Thailand strives for 100 million domestic tourist trips in 2021
Bangkok (VNA) - The Thai government is making efforts
to stimulate local tourism with hopes to see 100 million domestic trips by the
end of the year, given a sharp decrease in international tourist arrivals due
to COVID-19.
Rachada Dhnadirek, deputy government spokeswoman, said Thai Prime
Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has attached great importance to promoting domestic
tourism as this will generate income for businesses and spur the growth of jobs
in the tourism industry, which has been severely battered by almost two years
of the pandemic.
Thailand only saw about 133,000 foreign tourists visiting
the country after it reopened its borders on November 1, much lower than
pre-pandemic level of some 3 million tourists per month.
With foreign demand sluggish, tourism operators are now
dependent on the domestic market. In the January-November period, a total of 92 million
domestic trips had been recorded, generating about 650 billion THB (19.2
billion USD) in tourism income./.