20 million international travellers expected to visit Thailand in 2023
Thailand’s tourism sector this year is anticipated to see a lively recovery, with the government now expecting no less than 20 million international visitors this year.
Visitors to Ayutthaya Historical Park in Ayutthaya province of Thailand. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
Bangkok (NNT/VNA) - Thailand’s tourismsector this year is anticipated to see a lively recovery, with the governmentnow expecting no less than 20 million international visitors this year.
The capital Bangkok continues to gain popularity among tourists, with the cityrecently ranked as the third most popular Asian destination for North Americantravelers.
Bangkok has seen surges in holiday-relatedactivities among international visitors, as the world recovers from thepandemic and border restrictions eased.
According to the Canada-based travel website andapplication Hopper, international flight searches by people in North Americahave jumped from 19% to 27%, with Bangkok ranking at the third most searcheddestination in Asia, following Tokyo (Japan) and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam),respectively.
Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has thankedall related sectors for helping realize the government’s policy on tourismgrowth, which is essential for the country’s economic recovery.
The government has set a target for this year toachieve 80% tourism revenue and 50% of international arrivals compared topre-pandemic levels. These targets equate to no less than 2.38 trillion THB inrevenue and at least 20 million visitors, not including 180 million mainlandChinese travellers and domestic travellers.
The Prime Minister has asked the relevant agenciesto help facilitate the expected increase in tourist numbers, while urging Thaisto be good hosts for visitors./.
The subsidy scheme for domestic tourists might be reduced to 500,000 rooms from 1.5 million after the Thai cabinet this week cut the proposed budget of 8.7 billion baht (nearly 250 million USD) by half, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has revised its forecast for foreign arrivals from 18-20 million to 25 million in 2023 after China eased COVID-19 travel restrictions.
The Thai Cabinet on January 3 approved its third national tourism development plan for 2023-2027, with an aim to make the country one of the world's top wellness destinations.
Thailand’s authorities have decided to revise some rules on COVID-19 prevention and control towards foreign tourists following an inter-ministerial meeting on January 5.
Thai tourism operators are anticipating the return of Chinese tourists as vacation destinations such as Pattaya and Phuket prepare for Chinese visitors during the approaching Chinese New Year.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
Visitors to Ayutthaya Historical Park in Ayutthaya province of Thailand. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) 
