Between January and August, Southeast Asia's second largest economy welcomed over 23 million foreign visitors, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
A significant influx of foreign tourists is expected to flock to Thailand between September and December, driven by the visa-free policy, the rebound in international flights, and festive events, contributing to an estimated 652 billion baht (US$19 billion) in revenue, Thapanee Kiatphaibool, the TAT governor, said as cited by the Bangkok Post.
The top 10 economies expected to send the most tourists to Thailand in the last quarter of the year are mainland China, Malaysia, India, South Korea, Russia, Laos, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, and the United States.
Since July, Thailand has expanded its visa exemption list, increasing the number of countries and territories whose citizens can enter without a visa and stay for up to 60 days from 57 to 93.
The Thai government estimated that the total number of foreign tourists will reach 35.99 million by year-end, marking a 28% increase from the previous year. Tourism revenue is expected to reach approximately 1.8 trillion baht, reflecting a 32% increase compared to the previous year.
In 2019, before the Covid pandemic, Thailand, whose economy is heavily reliant on tourism, welcomed a record 39.9 million foreign visitors, generating 1.91 trillion baht ($55.8 billion) in revenue.
