BANGKOK, Dec 15 (TNA) – The governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand expected 11 million visitors to the country this year and saw a positive outlook for the Thai tourism sector next year.
TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said in his meeting on Wednesday nwith investment analysts and representatives of institutional investors that the country was likely to welcome 11 million visitors this year, about 60,000-70,000 visitors a day. Most visitors, about 91,000, were from Malaysia and India.
More Russian visitors were arriving on chartered flights at U-Tapao airport after their previous disappearance due to the war between Russia and Ukraine. There were also more visitors from Saudi Arabia. Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket remained as visitors’ major destinations, Mr Yuthasak said.
The TAT governor also said that the arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit last month boosted Chinese people’s demand for visits to Thailand. When China relaxes its Zero-COVID policy, Chinese tourists will be arriving considerably in Thailand, he said.
Normally 120 million Chinese people travelled abroad annually and Thailand was their main destination, Mr Yuthasak said. He expected that during the Chinese New Year next year the Chinese government would ease its disease control measures and be likely to lift quarantine on Chinese travellers returning from some countries to their homeland.
The TAT already started its Thai tourism promotions in some Chinese provinces, the TAT governor said.
He proposed the government facilitate arrivals by cutting visa fees, extending visitors’ stay and introducing new products and services to meet visitors’ demand. (TNA)
