THAILAND TOURISM IN FULL RECOVERY AS 10 MILLION INTERNATIONAL TRAVELLERS EXPECTED IN 2022
After international arrival numbers hit the three-million mark in July, for the first time in two years, Thailand’s tourism authorities are increasingly optimistic of reaching its target of welcoming 10 million travellers in 2022.
In the post-Covid era, Thailand tourism seems to be back on his feet. The country is breaking new records month after month. After passing for the first time in June the million international travellers, the Kingdom recorded some 3.3 million of visitors in July, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
Two important decisions helped boost tourist numbers: the removal of the Thailand Pass which used to track tourist movements as well as the compulsory health insurance of $10,000 for a stay. Travellers now only have to show their Covid vaccination certificate or a pre-arrival negative RT-PCR or professional ATK test result. In the first seven months of 2022, Thailand welcomed over six million travellers.
The Kingdom looks set to achieve the Ministry of Tourism’s target of 10 million international visitors this year. The speed of the recovery of its tourist sector is making authorities upbeat about next year, with some predicting that Thailand could welcome at least 20 million international visitors.
The Ministry of Tourism is even more optimistic in its forecasts as it now predicting the country could see tourist numbers hit 30 million visitors net year. This could be the case if China – Thailand’s largest incoming market prior to the pandemic – lifts all restrictions on outbound travel for its citizens.
This is excellent news for the Thai economy as, prior to the pandemic, tourism generated up to 20% of the country’s GDP. Better economic perspectives for the country have been greeted with a strengthening of the Thai Baht, the country’s local currency. While accommodation prices are on an upswing trend again, after dropping significantly in the last two years.
