Between January and September this year Thailand welcomed 29,465,732 tourists generating THB1.42 trillion in revenues, some 3.51 percent and 3.45 percent increase compared to the previous year.
China remains the main tourist source market for Thailand with over 8.5 million visitors this year, a 1.71 percent increase on year-to-year bases. Malaysia in the runner-up with 2.9 million and 5.56 percent up followed by India with almost 1.5 million, showing a whooping 25.6 percent increase in tourist arrivals. South Korea with 1.4 million and 4.87 percent inclrease and Laos with 1.38 million and 12.16 percent up also made it up to the big five.
At the same time numbers of tourists from Europe dropped 1.83 percent to 4.7 million, including 2.95 percent drop in numbers of Russian tourists and 3.69 percent drop of tourists from Germany.
Tourist arrivals from Americas grew 2.2 percent to 1.16 million while visitors from the Middle East prefer to go elswhere resulting in 9.11 percent decline (540.000 visitors).
Interestingly, yesterday news said that Phuket is left with vacant rooms and hoteliers are cutting their room rates to attract visitors to the island struggling to fill up their resorts.
Tourist Arrivals Are Likely to Reach Target – Thailand
News in Asia
The data revealed by the Tourism and Sports Ministry of Thailand this week shows that tourists arrivals are well on track and the target of 39.8 million visitors set for this year will most likely be met by the end of 2019.