The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has forecast that the number of foreign tourists may plunge by almost two-thirds to 14 million this year, the lowest level in 14 years due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Tourism Council of Thailand is preparing to start its “We Love Thailand” campaign to stimulate domestic tourism after the COVID-19 situation eases, said its President Chairat Trirattanajarasporn.
The number of tourist arrivals in Thailand fell 44.3 percent in February from a year earlier due to the coronavirus epidemic, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said on March 9.
China will remain the biggest tourism market for Thailand over the next decade, with arrivals estimated to reach 12 million next year, according to Krungthai Compass Research Centre, a research unit of Krung Thai Bank.
Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports has decided to delay a plan to collect a tourism levy from foreign visitors which would further harm the already struggling tourism industry.
More airlines joining the Vietnam’s aviation market and improved airport infrastructure have greatly contributed to the increasing number of foreign and domestic tourists, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).
The Revenue Department of Thailand will pilot a value-added tax (VAT) refund service for foreign tourists at five department stores, aiming to attract more tourists to the country.
Thailand reportedly welcomed over 3 million foreign tourists in August amid growth in global tourism, with Chinese travellers leading other nationalities in arrivals.
The Airports of Thailand has devised a 10-year plan to upgrade six major airports in the country with a total investment of 200 billion THB (5.7 billion USD), accordingto Thai media.
Tourist arrivals in Thailand this year are expected to increase to more
than 28 million, generating around 2 trillion THB and predicting a
positive recovery of the industry in 2015.
The Thai government may consider lifting martial law in some provinces
to help recover the economy, especially the tourism industry, Deputy
Prime Minister Wisanu Krue-ngam was quoted by The Nation newspaper as
saying.
The Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports will provide foreign language
courses for local tour guides in preparation for the ASEAN Economic
Community (AEC) next year.
Thailand’s Tourism
Ministry is considering a proposal to exempt visa fees for visitors from
European countries to improve the country's tourism industry as the
high season is arriving.
The number of tourist arrivals to Thailand during the first seven
months of this year grew unexpectedly at 20.37 percent with a total of
14.96 million visitors, a Tourism and Sports Ministry report said.
Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra expressed her wish to attract
more high-end visitors to the country, following her officials visits to
Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
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