Long-tail boat on the white beach at Phuket, Thailand. (Photo: Shutterstock)Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s tourism industry is seeking support with visitorsfrom India as arrivals from China decline.
China is currently the largest tourismmarket of Thailand, with about 10 million tourists visiting the Southeast Asiannation in 2018. However, the number of Chinese visitors is declining.
In contrast, Indian arrivals accelerated in recent months thanks to more directflights, a visa fee waiver and, most importantly, increasing wealth in thegrowing middle-class.
At least 10 million are now expected toarrive annually by 2028, a more than five-fold increase on last year’s visits.
Although China remains an important marketof Thailand, India is set to become the new expansion story in Thai tourism.
Chinese visitors currently make up 28percent of total foreign arrivals, well ahead of Indians at 4 percent. Butwithin a decade, Indian arrivals are forecast to surge to about 15 percent ofthe total, while Chinese are predicted to edge up to about 30 percent.
Tourism has been an economic driver forThailand over the past decade. Last year the country welcomed over 38 millionarrivals, a year-on-year rise of 7.5 percent, contributing more than 2 trillionTHB of income. Combined with domestic travel, tourism receipts totalled 3trillion THB in 2018.
Thailand expects 42 million arrivals in2020, generating 2.43 trillion THB. -VNA
China is currently the largest tourismmarket of Thailand, with about 10 million tourists visiting the Southeast Asiannation in 2018. However, the number of Chinese visitors is declining.
In contrast, Indian arrivals accelerated in recent months thanks to more directflights, a visa fee waiver and, most importantly, increasing wealth in thegrowing middle-class.
At least 10 million are now expected toarrive annually by 2028, a more than five-fold increase on last year’s visits.
Although China remains an important marketof Thailand, India is set to become the new expansion story in Thai tourism.
Chinese visitors currently make up 28percent of total foreign arrivals, well ahead of Indians at 4 percent. Butwithin a decade, Indian arrivals are forecast to surge to about 15 percent ofthe total, while Chinese are predicted to edge up to about 30 percent.
Tourism has been an economic driver forThailand over the past decade. Last year the country welcomed over 38 millionarrivals, a year-on-year rise of 7.5 percent, contributing more than 2 trillionTHB of income. Combined with domestic travel, tourism receipts totalled 3trillion THB in 2018.
Thailand expects 42 million arrivals in2020, generating 2.43 trillion THB. -VNA
VNA
