Thailand reports over 600,000 foreign arrivals during first week of 2024

In a recent report on tourism in Thailand, Minister of Tourism and Sports Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol said that during the first week of the year, over 600,000 foreign visitors entered the nation, with Chinese visitors accounting for the majority of these visits.

According to Minister Sudawan’s statement on Tuesday, Thailand received 605,537 foreign tourists between January 1 and January 7. She did, however, record 184,106 fewer arrivals overall, or a 23.32% drop from the last week of December. The minister attributed the decline to fewer arrivals from important tourist markets as a consequence of the conclusion of the New Year’s vacations.

In the first week of January, China accounted for 81,854 of Thailand’s foreign visitors, followed by Malaysia (64,053), Russia (51,467), South Korea (43,894), and India (30,203).

Minister Sudawan expressed optimism despite the first decline, projecting a spike in foreign arrivals during the second week of January. She pointed to the fact that Chinese and Kazakh tourists do not need a visa as a primary factor in the anticipated rise. In addition, longer stays by Russian tourists as well as a rise in arrivals from long-haul markets are predicted to boost the number of foreign visitors overall.

Original story by: Asia Gaming Brief