In a recent update on Thailand’s tourism landscape, Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol reported that more than 600,000 foreign tourists arrived in the country during the initial week of the new year, with Chinese tourists leading the influx.
Providing insights on Tuesday, Minister Sudawan revealed that a total of 605,537 foreign tourists visited Thailand from January 1 to 7. However, she noted a 23.32% decline compared to the last week of December, amounting to 184,106 fewer arrivals. The minister attributed this drop to the conclusion of the New Year holidays, resulting in decreased arrivals from major tourism markets.
The top five countries contributing to Thailand’s foreign arrivals in the first week of January were as follows: China 81,854, Malaysia 64,053, Russia 51,467, South Korea 43,894, India 30,203.
Despite the initial decline, Minister Sudawan expressed optimism, anticipating a resurgence in foreign arrivals during the second week of January. She highlighted the exemption of visas for tourists from China and Kazakhstan as a significant factor contributing to this expected uptick. Additionally, the extension of stay for Russian tourists and increased arrivals from long-haul markets are anticipated to contribute to the overall rise in foreign tourist numbers.
