tourism in thailand 2023

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Thailand Tourism 2023: Remarkable recovery with promising economic contributions

Thailand’s tourism industry in 2023 experiences a significant resurgence, attracting an estimated 25-30 million visitors and injecting a substantial amount into the economy, signaling a robust recovery and substantial economic contribution.

The tourism industry in Thailand is experiencing a significant resurgence in 2023. After a challenging period during the COVID-19 pandemic, the sector is set for a robust recovery. The key aspects defining the current state of tourism in Thailand can be summoned in the following points:

Projected Tourist Arrivals: Thailand is expected to attract an estimated 25 to 30 million international tourists in 2023. This marks a substantial increase from the 11.8 million tourists in 2022 and is a clear indication of the industry’s recovery trajectory​​​.

Economic Contribution: The influx of tourists is projected to inject approximately 1.5 trillion baht (US$43.5 billion) into the Thai economy. This is a significant uplift from the past years, showcasing the vital role of tourism in Thailand’s economic landscape​.

Tourism and GDP: For context, tourism contributed 117.5 billion USD to Thailand’s GDP in 2019. The current recovery is expected to approach or surpass these pre-pandemic levels, underlining the sector’s importance to the national economy​.

Tourist Spending: On average, a tourist spends about 167 USD per day in Thailand, with an average stay duration of 9 days. This spending pattern is a critical factor in the financial impact of tourism on the local economy​.

Seasonal Variations: The tourism pattern in Thailand varies across the year. Key periods include the Chinese New Year in January-February, attracting significant numbers of visitors, and the Songkran Festival in March-April. The monsoon season, starting in May, sees a decrease in tourism, while the period from October to December experiences a surge in tourist numbers due to favourable weather conditions.

Recovery Post-Pandemic: The Thai tourism industry was one of the hardest hit during the pandemic, with a reduction from 40 million tourists in 2019 to just over 11 million in 2022. Although the expected numbers for 2023 show a considerable recovery, it might still take time for the industry to reach its pre-pandemic peak​.

Strategic Focus: The Thai government and tourism authorities are focusing on revitalizing the industry with a particular emphasis on attracting high-value tourism. This includes enhancing the quality of tourism experiences and promoting sustainable practices​.

Thailand’s tourism sector in 2023 is on a path to robust recovery, with significant growth in tourist numbers and economic contribution. This recovery is vital for the country’s overall economic health, especially considering the sector’s contribution to the GDP. For travel and hospitality professionals, this resurgence offers numerous opportunities in terms of investments, service enhancements, and innovative offerings tailored to the evolving needs of international and domestic tourists.

Theodore Koumelis

Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.

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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”.

• Tourist Arrivals
• Tourism and Sports Minister

Tourism minister promotes Asean tourism, connecting five nations

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“Year of Thai Tourism 2023” sets a revenue target of 2.38 trillion baht

     Thailand expects tourism income in 2023 to be at least 2.38 trillion baht

     The complete return of Thai tourism in 2023 is viewed as a new challenge for Thailand’s Tourism Authority, which must address the issue of revitalizing the economy through intensive tourism by setting a goal for the tourism industry in 2023 of generating income from tourism equal to 80% of the period prior to the outbreak of COVID-19 (2019). The number of foreign tourists is expected to reach 50%, or at least 20 million people, generating 2.38 trillion baht in tourism revenue.

     Promoting this year as “Thai Tourism Year 2023” for domestic tourism, while continuing to promote international tourism as “Visit Thailand Year 2023: Amazing New Chapters” are important driving mechanisms that will ensure that Thai tourism will recover in accordance with the goals, both in terms of income and qualitative changes, to become High-Value and Sustainable Tourism.

     Another task is to enhance the supply chain (“Shape Supply”) in line with experiential tourism by presenting tourism products and services such as Soft Power (5F: Food, Festival, Film, Fight, Fashion) and developing sustainability standards to offer a superior travel experience. “Create Meaningful Travel” is a policy to make Thailand a travel destination with many values and meanings, such as “Jai Rak,” having a good sense for the community and conservation of nature and the environment; “Impression,” the experience gained from quality travel products and services; and “Have a heart,” return to visit again when the opportunity arises.

     As for the promotion of the tourist market, TAT has set a strategy of Value Over Volume, giving weight to the proportion of quality over quantity. The domestic market will be focused on transforming “Thai Tiew Thai” (Thai people travel around Thailand), producing a new travel legend that will be an impressive Thai Tiew Thai Limited Edition. It also emphasizes its strengths as a Soft Power (5F) selling point and organizes large campaigns to stimulate tourism, such as the “365 Days of Wonder” project or “365 Wonders of Thailand: Visit Every Day” or “Travel 365 Wonderful Days in Thailand,” the 100-day project, Visit Thailand 2023, Amazing Thailand Festival Experience 2023, Thailand Tourism Promotion Project, and so on.

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Thailand welcomed over 27 million foreign tourists in 2023

Thailand welcomed over 27 million visitors in 2023, surpassing the government's target. the largest group of visitors came from malaysia, followed by china..

27.25 million foreign tourists visited Thailand, surpassing the 25-28 million target. Plans to increase tourism in various provinces.

Thailand has seen a significant increase in foreign tourist arrivals, surpassing 27 million in 2023, the highest number since the Covid-19 pandemic. Malaysia, China, South Korea, and India were the top source markets. The government aims to attract 35 million tourists in 2024 by improving tourism infrastructure and promoting Thailand as a safe and appealing destination.

Record 27 Million Tourists Visit Thailand in 2023

Thailand welcomed an impressive 27,252,488 foreign tourists from January 1 st to December 24 th this year, surpassing the 25-28 million target for the year. Malaysia led the pack with 4,439,480 arrivals, followed by China, South Korea, India, and Russia.

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Government plans for future tourism.

The government aims to promote tourism in more provinces to make Thailand a year-round destination, with a target of attaining a trillion baht from domestic tourism and 2.5 trillion from foreign visitors. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is confident that tourism can strengthen the sector.

Popular Tourist Spots and Revenue Estimates

The government estimates that tourism will generate 3 trillion baht in revenue this year. In 2024, they plan to increase revenue to 3.5 trillion baht through tourism stimulus measures and promote a year-round “high season”.

Meanwhile, the Mon Bridge in Sangkhla Buri, Kanchanaburi, attracted holidaymakers, with an estimated 100 million baht in tourism revenue during the New Year holiday period. The district officials estimate that there are about 2,000 hotel rooms and guest houses in Sangkhla Buri district, with all of them fully booked since November.

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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).

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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.

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TAT’s marketing plan 2023 to revitalise Thai tourism towards high value and sustainable growth

Continuing to showcase thailand 5f, 4m soft-power foundations for the international market, and highlighting more responsible tourism routes for the domestic market..

Bangkok, 18 July, 2022 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has announced the marketing plan for 2023 that will continue this year’s goal to revitalise and transform Thai tourism, while placing greater emphasis on the recovery of the tourism sector towards stronger and sustainable, more responsible, more digital and more inclusive tourism growth.

Staged in a hybrid meeting format, the annual TAT Action Plan for 2023 conference was presided over by H.E. Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports. Also present at the event were Dr. Thosaporn Sirisumphand, TAT’s Chairman of the Board, and officials and figures from the Thai public and private tourism sectors, as well as members of the media.

Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, said, “TAT sees 2023 as a year of a new beginning for Thai tourism. Hence, we have outlined our marketing strategy for next year adhering to the TAT’s Corporate Plan 2023-2027, which aims to heighten the TAT’s position as the strategic leader in driving Thailand towards experience-based and sustainable tourism.

“TAT is committed to help revitalise and transform Thai tourism under our three strategic objectives, which are: to ‘drive demand’ for meaningful travel, to ‘shape supply’ by developing a new tourism ecosystem, and to ‘thrive for excellence’ by making the TAT a data-driven organisation. We believe this will heighten our goal for Thailand to achieve high value and sustainable tourism growth,” Mr. Yuthasak added.

TAT will continue to use the “Visit Thailand Year 2022-2023: Amazing New Chapters” as the communication strategies for the international market. Thailand will continue to be promoted as a world-class destination that offers something for everyone under the ‘From A-Z: Amazing Thailand Has It All’ concept. This will be showcased alongside the kingdom’s 5F, 4M soft-power foundations; namely, Food, Film, Fashion, Festival, Fight, Music, Museum, Master, and Meta.

Particularly for long-haul international market, TAT recognises 2023 as the ‘time is the new currency’ era. Therefore, emphasis will be placed on promoting Thailand as a year-round destination for health and wellness aficionados, families with kids, active seniors, and remote workers / teleworkers through co-promotions with leading brands. Strategic marketing activities will be launched in new source markets, including Saudi Arabia and the USA’s large secondary cities through partnerships with the airlines.

For the short-haul international market, TAT has outlined ‘The Great Resumption’ under the ‘2Qs, 5News’ strategy. The ‘2Qs’ are ‘Quick Win’ to drive back the demands of tourists and ‘Quality’ to achieve more numbers of revisits and higher trip expenditure. The ‘5News’ include ‘New Segments’ with growth potential, ‘New Areas’ for source tourist markets, ‘New Partners’ in existing markets, ‘New Infrastructure’ relating to travel and tourism, and ‘New Way’ of travel experiences that will focus on responsible tourism. TAT will also promote all points of entry into Thailand, via land, water, and air with an aim to reinstate more than 80% of the regional air seating capacity in 2019.

In addition, more collaborative partnerships will be formed between TAT and the airlines to help boost the international tourism business by increasing the air seating capacity to Thailand. Initially, this will focus on key source markets with no travel restrictions to drive the travel demand of high-disposable income groups (Millennials, Gen-X, and Silver-Age People), hyper-personalisation groups (health and wellness, sports tourism, and responsible tourism), and new segments (digital nomads and remote workers / teleworkers).

For the domestic market, TAT will focus on increasing the travel frequency of domestic tourists by promoting Thailand as a year-round destination under the ‘REAL’ strategy: Responsible Tourism, Extra-ordinary Experience, Avantgarde Marketing and Less for more Economy. Highlights of each of the five regions of Thailand will be promoted, including nostalgic experiences in the North for Multi-Gen Families, ‘Trend C2’ innovative routes in the Central Region for Gen-Y and Gen-Z, culinary and luxury tourism offers in the East for high-income Gen-Y and Millennial Families, Dharma – Nature – Culture routes in the Northeast for Gen-Y and employed people, and inclusive responsible tourism in the South. Moreover, TAT will promote secondary cities up and down Thailand.

TAT has formulated the marketing plan for 2023 adhering to the Thai government’s Bio-Circular-Green or BCG Economy Model, which is conforming to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The BCG model is being used to revive the tourism industry with the aim of safe, inclusive, and sustainable travel.

Moreover, to ‘thrive for excellence’ by making TAT a data-driven organisation, TAT will use the Thailand Tourism Virtual Mart (TTVM) via https://virtualmart.tourismthailand.org as the key online B2B platform for Thai tourism business and international  tourism operators.

“For 2023, TAT expects Thailand to generate a total tourism revenue of 1.73 trillion Baht with 970 billion Baht from the international market and 760 billion Baht from the domestic market, for base case scenario, and 2.38 trillion Baht with 1.50 trillion Baht from the international market and 880 billion Baht from the domestic market, for best case scenario. This represents about 80% of Thailand’s tourism performance in 2019,” Mr. Yuthasak concluded.

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Thailand says 2023 tourism revenue to be 80% of pre-COVID level

More than 1 million forecast to visit kingdom in September alone

BANGKOK -- Thailand's government expects tourism revenue next year to reach 2.38 trillion baht ($64.5 billion), about 80% of what it was before the pandemic, it announced on Monday.

The best-case scenario is for foreign tourists to drop 1.5 trillion baht while they are in the country and for domestic tourists to add 880 billion baht to the till, according to government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri.

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Tourism In Thailand Statistics 2024: All You Need To Know

by GoWithGuide travel specialist: Ajitsa Ashihundu

Ah, Thailand. The enchanting country that inspires visions of crystal blue waters, vibrant cuisine, awe-inspiring temples, and dizzying information spread across several tabs? Wait, one of these doesn't belong. 

Planning a tour of Thailand shouldn't be rocket science. That's why we're cutting to the good stuff with everything you need to know about the Land of Smiles. Give your search engine some much-needed rest and discover what awaits whether you decide to visit bustling  Bangkok  ,  stay tucked away in the fields of  Chiang Mai , or have a  Thai tour guide   handle your itinerary. As they say in Thailand, pai kan (let's go)!

 The Land Of Smiles: Thailand By The Numbers 

At A Glance: Top Ten Tourism Statistics In Thailand 

Thailand is the 8th most popular tourist destination in the world, thanks to its vibrant culture, mouth-watering food, and breathtaking landscapes. It's no wonder why they received 39.9 million tourists in 2019. Though they suffered a dip in 2022 with only 11.8 million tourists, they're recovering quickly.  In fact, tourism in Thailand is set to make a comeback in 2024 with an estimated 36.1 million tourists projected to flock to the peninsula. ​

• 25.8 million - The number of tourists that visited Bangkok, Thailand’s capital city
• Thailand   is the   8th most   popular tourist destination in the world, thanks to its vibrant culture, mouth-watering food, and breathtaking landscapes. It's no wonder why they received   39.9 million   tourists in 2019. Though they suffered a dip in 2022 with only 11.8 million tourists, they're recovering quickly. 
• In fact, Thai tourism was set to make a comeback in 2024 with an estimated 36.1million tourists projected to flock to the peninsula.
• 167 USD - The average amount of money a tourist spends per day
• 9 days - the average time tourists spend in Thailand
• 117.5 billion   USD - The amount in dollars that tourism contributed to Thailand’s GDP for 2019  
• 21.9% - The percentage that tourism and travel contributed to the nation's GDP
• 40,000 - the number of temples in Thailand 
• 3000 - The number of elephants used for tourism purposes  
• 71.8 million - Thailand’s current population, an increase 
• 0.56 - the number of tourists per resident in Thailand
•   513,115 square km (198,115 sq m) - The size of the country, meaning you've got a lot to explore! 

Why We Love Thailand   

So what makes Thailand a popular tourist destination? Let’s find out.  

The Sites - as one of the world's most visually stunning countries, Thailand's cities have the perfect blend of outdoor enchantment and architectural awe. What's Thailand's most distinctive trait? Let's take a look. 

• Bangkok - the capital city is home to amazing structures like the Grand Palace, the Wat Arun temple, and our Damnoen Saduak floating market tour   where 10,000 boats are masterfully navigated by vendors selling fresh Thai ingredients. 
• Phuket - Thailand's largest island drifts along the Andaman Sea, with nearby beaches drawing in visitors thanks to its thriving  water sports   culture. 
• Chiang Mai - Welcome to the largest city in Northern Thailand! Millions flock to this province for various reasons, including the 117 temples, and vibrant  nightlife . 
• Chon Buri - Not too far from Bangkok (80 kilometers), this seaside settlement is a  seafood lover’s   dream.
• Ayutthaya - This UNESCO  World Heritage center   is home to several ruins of the Siamese Kingdom. Touring this archaeological site takes you back to the 14th-18th century.

Travel Q&A : What is the number one best tourist destination in Thailand? The Grand Palace in Bangkok, also known as the former residence of Thailand's royal family, is one of the most frequented structures in the world, drawing in  8 million visitors   yearly.

The Food - It's no secret that Thailand is the King of street food. It's so beloved that most residents prefer eating out to cooking at home. Here are some Thai treats to add to your culinary bucket list;

• Pad Thai (Thai fried noodles) - This world-famous dish has its roots in Thailand. With tender flat rice noodles, sweet sauces, umami flavor, and crispy fried eggs, it's often considered Thailand's signature meal. 
• Som Tam (Spicy Green Papaya Salad) - Popular throughout the country, this Northern Thai classic highlights the crunchy and sharp green papaya mixed with carrots, chilies, lime juice, green beans, and so much more!  
• Gaeng Keow Wan Gai (Thai green curry) - Coconut is a beloved Thai ingredient that shines bright in this savory, slightly sweet, and fragrant curry.  
• Khao Niew Mamuang (mango with sticky rice) - Cleanse your palate with this traditional sticky rice dessert. Thailand’s staple grain is enhanced with creamy condensed milk and fresh mangoes. 
• Satay (skewered meat) - You'll find some form of skewered, fire-roasted meat on every corner. From sweet and sticky pork to chicken heads, there are enough flavor combinations  to last a lifetime.  

Travel Treat : You may have seen dramatic videos on the internet highlighting Thailand’s exotic snacks, but it’s all true! Thai people take pride in knowing how to transform critters like cockroaches and grasshoppers into savory delights. Talk to your private guide about an in-depth GoWithGuide f ood tour. 

The Nature - Nowhere else will you find a landscape so diverse it houses both the second largest land mammal (Asian elephant) and the smallest one (the adorable bumblebee bat). Looking to enjoy Thailand's beautiful nature? Here's how.

• Jet Skis and Beach activities at Saigaeo
• Elephant Trekking in Phuket 
• Catamaran Yacht Ride in Pattaya
• Waterfalls & Caves in Chiang Mai  

Travel Q&A : Is Thailand one of the most visited countries? Yes! Thailand was ranked  the 8th most visited country in the world in 2019, beating out Germany and the United Kingdom. 

Who Else Loves Thailand

Okay, so everybody loves Thailand, but who can you expect to run into while touring this brilliant country? Here’s the tourist breakdown by nationality (pre-pandemic).  

• China - The Thai  Ministry of Tourism and Sports   reported that in 2019, over 11 million tourists came from mainland China, contributing to 28% of Thailand’s tourism. 
• Malaysia - Coming in is Malaysia, Thailand’s border mate with 4.2 million visitors and 10% of the tourism share. 
• India - Over 1.9 million Indian residents visited the Southeast Asian jewel in 2019. Indian visitors made up 10% of tourist shares in 2022 due to China's total lock down. 
• Korea - 1.8 million Koreans touched down in Thailand throughout 2019. 
• Laos - Neighboring Laos brought in 1.8 million visitors. 
• Japan - 1.7 million 
• Russia - 1.4 million 
• Singapore - 1.1 million 
• The United States - 1.1 million  
• Hong Kong - 1 million  

Travel Bonus : Is Thailand visa-free for U.S. citizens? Yes! No need to book appointments or go through long processes for a visa. You can travel for  up to 29 days   without one!   

Quick Thailand Travel Trends 

A speedy look at Thailand’s monthly tourist visiting trends 

• January to February - The Chinese new year is set to attract  1 million foreign tourists   visitors, mostly from China and Hong Kong.
• March & April - 543,000 guests   flew in for The Songkran Festival. Most of them were from China, looking to splash in the traditional Thai new year with plenty of lighthearted water fights (2019).
• May - Thailand's monsoon season starts, decreasing tourist activity significantly, and some hotels along the coast shut down.
• June-September - This is Thailand's low season, with heavy trains affecting most day-to-day activities and tour highlights.
• October-December - As monsoon season wears off, travelers flock to enjoy Thailand's cool breezes and steady weather patterns. The peak season ranges from November to March drawing in visitors to Chiang Mai to celebrate the floating candle festival.   

This vs That - Thailand's Tourism Recovery (2019 vs 2022)  

Has tourism in Thailand recovered from the pandemic? Yes, almost. Tourism was the industry hit hardest during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Thailand went from 40 million tourists in 2019 to just over 11 million   tourists in 2022. Though that's a drastic drop, it’s a rapid improvement, as the previous year saw only 428,000 visitors. In 2024, it is expected to hit 36.1 million travellers.

Travel Truth : The Land of Smiles is enchanting, but what are the disadvantages of tourism in Thailand? The  Thailand Development Research Institute   cites coral pollution due to littering from excessive beach parties, environmental strain from over-tourism, and troubling practices within Thailand's controversial sex tourism industry as some of the few pitfalls of the highly successful tourism industry.  

Explore Thailand responsibly and avoid adding to the negative side of tourism by hiring a  local private guide   who tailors your itinerary to match your desires while keeping local travel standards at the forefront.

Life in Thailand: What To Expect in The Land of Smiles 

You might be a guest, but Thailand is the best place to experience local living. Here are some things to keep in mind while living within this Southeast Asian jewel;

Getting Around -Transport can be tricky in bustling metropolitan areas like Phuket or Bangkok, but these methods are sure to get you where you need to go. 

• Tuk Tuk - this staple of Southeast Asian travel is so prevalent in Thailand that there are over 35,000 three-wheelers in operation. Keep your guide close as foreigners can sometimes be tricked into paying high fare prices. 

Travel Bonus  - Want to add some fun to your Thai transport experience? Try our night time  Tuk Tuk tour filled with tasty street food stops along the way  

• Taxi - Taxis are plentiful in nearly all major cities, but they can be quite expensive.  
• Motorcycles - Strap in and make sure you have a helmet because these guys are fast, especially when zipping through traffic.  

Weather Check: Your Guide To Thailand’s Climate

Thailand is known for its diverse climate and blooming ecosystems that give us unique wildlife and weather. So what is the best time to visit Thailand? Let's look at what the  weather   has to say. 

• April tends to be the hottest month for those arriving in Bangkok, with average highs of 30.5°C (87°F). Overall, Thailand has annual highs of 37°C (98.6°F). This is considered the peak of Thailand’s March-May  hot season . 
• December brings about the year's lowest temperatures at 21°C (69.8°F). This is the lowest stage in Thailand's November to February cool season. 
• June-October is when the rainy/monsoon season kicks off with highs of 252 mm rainfall in September. 
• January holds the highest average for sunshine with Bangkok recording 273 hours of sunshine . 

Do’s & Don'ts  

Is Thailand friendly to tourists? Yes! There's a reason why they're known as the land of smiles. Thai people are hospitable and kind, but if you want to keep your trip hassle-free, consider these daily practices.

What To Avoid: Red Flags For Travelers

As friendly and accommodating as this nation is, the Thai government has pointed out several  safety gaps   that need attention. Here are some  red flags   you should look out for. 

• Join the Thai nightlife with caution - Though it can be an amazing experience, night touring opens you up to several tourist traps and threats, such as drug/sex trafficking, both of which have serious legal consequences. 
• Large, rowdy crowds - With civil unrest becoming common, it’s best to stay away from large, energetic crowds. A mild skirmish can become violent quickly, especially in political hot zones. Talk to your guide about where to go and where to avoid.  
• The taxi scam - As you leave your hotel, some taxi drivers might offer special tours but instead take you to places where you can purchase items from vendors. Don't get into any vehicle that your tour guide hasn't cleared as legitimate. 

Okay, if that last bit overwhelmed you, don’t freak out. You can still have a wholesome Thai adventure without the scary safety concerns and dizzying public transport maze to conquer. 

That’s where we come in. GoWithGuide’s selection of local private guides who know the nation’s ins and outs will help you bypass any confusion and avoid annoying travel downers like;

• Large tour groups 
• Unsafe tour areas 
• A rushed schedule influenced by strangers
• A heavy language barrier
• Getting lost at hectic or crowded venues  
• Embarrassing or legally damaging cultural missteps     

Ready to leave the stress behind and plan your personalized Thailand adventure? Get in touch with a Thai tour guide and put the smile back into travel planning. 

P.S. Looking to travel with companions? The more the merrier! Share this post with your friends and get them as excited about touring Thailand as you are.

Written by Ajitsa Ashihundu

Ajitsa Ashihundu is an editor, blog writer and Marketing team member at GoWithGuide, helping readers understand travel, one post at a time. She fell head over heels for writing back in high school, thanks to Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and countless poetry analyses that extended way beyond English Literature class. This led her to study journalism and Communications in university, where she discovered a greater passion for fictional tales. Born in Kenya, raised in the U.S., and now back in Kenya, she balances life bilingually in Swahili and English. Her three-year stint as a professional outdoor instructor and guide, leading hikes and outdoor adventures across Kenya, taught her the magic of nature in bringing people together. In 2021, she began freelancing, weaving words into blog content and video scripts while juggling personal writing projects. When not writing, Ajitsa can be found watching TV shows, reading, sipping coffee, or dreaming about her ultimate destination—Monteverde, Costa Rica. Her current goal? Writing her very own novel.

Popular thailand tour guides.

Well, here is Tour Guide Nusara speaking. I welcome you all to the beautiful land of smiles Thailand. I live in Bangkok and I love to share the Thai culture with the visitors, visiting to Thailand. My hobbies are playing sports (Badminton, Swimming, etc), reading books, and playing with my pet, as I'm a cat lover! I can also cook! I like to cook Thai food such as the Papaya salad!. The strong points that set me apart from others would be that I'm friendly and I'm very flexible! My passion is traveling. so I would love to take everyone to enjoy and see how the beautiful Thailand is! Please, join me!                                                                                                                                  

Hello, I am a Phuketian people, I born here, My love island. I have been a tour guide more than 5 years. I love to take people to meet the beautiful points in my island and learn about our culture. My love job is Phuket Private city tour With Local Tour Guide in Phuket. My service Include : - Van service 8 hr. - Holds up to 9 passengers - Customize your tour to meet your needs and interests - Local Guide and Driver ( English speaking) Safety measures - Hand sanitizer available - Driver got Covid 19 fully vaccine - Sha plus Certificate                                                                                                                                  

Ladies & Gentlemen, Please feel free to call me "Tom". Being a native Bangkokian, I was born, has grown up and worked in longer than 30 years. The capital city of Thailand, Bangkok is mixed together between new and old, modern and traditional. No matter what kind of tourists you are, people watching lovers, history/culture learners, shopping paradise, gourmet tasty foods…, Bangkok is for sure the right spot for you to land and enjoy it, then I’m pleased to show you around and guide through it, sharing its background story not only its well-known attractions but also off the beaten paths and hidden gems. If you need to find something unique, I’m ready in taking you to its suburb and vicinity, for example, Ayutthaya, Samut Prakan and many more. Come with me and let’s marvel at the world famous Thai temples or wander among world heritage sites, breathe the fresh air along the white-sandy beach, view Thai local ways of life or visit charming old china town- or scary museum in the hospital. Whether you’re a solo traveler or in a group and any other criteria possibly have is based on what you informed me. If this is your first visit, Bangkok certainly will log you in with its magic spell and I’ll try every ways possible to let you want to come back, so let me be a part of your great journey in my hometown today. Drop me your words in need and I’ll generate a tailor-made tour according to your own interests and conditions. Thanks a lot and see you soon, Tom, ………………………………………………………………………… Credentials; - Certified and Licensed Tour Guide from The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) : A qualified tour guide, who’s legally able leading tours in Bangkok and all over Thailand since 2013. - Master Degree in Communicative English from the public university in Thailand since 2005.                                                                                                                                  

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• Number of international visitors Thailand 2023, by region of origin

In 2023, around 20 million foreign tourists from Asia and the Pacific region visited Thailand, making it the leading source market of international visitor arrivals into the country. This was followed by European tourists, with a total of almost six million visitors. During that year, there were about 28 million international visitors in Thailand.

Thailand’s main economic driver 

Tourism has a considerable economic impact on the country. In the past years, the COVID-19 pandemic heavily affected the tourism industry. However, Thailand's tourist economy has been recovering steadily since the country allowed international tourist arrivals again in 2022. In 2023, the total tourism revenue generated by international tourist arrivals in Thailand exceeded one hundred billion Thai baht on an almost monthly basis, resulting in a revenue of over one trillion Thai baht for the entire year. Bangkok and the southern part of Thailand were the leading provinces in terms of the tourism revenue generated from foreign visitors, with over five hundred billion Thai baht. Over five hundred billion Thai baht was generated from foreign tourists in Bangkok and the southern part of Thailand, making them the top regions for tourism revenue generation .

International air travel into Thailand

Since Thailand reopened its borders to tourists, the aviation industry has been recovering. The number of international flights arriving in Thailand has increased significantly since 2021. In 2023, over 40 million international visitors passed through Suvarnabhumi Airport, the leading Thai airport for inbound travel . 

Number of foreign tourists in Thailand in 2023, by region of origin (in 1,000s)

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Statistics on " Tourism industry in Thailand "

• Number of quarterly foreign visitors Thailand Q1 2021-Q1 2024
• Size of employment in tourism sector Thailand 2017-2022
• Direct contribution of tourism to gross domestic product Thailand 2017-2022
• Indirect contribution of tourism to gross domestic product Thailand 2017-2022
• Value of tourism tax Thailand 2017-2022
• Local tourists revenue Thailand 2023
• Number of foreign visitors Thailand 2023, by region
• Revenue generated from foreign visitors Thailand 2023, by region
• Number of traveling locals Thailand 2023, by region
• Revenue generated from traveling locals Thailand 2023, by region
• Share of foreign visitors to total guests of accommodations Thailand 2015-2023
• Share of foreign visitors to total guests of accommodations Thailand 2023, by region
• Advance reservation rate of accommodations Thailand 2015-2023
• ADR of accommodations Thailand 2015-2023
• Popular accommodations for Thais when travelling Thailand Q2 2021
• Ideal travel destinations in Asia among Thais 2023
• Online travel agency usage Thailand 2023
• Most common duration before a trip to purchase travel tickets on OTAs Thailand 2023
• Reasons for using online travel agencies for purchasing tickets Thailand 2023
• Reasons for not using online travel agencies for purchasing tickets Thailand 2023

Other statistics that may interest you Tourism industry in Thailand

• Premium Statistic Value of tourism GDP Thailand 2017-2022
• Basic Statistic Number of quarterly foreign visitors Thailand Q1 2021-Q1 2024
• Premium Statistic Number of local tourists Thailand 2023
• Premium Statistic Size of employment in tourism sector Thailand 2017-2022

Economic impact

• Premium Statistic Direct contribution of tourism to gross domestic product Thailand 2017-2022
• Premium Statistic Indirect contribution of tourism to gross domestic product Thailand 2017-2022
• Premium Statistic Value of tourism tax Thailand 2017-2022
• Premium Statistic International tourist arrivals revenue Thailand 2023
• Premium Statistic Local tourists revenue Thailand 2023
• Premium Statistic Number of international visitors Thailand 2023, by region of origin
• Premium Statistic Number of foreign visitors Thailand 2023, by region
• Premium Statistic Revenue generated from foreign visitors Thailand 2023, by region
• Premium Statistic Number of traveling locals Thailand 2023, by region
• Premium Statistic Revenue generated from traveling locals Thailand 2023, by region

Accommodation

• Premium Statistic Share of foreign visitors to total guests of accommodations Thailand 2015-2023
• Premium Statistic Share of foreign visitors to total guests of accommodations Thailand 2023, by region
• Premium Statistic Advance reservation rate of accommodations Thailand 2015-2023
• Premium Statistic ADR of accommodations Thailand 2015-2023
• Premium Statistic Popular accommodations for Thais when travelling Thailand Q2 2021

Tourist perspectives

• Premium Statistic Ideal travel destinations in Asia among Thais 2023
• Premium Statistic Online travel agency usage Thailand 2023
• Premium Statistic Most used online travel agencies Thailand 2023
• Premium Statistic Most common duration before a trip to purchase travel tickets on OTAs Thailand 2023
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Thailand's economy rebounds in early 2023 as tourism surges

Executive Director and Asia-Pacific Chief Economist, S&P Global Market Intelligence

Thailand has shown a gradual economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic during 2022, helped by rising international tourism arrivals. Real GDP growth rose from 1.5% in 2021 to 2.6% in 2022, with growth momentum expected to improve further in 2023.

The latest S&P Global Thailand Manufacturing PMI survey results for April 2023 showed a strong upturn in manufacturing output and new orders. Due to the importance of international tourism for the Thai economy, the strong rebound in international tourism inflows evident in early 2023 signals that the tourism economy will be a key growth driver in 2023.

Thailand's economic recovery from the pandemic

The Thai economy has shown an upturn in economic growth momentum in early 2023, with first quarter GDP growth up by 2.7% year-on-year (y/y), compared with 1.4% y/y growth in the fourth quarter of 2022.

The strong first quarter growth rate was underpinned by rapid growth in private consumption, which rose by 5.4% y/y, helped by surging international tourism arrivals. Expenditure on services rose by 11.1% y/y due to buoyant spending in hotels and restaurants. However private investment grew at a modest pace of just 2.6% y/y, while public investment grew by 4.7% y/y.

Thailand's growth rate in 2022 was quite moderate in comparison with other large ASEAN economies such as Malaysia, Vietnam and Philippines, which posted very high growth rates as they rebounded from the pandemic. Thailand recorded real GDP growth of 2.6% in 2022, representing a relatively modest pace of economic recovery from the recessionary conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A key driver for improving economic growth in 2022 was the recovery of private consumption, which grew by 6.3% compared with just 0.6% y/y growth in 2021. Private investment growth also improved from a pace of 3.0% in 2021 to 5.1% in 2022. However public investment contracted by 4.9% in 2022, while government consumption was flat.

Strong growth in private consumption and investment as well as rising energy import prices helped to boost import growth, which rose by 15.3% in 2022, while exports rose by just 5.5%, measured in USD terms. Consequently, the trade balance narrowed from USD 32.4 billion in 2021 to USD 10.8 billion in 2022.

Due to the important contribution of international tourism to Thailand's GDP, a key factor that constrained the rate of recovery of the Thai economy in 2022 was the slow pace of reopening of international tourism, although this gathered momentum in the second half of 2022.

The S&P Global Thailand Manufacturing PMI surged to 60.4 in April from 53.1 in March, signalling a rapid improvement in overall business conditions and the strongest performance in any month since the survey started in December 2015. The month-on-month increase in the headline PMI, at 7.3 points, was also by far the biggest on record (the next-largest upward movement was 4.8 points in May 2020).

A key factor driving the improvement in manufacturing operating conditions was a marked expansion in new orders during April. The rate of growth was the fastest on record and largely driven by domestic demand.

Despite rising demand for raw materials and components in April, manufacturers reported shorter suppliers' delivery times for the first time since April 2022. This reflected a wider recovery in regional and global supply chains. Price pressures eased in April, with input prices having increased at the slowest rate in three months.

Thailand's headline CPI inflation rate eased to 2.7% y/y in April 2023 compared with 5.0% y/y in January 2023 and 7.9% y/y in August 2022. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of Thailand decided to raise the policy rate by 0.25% from 1.25% to 1.50% at their Monetary Policy meeting on 25 January 2023, with a further 0.25% rate hike implemented on 29 March 2023. This follows three 25bp rate hikes by the MPC in 2022, In 2022, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided to increase the policy rate three times by 25 basis points each in August, September and November. The MPC assessed that headline inflation will likely return to the target range by mid-2023, with average CPI inflation projected to decline to 2.9% in 2023 and 2.4% in 2024.

Recovery of international tourism sector

International tourism was a key part of Thailand's GDP prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, contributing an estimated 11.5% of GDP in 2019. However, foreign tourism visits collapsed after April 2020 as many international borders worldwide were closed, including Thailand's own restrictions on foreign visitors.

As COVID-19 border restrictions were gradually relaxed in Thailand and also in many of Thailand's largest tourism source countries during 2022, international tourism showed a significant improvement during the second half of the year. The number of international tourist arrivals reached 11.15 million in 2022, compared with just 430,000 in 2021. However, the total number of visits was still far below the 2019 peak of 39.8 million, indicating considerable scope for further rapid growth in the tourism sector during 2023.

International tourism arrivals in the first quarter of 2023 surged to 6.5 million visitors, which was more than half the total number of international tourist visits in 2022. Total tourism receipts in the first quarter for both domestic and international tourism spending was estimated at 499 billion baht, up by 127% y/y. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has increased its estimated target for international tourism visits in 2023 to 25 million, which is more than double the total number of international tourism arrivals in 2022.

Thailand economic outlook

Despite the upturn in private consumption and international tourism arrivals in 2022, the overall pace of economic expansion was relatively moderate, at just 2.6%. Easing of pandemic-related travel restrictions during 2022 has also allowed a gradual reopening of domestic and international tourism travel, which gathered momentum in the second half of 2022.

With more normal conditions expected for international tourism travel in 2023, this should provide a significant boost to the economy. Due to the importance of tourism inflows from mainland China prior to the pandemic, the reopening of mainland China's international borders will be an important factor contributing to the further recovery of Thailand's tourism market.

Helped by the continued recovery of the international tourism sector, some upturn in GDP growth to a pace of around 3.4% is expected in 2023.

Over the next decade Thailand's economy is forecast to continue to grow at a steady pace, with total GDP increasing from USD 500 billion in 2022 to USD 860 billion in 2032. A key driver will be rapid growth in private consumption spending, buoyed by rapidly rising urban household incomes.

The international tourism sector will continue to be a dynamic part of Thailand economy, buoyed by rapidly rising tourism arrivals the populous Asian emerging markets, notably mainland China, India and Indonesia.

By 2036, Thailand is forecast to become one of the Asia-Pacific region's one trillion-dollar economies, joining mainland China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Taiwan, Philippines and Indonesia in this grouping of the largest economies in APAC. The substantial expansion in the size of Thailand's economy is also expected to drive rapidly rising per capita GDP, from USD 6,900 in 2022 to USD 11,900 by 2032. This will help to underpin the growth of Thailand's domestic consumer market, supporting the expansion of the manufacturing and service sector industries.

However, rising per capita GDP levels will also put pressures on Thailand's competitiveness in certain segments of its manufacturing export industry. Therefore, an important policy priority for nation will be to continue to transform manufacturing export industries towards higher value-added processing in advanced manufacturing industries.

One of the key economic and social challenges facing Thailand is its rapidly ageing population, which will result in a rising burden of health care and social welfare costs over the next two decades. This will be a drag on Thailand's long-term potential growth rate, making investment in technology and innovation increasingly important to mitigate the economic impact of demographic ageing.

Rajiv Biswas, Asia Pacific Chief Economist, S&P Global Market Intelligence

[email protected]

© 2023, S&P Global Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

Purchasing Managers' Index™ (PMI ® ) data are compiled by S&P Global for more than 40 economies worldwide. The monthly data are derived from surveys of senior executives at private sector companies, and are available only via subscription. The PMI dataset features a headline number, which indicates the overall health of an economy, and sub-indices, which provide insights into other key economic drivers such as GDP, inflation, exports, capacity utilization, employment and inventories. The PMI data are used by financial and corporate professionals to better understand where economies and markets are headed, and to uncover opportunities.

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This article was published by S&P Global Market Intelligence and not by S&P Global Ratings, which is a separately managed division of S&P Global.

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