Thailand aims to grow its tourism industry by at least 7.5 percent by 2025 and generate revenue of 3.4 trillion baht (about $94.16 billion).
As the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) recently revealed, this figure is 1.7 times higher than Thailand’s GDP growth forecast for the year. It also attributed to the 39 million international visitors that the country registered and more than 205 million domestic trips, VisaGuide.World reports.
Intending to boost visitor numbers, Thailand has recently expanded its visa-free entry scheme from 57 to 93 now. Since July 15, 2024, citizens from 93 countries and territories can stay for up to 60 days without a visa, while those from 31 countries can apply for visas on arrival.
TAT data shows that the previous target for 2025 was THB 3.4 trillion ($94 billion) in total tourism revenue, up from THB 3 trillion ($83 billion) for 2024. However, Prime Minister Srettha Thavis still hopes to generate THB 3.5 trillion ($97 billion) in tourism revenue this year alone.
Top 5 Countries That Contributed to Increase of Foreign Tourist Numbers in Thailand
In the first half of this year, Thailand welcomed 17.5 million foreign tourists, an increase of 35 percent from last year. Among the five main destinations that contributed to this growth are the following:
- China
- Malaysia
- India
- South Korea
- Russia
TAT has also adjusted its target for Indian tourists to 2.3-2.4 million this year from 2.06 million, boosted by the visa-free policy.
China Remains Largest Source Market for Thailand in 2024
With 3.58 million arrivals, Chinese tourists have been Thailand’s largest source market so far this year.
During the pre-pandemic period, Thailand registered a record 39.9 million foreign arrivals, generating 1.91 trillion baht (about $52.89 billion) in income. Tourism, the main driver of the country’s economic growth, accounts for about 12 percent of its GDP.
This year, TAT focuses on 23 potential markets worldwide that account for more than 80 percent of the total number and revenue from foreign tourists. The goal is to expand the number of markets attracting at least one million tourists to 13 by 2025.
Efforts include increasing seat capacity by adding flights to current routes and introducing new routes for regular and charter services.
As part of its strategic tourism initiatives for 2025, the country is also stepping up efforts to cater to a diverse range of travelers. According to TAT, the promotional launch of tourism will target new visitors from nearby countries and territories, including China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.