry.

These include a valid visa or re-entry permit, a Certificate of Entry (COE) issued by the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate, a COVID-19 health insurance policy, confirmation of Alternative Quarantine (AQ) hotel booking, and a medical certificate with a RT-PCR laboratory result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected issued no more than 72 hours before departure.

Interested vaccinated foreign tourists are recommended to enquire at the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate in their home country for more details.

TAT Newsroom

Thailand covid-19 situation as of 30 september, 2021, 11.30 hrs, phuket sandbox faqs, related articles.

Thailand Product Update at TTM+ 2024 highlights “Your Stories Never End”

TTM+ 2024 welcomes global players with “Amazing Thailand: Your Stories Never End” theme

This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to collect information about how you interact with our website and allow us to remember you. We use this information in order to improve and customize your browsing experience and for analytics and metrics about our visitors both on this website and other media. To find out more about the cookies we use, see our Cookies Policy .

If you decline, your information won’t be tracked when you visit this website. A single cookie will be used in your browser to remember your preference not to be tracked.

Thailand Visitor Arrivals by Nationality: Total

View thailand's thailand visitor arrivals by nationality: total from jan 2022 to apr 2024 in the chart:.

What was Thailand's Thailand Visitor Arrivals by Nationality: Total in Apr 2024?

Related indicators for thailand visitor arrivals by nationality: total, accurate macro & micro economic data you can trust.

Explore the most complete set of 6.6 million time series covering more than 200 economies, 20 industries and 18 macroeconomic sectors.

Thailand Key Series

Buy selected data, more indicators for thailand, request a demo of ceic.

CEIC’s economic databases cover over 200 global markets. Our Platform offers the most reliable macroeconomic data and advanced analytical tools.

Explore our Data

UN Tourism | Bringing the world closer

The first global dashboard for tourism insights.

• UN Tourism Tourism Dashboard
• Language Services
• Publications

share this content

• Share this article on facebook
• Share this article on twitter
• Share this article on linkedin

UN Tourism Data Dashboard

The UN Tourism Data Dashboard – provides statistics and insights on key indicators for inbound and outbound tourism at the global, regional and national levels. Data covers tourist arrivals, tourism share of exports and contribution to GDP, source markets, seasonality and accommodation (data on number of rooms, guest and nights)

Two special modules present data on the impact of COVID 19 on tourism as well as a Policy Tracker on Measures to Support Tourism

The UN Tourism/IATA Destination Tracker

UN Tourism Recovery Tracker

• International tourist arrivals and receipts and export revenues
• International tourism expenditure and departures
• Seasonality
• Tourism Flows
• Accommodation
• Tourism GDP and Employment
• Domestic Tourism

International Tourism and COVID-19

• The pandemic generated a loss of 2.6 billion international arrivals in 2020, 2021 and 2022 combined
• Export revenues from international tourism dropped 62% in 2020 and 59% in 2021, versus 2019 (real terms) and then rebounded in 2022, remaining 34% below pre-pandemic levels.
• The total loss in export revenues from tourism amounts to USD 2.6 trillion for that three-year period.
• International tourist arrivals reached 89% of pre-pandemic levels in 2023 and 97% in Q1 2024

COVID-19: Measures to Support Travel and Tourism

Tourist arrivals in Thailand surge 43% to 3.1 million in October

• Facebook SHARE

More than 3.1 million foreign tourists arrived in Thailand in October, an increase of 43.55% over September, said Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob today (Wednesday).

Arrivals by air accounted for 96.36% of all arrivals. 2.2 million (75%) arrived at Suvarnabhumi international airport, followed by 400,000 at Don Mueang Airport.

October 1 st saw Thailand officially enter a post-pandemic period, accompanied by the end of three years of COVID-19 travel restrictions, to which the spike in tourist arrivals is being attributed.

The Thai Immigration Bureau confirmed today that a widely shared image on TikTok, showing a large number of arriving tourists queuing at the immigration checkpoints in Suvarnabhumi airport, is real.

Pol Maj-Gen Cherngron Rimphadee, deputy spokesman for the bureau, said that the image is believed to have been taken during the afternoon of October 30 th , when about 20 flights per hour were arriving, bringing about 4,000 passengers.

He said immigration officials usually take about 45 seconds to process the passports and visas of each passenger.

Meanwhile, Government Spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is pleased that Thailand was voted the “Best Leisure City in Asia-Pacific” for the sixth consecutive time in the Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Awards 2022.

The prime minister thanked all agencies concerned for their efforts to promote tourism and to make Bangkok the best leisure city in the Asia-Pacific region.

Related Posts

Producer claims fake “Itcha” weight loss product tested by MSD

Extensive coral bleaching found in 21 marine parks in Thailand

German tourist in fatal fall from Pattaya hotel

We've detected unusual activity from your computer network

To continue, please click the box below to let us know you're not a robot.

Why did this happen?

Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy .

For inquiries related to this message please contact our support team and provide the reference ID below.

This website is managed by Siam Legal International - a law firm in Thailand

Latest Thailand Entry Requirements

After two years of dealing with Covid, international travel is returning to normal. To help welcome visitors back to the Land of Smiles, the Thai government lifted its final restrictions on July 1st, 2022.

From July 1st, the following changes have been implemented for all international travelers.

• Foreigners do not need to show proof of Covid Insurance.
• All mandatory hotel quarantine has been removed.
• Thailand Pass is no longer required for foreign travelers entering Thailand.
• Vaccinated travelers do not need to provide proof of vaccination to Thai authorities before arriving.
• Unvaccinated travelers (including children traveling with unvaccinated parents) will need to complete an RT-PCR or Professional Antigen Test (Pro-ATK) 72 hours before departing for Thailand. Proof does not need to be uploaded before traveling.
• Airlines and Thai Immigration will do random checks to confirm travelers meet Covid prevention requirements (vaccination or Covid test).

Below is a full list of what international travelers need before entering Thailand.

Required Documents for Travel to Thailand

Please have the following documents ready.

• Passport with at least six month validity
• Visa or visa exemption qualification
• Buy Thailand Travel Insurance
• Boarding pass to be presented at Passport Control
• Hotel booking confirmation if asked by Immigration Officer
• Note: Vaccination record no longer required

Incorrect documents will delay the entry screening by rules from the Thai immigration bureau and its Thai immigration officials.

Buy Your Insurance Now

Passport Validity / Visas

The first thing to check before planning to travel to Thailand is the validity of your passport. International travel requires that your passport is not expiring within six months of your travel date. If you have less than six months left on your passport, you cannot enter Thailand.

If you are planning to travel in the future, check your passport early so you know if you need to apply for a new one or not. It is best to check with your local embassy about how long it will take to receive your new passport. As people look to travel again, passport departments are swamped with new applications and this is causing a backlog in many countries.

There are several visas available to foreigners who are planning to visit Thailand. The visa you need will depend on where you are from, your purpose of travel, and how long you intend to stay.

Visa Exemption

A foreign visitor may enter Thailand under the Visa Exemption Program . Nationalities under the Visa Exemption Program may enter Thailand without a visa from a Thai Embassy or Consulate.

Upon arriving in Thailand, most nationalities who are part of the Visa Exemption Program may stay for up to 30 days. Certain nationalities can arrive as part of this program, but for a shorter time. It is best to check the country exemption list and confirm how long you can visit Thailand without needing to apply for a Visa.

Tourists arriving under visa exemption are eligible to extend their stay for up to a further 30 days by visiting a local Thai Immigration Office. The cost to extend is approximately 2000 baht.

There is often confusion about Visa Exemption and “Visa on Arrival”. Visa on Arrival is a 15-day visa for travelers from India,  China, and 16 other countries. If you do not find your country on the Visa Exemption list, it is best to check the Visa on Arrival list.

There are some important things to note for Visa on Arrival:

• A passport must be valid for at least 30 days.
• The purpose of the visit is strictly tourist.
• A visitor must show an address in Thailand where they will be staying.
• A traveler must have a confirmed return flight.
• Must show proof of funds to the value of 10,000 baht per person or 20,000 baht for a family.
• A fee of 2000 baht is paid on arrival. The fee must be paid in cash and in Thai baht.

Tourist Visa and Special Tourist Visa (STV)

Foreigners may also apply for a Tourist Visa from a Thai embassy or consulate. There is the normal 60-day tourist visa that can be extended for additional 30 days, or the 90-day Special Tourist Visa (STV), which can be extended for 90 days twice at a local immigration office. There are certain requirements needed for the STV, but it allows a visitor to potentially stay in Thailand for 9 months. The Special Tourist Visa is currently scheduled to halt applications in September.

Contact your local Thai Embassy to verify what documents are needed to complete the process. When your visa is approved, the Embassy will place a sticker on your passport, so allow time for potential postage.

For those entering Thailand for a different purpose of stay, they need to obtain a Thai visa from their local Thai Embassy or Consulate prior to coming to Thailand.

Non-Immigrant Visa

Foreigners may apply for a wide range of long-term non-immigrant visas:

• Non-immigrant B Visa – for conducting business or employment
• Non-immigrant O visa – for visiting Thai spouse and family
• Non-immigrant ED visa – for students of recognized institutions in Thailand and their Parents or Legal guardian
• Non-immigrant O retirement visa – for those who wish to retire in Thailand
• Non-immigrant OA and OX visa – for those who wish to obtain a Thailand retirement visa for a long stay (it differs from type O visa)

The above visas can be organized at a local Thai Embassy or Consulate. The paperwork can be quite involved, but there are companies that can help.

Siam Legal International is a reputable company in Thailand that has offered visa assistance to foreign visitors for years. They are well versed in Thai immigration policies and processes. If you would like to streamline your long-term stay in Thailand, it is worth contacting them.

Thai Elite Visa

If you wish to make Thailand easily accessible for many years to come or are perhaps thinking of relocating permanently, it is worth having a look at the Thai Elite Visa.

The Thai Elite Visa allows foreign citizens to live in Thailand for 5, 10, or even 20 years. Thai Elite members do not need to worry about some of the eligibility criteria that are needed when applying for other long-term visas.

The Thai Elite visa is an exclusive visa that offers a host of benefits to holders. If you want to enjoy “Thai life” for the long term, you can read more about the Thai Elite Visa .

Proof of Vaccine or Testing

How a visitor enters Thailand will still depend on their vaccination status.

Vaccinated Travelers

Vaccinated travelers do not need to provide proof of vaccination to Thai authorities before arriving. A vaccinated traveler will need to have a copy of their vaccination certificate either printed or on a digital device and be able to present it if asked.

Thailand does not require visitors to have had a third booster shot. 2 shots (1 shot for Jansen) is considered fully vaccinated and accepted.

Unvaccinated Travelers

Unvaccinated travelers will need to complete an RT-PCR test or Professional Antigen Test (Pro-ATK) within 72 hours before boarding a flight in their departure country. They will need to have a copy of the test result and be able to present it if asked.

The RT-PCR and Pro-ATK test must be completed by a medical professional and a test report received. The home ATK (RAT) self-test is not acceptable for entering Thailand.

Vaccination and Testing for Children

The testing requirement for children under 18 depends on the vaccination status of their parents. Children traveling with vaccinated parents do not need to complete any RT-PCR or Pro-ATK test before entering Thailand. Children traveling with unvaccinated parents will need to complete the same test as their parents within 72 hours of departing their home country.

It is important to note that many airlines are still asking for proof of vaccination or a Covid test before boarding flights. If you cannot produce one of these documents, you might not board the flight.

Though foreigners no longer need to provide evidence of testing or vaccination prior to arriving in Thailand, they are still required. Thai authorities are conducting random checks of international passengers and if a vaccination certificate or test result cannot be shown, a visitor will not be allowed to enter Thailand.

Insurance has become a dirty word during Covid. Seasoned travelers have always understood the importance of having comprehensive Travel Insurance when traveling abroad. Travel insurance protected travelers from unexpected incidents like:

• Medical emergencies
• Personal injury & accidents
• Missed or delayed flights
• Damage to belongings
• Lost luggage

It was one of those things that people hoped they would never need but regretted not having when needed.

During the Pandemic, proof of insurance became mandatory when visiting countries like Thailand. Over time, people stopped referring to insurance as “Travel Insurance” and always referred to it as “Covid Insurance”. Because you had to have it, it was another hoop to jump through.

The good news is that you no longer need to provide proof of “Covid Insurance” to enter Thailand. But it is recommended because all the things listed above can still happen, and Covid has not disappeared completely.

Foreign visitors are not eligible for free medical care in Thailand if something should happen. Whether it be an accident or personal injury, if a visitor needs medical help, or has a canceled flight, they will need to cover any expenses themselves. Depending on the severity, this could be hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.

Buying good Travel Insurance shouldn’t break the bank. Protecting yourself is cheaper than medical bills, new flights, and replacing lost luggage.

You can buy Travel Insurance from many companies. But if you are looking for coverage that is designed for Thailand, is trusted by Thai authorities and medical institutions, and offers a helpline with people who speak the local language and know the country’s procedures, it is worth checking out AXA Thailand .

Their policies are well priced, straightforward, offer many benefits to its customers, and can be approved in minutes.

Get your travel insurance here: https://u.axa.co.th/Sawasdee_Siamlegal

Hotel and Proof of Address Updates

Previously, a foreign visitor would complete an Arrival Card (TM6) before entering Thailand. This requirement has been temporarily removed as part of a new initiative by the Thai government.

A visitor no longer needs to provide proof of a hotel booking before departing their country, but will still need to provide an address when passing through Passport Control in Thailand. This address can be a hotel, home, or friend’s address.

This is especially true with people arriving on a pre-approved visa from a Thai Embassy or Consulate.

From July 1, travelers are no longer required to book a SHA+ hotel and undergo an RT-PCR test on arrival. Most hotels have removed their SHA+ quarantine packages, but you will still see the SHA+ badge displayed on hotels.

It is recommended to browse hotels in Thailand on Agoda.com before arriving as it is easier to organize transport to your first night’s rest if pre-booked.

Thailand Pass

From July 1st, 2022, foreign travelers no longer need to apply for a Thailand Pass before entering Thailand. The system is still in place but is now a platform where visitors can notify the Thai authorities and medical facilities if they are diagnosed positive for Covid during their stay.

If you need to access the Thailand Pass system while in Thailand, please visit https://tp.consular.go.th/ and register by filling in your personal details on the Thailand Pass registration page.

International Arrivals

Travelers do not need to provide any proof of flights before leaving their home country.

There is a lot of discussion about whether a return flight needs to be booked when entering Thailand. Technically, all visitors should have a return flight booked. However, you will not always be asked to present evidence of a return flight.

If a visitor is entering Thailand with a pre-approved visa, or Visa on Arrival, they will often be asked to present details of their exit flight. Sometimes a visitor did not have a return flight and had to book a flight on the spot before being processed through Passport Control. To avoid this, it is best to book an exit flight that can be changed. You can always change your plans once in Thailand.

Domestic flights

There are no longer any restrictions on domestic flights and travel. When entering Thailand at an international terminal, a traveler is free to transit to a domestic flight right away. “Sealed” flights have been removed.

Domestic airlines will not always ask for proof, but it is best to have your vaccination certificate or Covid test result on hand in case you are asked to show it.

Siam Legal has received reports from potential clients that some hospitals are creating difficulties for them until full payment is made for their medical expenses. Also, foreigners have allegedly been threatened with lawsuits for not settling their medical bills before being discharged. Using out-of-country policies can be problematic. We recommend using insurance providers headquartered inside Thailand with a proper cover to avoid any undesirable outcomes.

Siam Legal International, a premier law firm in Thailand, recommends purchasing the proper insurance and so endorses AXA Insurance for your travel to Thailand insurance needs.

HERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT POINTS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE PURCHASING TRAVEL INSURANCE

• Please review the details of any insurance before purchasing to understand if the policy has adequate cover. Cheap policies with inadequate levels of cover can lead to significant personal liability, and scenarios where policy holders incur hundreds of thousands of baht in out-of-pocket medical expenses have been reported. There are significant financial risks to being underinsured during your stay in Thailand.
• These policies do not cover medical costs from accidents (like motorcycle accidents) or common unexpected illnesses (common fever or food poisoning). Best to pay a few baht more for the peace of mind that comes from having proper coverage.
• AXA covers medical expenses (outpatient and inpatient) for accidents and illnesses, including COVID-19. Other insurance coverage might not.
• AXA also covers telemedicine and teleconsultation, which may be required during the quarantine period of any traveler.

Thai hospital staff are familiar with AXA cover, which should prevent any inconvenience during hospital admission or medical treatment from your hotel room. AXA Thailand also offers 24/7 local support during your stay in Thailand.

You can buy your Thailand Travel insurance today at:

https://u.axa.co.th/Sawasdee_Siamlegal

List of approved covid-19 vaccines.

As of December 1, the MoPH has approved the following vaccines:

• Pfizer–BioNTech or Comirnaty
• Janssen or Janssen/Ad26.COV2.S
• AstraZeneca or Covishield
• Sinopharm or COVILO
• CoronaVac or SinoVac
• Sputnik Lite

How to Obtain Travel Insurance

Though COVID-19 insurance is no longer mandatory for entry to Thailand, it is recommended to have comprehensive Travel insurance for the duration of your stay. Good travel insurance covers not only medical expenses relating to Covid but also accident cover, personal damage, loss of possessions, and missed or delayed flights.

It is best to purchase insurance before you travel. The easiest way to buy your policy is online through a reputable insurance provider. The insurance company will provide you with the all-important certificate of cover that you can present to authorities or medical professionals if you need to make a claim.

You may also be asked to present this certificate to the airline before they will allow you to onboard. It’s quick and easy to do online. You can choose your length of policy from 7, 15, 30, 60 days, and 180 days. Just make sure that the policy covers your entire period of stay in Thailand as foreigners are not eligible for free medical care in Thailand and insurance companies will not cover claims for existing conditions.

You may purchase AXA COVID-19 travel insurance within a few minutes. Check them below.

You can buy budget insurance here: https://www.siam-legal.com/axa-insurance

How to Open a Bank Account in Thailand

Siam Legal offers and provides aid for a smooth and hassle-free way to open up a Thai bank account.

• You will receive help in opening a savings/current bank account
• You will receive a Bankbook and a debit/ATM card
• Online Banking (Thai mobile number is required)

Requirements

• Guarantee letter (to be provided by Siam Legal)
• The applicant may book our service online.
• Our staff will prepare the application and necessary documents for the bank and arrange an appointment with the applicant.
• The applicant will collect the application form and documents from the Siam Legal Bangkok office and proceed to the specific bank branch. Opening the account at the bank takes 1 to 2 hours.

Service Fee

Our service fee is 150 USD for opening a Thai savings account in Bangkok.

City Travel Guide

• How to Travel to Bangkok
• How to Travel to Phuket
• How to Travel to Pattaya
• How to Travel to Chiang Mai
• How to Travel to Samui
• How to Travel to Hua Hin

Useful Links

• Best COVID-19 Insurance for Foreigners  
• Thailand Elite Visa – long term visa option for Thailand
• How to Travel to Thailand in 2022 – Your Ultimate Guide

Related Posts

How to Travel to Thailand in 2024

Best Places to Retire in Thailand for Couples

How to Retire in Thailand for Couples

Thailand Travel Restrictions 2023

• My View My View
• Following Following
• Saved Saved

Thailand targets tourism boost with longer stays for visitors, students, 'digital nomads'

• Medium Text

Sign up here.

Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanant and Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by Martin Petty

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. New Tab , opens new tab

World Chevron

French parties scramble to prepare for snap ballot, weigh prospect of far-right rule

French political parties were racing on Monday to field candidates and discuss possible alliances following President Emmanuel Macron's shock decision to call a snap election after a bruising loss in Sunday's vote for the European Parliament.

• NEWS & STORIES
• Inside Thailand
• Visa Facilitation Measures to Stimulate Thailand’s Economy and Tourism

The Cabinet approved a number of visa and travel facilitation measures to stimulate Thailand’s economy and promote its tourism, following a proposal by the Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on 28 May 2024.

The measures are divided into three stages. 

Five short-term measures expected to take effect in late June or early July 2024 include the following:

1) Extending visa exemption for tourists and short-term business visitors for a period of up to 60 days (from the period of 30 days) for passport holders from 93 countries/ regions; 

2) Increasing the number of countries/regions whose passport holders qualify for Visa on Arrival (VOA) from 19 to 31;

3) Introducing the new Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) for long-term travel, “digital nomads,” and participants in certain cultural activities, with a period of stay up to 180 days per visit, on a multiple-entry basis within 5 years;

4) Improving the non-immigration visa to facilitate the travel of international students and those nearing graduation in Thailand;

5) Establishing a “Visa Policy Committee” to develop Thailand’s entry processes and improve the efficiency of immigration procedures.

Three medium-term measures are as follows:

1) Grouping and streamlining non-immigrant visa types;

2) Lowering health insurance requirements and expanding the list of countries eligible for long-term non-immigrant visa applications;

3) Implementing the e-Visa system at all embassies and consulates by December 2024.

One long-term measure includes the introduction of the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system, which will be implemented in line with the e-Visa system.

Foreign Office, The Government Public Relations Department, Office of the Prime Minister 9 Rama VI Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand Fax : (+66) 2618 2358 E-mail : [email protected]

Website Policy  |  Privacy Policy  |  Security Policy  |  Disclaimer  | Cookies  Internet Explorer v.11+, Microsoft Edge, Firefox v.47.0+, Chrome v.51+

• The Star ePaper
• Subscriptions
• Manage Profile
• Change Password
• Manage Logins
• Manage Subscription
• Transaction History
• Manage Billing Info
• Manage For You
• Manage Bookmarks
• Package & Pricing

Thai government aims to lift 2024 GDP growth to 3% by tourists and major investments

Monday, 10 Jun 2024

Related News

Myanmar workers in Thailand arrested after allowing online gamblers and money launderers use their bank accounts

Vietnam becomes second biggest durian exporter to china; and just behind traditional champions thailand, thailand's progressive move forward party braces for court case that might dissolve it.

BANGKOK (Bloomberg): Thailand is counting on one million extra foreign tourist arrivals and faster government spending to help boost economic growth this year to the fastest pace in six years.

The country targets 36.7 million travellers this year, one million higher than the previous estimate to help boost gross domestic product growth to 3%, Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira told reporters after the meeting of economic ministers on Monday.

The latest GDP projection was higher than forecasts by the planning agency and the central bank, and would be the fastest pace since 2018, if it materialises.

The government also vowed to more than double the disbursement rate of 850 billion baht ($23 billion) it had allocated for public investment in the fiscal year ending September 30, Pichai said. The target is to bring the rate up to at least 70% from the current pace of about 41%, he said.

"We can’t sit still,” with such low growth estimate, Pichai said. "If we want to survive, our growth needs to reach 5% over the long term. But we will need to start with boosting this year’s growth first.”

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is under pressure to revive South-East Asia’s second-largest economy whose growth had lagged neighbours for much of the past decade. A recent opinion survey showed that more than half of the Thais polled were unhappy with Srettha’s performance.

In the early days of his administration, the premier had aspired to ramp up economic expansion to 5% or even higher during his term, aided by a 500-billion baht ($13.5 billion) cash handout stimulus that has yet to be implemented.

Thailand’s economy, which has grappled with an average of below 2% expansion in the past decade, grew only 1.5% in the first quarter.

Pichai said the Board of Investment will also push for as much as 40 billion baht worth of projects to start by the end of this year, coming from about 800 billion baht worth of approved investment applications.

As for helping improve access to credit especially for small companies and vulnerable sectors, Pichai said the Government Savings Bank is planning to lend 100 billion baht to commercial banks at 0.1%, so that the banks can re-lend to specific groups at an interest rate of 3.5%-5%, he said.

-- ©2024 Bloomberg L.P.

Tags / Keywords: Thailand , GDP , Bigger Growth , Tourism , Investments

Found a mistake in this article?

Report it to us.

Thank you for your report!

Discover how you can save more with foodpanda’s pandapro!

Next in aseanplus news.

Trending in AseanPlus

Air pollutant index, highest api readings, select state and location to view the latest api reading.

• Select Location

Source: Department of Environment, Malaysia

Others Also Read

Best viewed on Chrome browsers.

We would love to keep you posted on the latest promotion. Kindly fill the form below

Thank you for downloading.

We hope you enjoy this feature!

Tuesday, 22 Jan 2019 --> Last Updated : 2024-06-10 20:52:00

Group News Sites

Sunday Times

Tamil Mirror

Middleast Lankadeepa

Life Online

Home delivery

Advertise with us

Mobile Apps

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 Today's Paper

Sri Lanka fails to cross 900,000 milestone in tourist arrivals end May

5 June 2024 02:02 am - 14     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A group of tourists viewing paintings displayed by local artists down Greenpath in Colombo - Pic by Kushan Pathiraja

By Nishel Fernando 

Sri Lanka failed to cross the 900,000 milestone in tourist arrivals in the five month period ended in May, as the country trailed the arrival target by 13 percent or 133,983 arrivals at the end of the month. 

In May, tourist arrivals to island nation jumped by 34 percent Year-on-Year (YoY) to 112,128 tourists.  However, Sri Lanka missed the target set by Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) for the month by 14.4 percent or 18,984 arrivals in the month.

Accordingly, the country failed to cross the 900,000 arrival milestone as predicted by the authorities. In the five-month period, Sri Lanka welcomed 896,779 tourists falling behind the target of 1.03 million tourists in the period. 

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairman Priantha Fernando earlier expressed confidence on crossing 900,000 tourist arrivals at end of May. 

In May, daily average tourist arrivals plummeted to 3617 when compared to 4967 arrivals in the previous month as the off-season kicked in. 

India accounted for 28.8 percent of the tourist arrivals in the month as United Kingdom and Maldives clinched second and third spots with a 7.2 percent share in arrivals each. China and Germany were the fourth and fifth largest source markets in the month accounting for 6.7 percent arrivals in the month each.

Russia fell to seventh spot after occupying top three spots consecutively in recent months which is likely due to loss of charter flights from Russia this summer due to higher prices stemming from increased hotel charges and higher landing charges at Mattala International Airport. However, the Cabinet of Ministers recently decided to award a joint venture consisting of Indian and Russian firms to manage the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport.

So far during the year, Sri Lanka failed to meet the tourist arrivals target set by SLTDA. From January to May period, Sri Lanka missed the tourist arrival targets by 13.9 percent, 8.4 percent, 11.4 percent, 18.5 percent and 14.4 percent respectively. However, the SLTDA so far hasn’t shared any intentions to revise the arrival target for the year and remains confident of crossing 2.3 million arrivals for the year.

SLTDA Chief Fernando recently urged the government to grant the proposed visa-free travel policy for 67 countries in order to meet mid to long term tourism ambitions. Meanwhile, Thailand most recently became the latest country in  expanding  visa free travel  to woo tourists. Thailand now allows visa free travel from 93 countries, including Sri Lanka.

RECOMMENDED WORLD NEWS

Retired soldiers left for Russia to make ends meet: Defence Secy.

21 minute ago

New laws planned to control wetland destruction and illegal constructions

2 hours ago

Railways Department yet to calculate losses from strike

3 hours ago

Police hunt for fraudster who defrauded Rs. 17.5 million in job scam

5 hours ago

Train strike called off

6 hours ago

Minister urges union to end strike and return to duty

Most viewed in news, modi-led bjp loses majority in big setback.

Sri Lankan missions getting stripped of authority in issuing visas

Ruling is a significant step for all female victims in Sri Lanka: Caroline Jonsson

Foreign train passenger dies after being hit by a tunnel wall

SC quashes Presidential Pardon granted to Jude Jayamaha in Royal Park case

Live updates : Adverse weather - 10 persons killed, 5 missing

  Comments - 14

Shera Wednesday, 05 June 2024 09:05 AM

It's not going to get better unless things change drastically. Visa fee increase is a big turn off as are the recent cases of abuse and harassment of foreign visitors. Visitors are also constantly cheated by taxi and tuk tuk drivers. No one wants their vacation ruined with such unpleasant incidents and inconveniences.

Reply 0       0 0       0 -->

Terrence K Wednesday, 05 June 2024 09:06 AM

All statistics are mere numbers and when there is failure always ways and means are developed to overcome this because there is a concentrated drive to achieve the target but when victory comes everything comes to a standstill with all people resting on their laurels. So numbers are just an indicator but it should be borne in mind what is necessary is to have the correct ATTITUDE and untiring efforts in times of failure for the plan in numbers will change and we could see results much more than what was anticipated!!!!!!!

Moron Wednesday, 05 June 2024 09:07 AM

dont worry, Floods

Citizen k Wednesday, 05 June 2024 09:28 AM

We have competent people in Sri Lanka ,why do we always award foreign companies?The answer is obvious.

lionel Wednesday, 05 June 2024 10:28 AM

Even blind Freddy can understand what is wrong. The massive visa fees, extremely high entrance fees to places of interest, very very poor facilities at major transport hubs, no real entertainment hubs for tourists to hang around (look at Thailand etc) are big turn offs. You can only market green hills, and elephants so much. Tourists need much more than that. What the corrupt politicians and public servants are interested in is making a buck for their own benefit. They do not even have simple intelligence to understand you can get three four times of what you loose in visa fees by scraping it. Unfortunately, no one, I mean no one, in SL will listen. Look no further. SL will never change.

Ahmed Wednesday, 05 June 2024 11:01 AM

What else we can expect after increasing visa fee on tourists ? Why would a tourist select Sri Lanka paying expensive visa fees when he have enough visa free destinations to travel in this world?

Dominic Letranche, France Wednesday, 05 June 2024 11:10 AM

I am an homosexual and my husband and I would like to visit Sri Lanka, but we all know about the backwarded mentality and violence against the LGBT community and women. We are married for almost 20 years.

Ahmed Wednesday, 05 June 2024 04:07 PM

You better stay where you are. Saving the younger generation of Sri Lanka from LGBT culture is more important than money and tourism. It's ok to loose a tourist like you

Reply : 0       0 -->

Name Wednesday, 05 June 2024 10:34 PM

Unfortunately this is true. However, the younger generation in cities are less discriminatory against LGBT people. But it's still a small pool of people. If you still want to visit Sri Lanka the safest way to enjoy your experience is to pretend to be straight, but honestly safer if you avoid Sri Lanka altogether.

Sandra Wagner Wednesday, 05 June 2024 11:31 AM

Well no surprise just increase the visa fees more and have foreigners paying more to sites where sometimes they are so ripped off even experienced in trains. Learn how to grow and have a long term vision instead of just focusing of short money. See what other nations do e.g. Thailand, Mauritius, and many more. They have the facilities for tourism and know how to treat them. Lucky not all Sri Lankans are like this and the nation is in fact a beautiful one with many nice people.

Ron Wednesday, 05 June 2024 11:47 AM

Sri lanka is a beautitful country its a paradise its self unfortunately people that are in most of important sectors high officials are the biggest failures due to lack in experince professionalism country with somuch potential must benifit compare with somany other countries that have very less natural beauty and history doing we'll sri lanka need to find proper directions to explore the beauty and all other attractions In difrent ways with possitive approach to attract many tourist around the globe we must get behind in all asspects to explore and experience like no other..beauty of travel expo

Danny Wednesday, 05 June 2024 12:10 PM

Blame the Visa process. In London there is big queue outside a small travel agency. All are Sri Lankan diaspore to take photographs and apply for SL visa! They say, it is a cumbersome process and so help needed and paying for this. Earlier with VFS, Indian Visa applicants had the same issue and now the Indian government made it simple via online. The same VFS, arrived in SL and messing things up. Soon we will see!

Traveler John Wednesday, 05 June 2024 01:55 PM

When the winter is over in the west, people do prefer stay in their own country and enjoy the Spring and Summer. If you do not have a basic knowledge of the traveling pattern of the westerners, you will end up crying like this.

Taoufik Hedfi Wednesday, 05 June 2024 03:49 PM

The reason why Sri Lanka is getting less tourists is the greed of the hoteliers. I used to be a regular visitor to Sri Lanka paying about £150 for the Sri villas in Merissa, now the same room cost £ 287 a night. The same goes for Galle where some hotels charges about £600 a night, which three times more than pre COVID and crisis. I now personally go to Kerala and have lovely accommodation and holidays for a fraction of what I would pay in Sri Lanka.

Add comment Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Name - Reply Comment

LATEST NEWS

21 minute ago - 0     - 69

2 hours ago - 0     - 87

3 hours ago - 0     - 190

5 hours ago - 0     - 1080

6 hours ago - 0     - 460

POPULAR WORLD NEWS

03 Jun 2024 - 44     - 13020

02 Jun 2024 - 13     - 11021

04 Jun 2024 - 13     - 9900

Live Blog: Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka by 2 wickets

08 Jun 2024 - 1     - 9296

Cement prices drop by Rs.150

03 Jun 2024 - 9     - 9271