BANGKOK: Thailand welcomed 17.36 million foreign tourists between Jan 1 and July 18 this year, generating an estimated 838.73 billion baht in tourism revenue, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said the number of arrivals was 3.05 per cent lower than during the same period last year.
China was the largest source market, with 2.86 million visitors, followed by Malaysia with 2.25 million, India with 1.31 million, Russia with 1.06 million and South Korea with 631,777.
The ministry said tourism activity strengthened during the week from July 12 to 18, supported by continued growth in short-haul markets and stable demand from long-haul travellers.
The improvement was partly driven by the summer school holidays in China and Taiwan, as well as additional flights on several routes. The number of Shenzhen-Phuket services, for example, increased from three to four flights a week.
Other supporting factors included flydubai’s launch of services between Dubai and Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport, which expanded connecting options for long-haul passengers through the Emirates and flydubai network.
Thai Airways also launched a new service between Amsterdam and Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Arrivals from Taiwan recovered strongly after travel conditions linked to Typhoon Bavi improved. Thailand received 25,201 Taiwanese visitors during the week, an increase of 50.74 per cent from the previous week. Taiwan rose from seventh to fourth place among Thailand’s largest weekly source markets.
Thailand received 585,189 foreign visitors during the week, up by 22,735, or 4.04 per cent, from the previous week. Daily arrivals averaged 83,598.
Short-haul arrivals reached 382,072, an increase of 6 per cent, while long-haul arrivals rose by 0.56 per cent to 203,117.
China remained the largest source market for the week, with 107,875 visitors, up 8.27 per cent. It was followed by Malaysia with 63,181 visitors, down 17.82 per cent; India with 35,114; Taiwan with 25,201, up 50.74 per cent; and the United States with 20,461, up 3.57 per cent.
The ministry expects foreign tourist arrivals to continue increasing, supported by the summer holiday period and the expansion of international flight services.- The Nation/ANN
