Get ready to explore the Land of the White Elephant! The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) unveiled a new strategy on July 19 to attract tourists from all over the world during the second half of this year. The goal is to reach a fantastic target of 3.5 trillion baht (over US$95 billion) in tourism revenue!
Tourists from long-haul markets are the primary focus of the strategy, divided into two groups. According to Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, TAT's deputy governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas, Thailand's tourism strategy for the rest of the year is focused on two groups of long-haul travelers:
- Star Countries: This group consists of Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, and France. These countries have a tourist market already familiar with Thailand and are expected to return before the end of the year.
- Rising Stars: This group consists of six high-potential countries: Canada, Italy, Kazakhstan, Poland, Denmark, and Saudi Arabia. These countries have shown an increase in tourist numbers to Thailand in recent years and are further supported by Thailand's visa-free policy.
TAT will partner with airlines and hotels to ensure that tourists from these countries can easily extend their stay in Thailand. These efforts are also aimed at increasing their spending during their visit.
Through vigorous tourism promotion campaigns, TAT is optimistic about generating approximately 200 billion baht from these 11 "star" countries in the second half of 2024. This figure reflects TAT's optimism in welcoming back tourists and reviving Thailand's tourism sector.
