Earlier this month, tourists appeared near the Grand Palace. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)
Deputy government spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul said on Sunday that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha urged relevant agencies to simplify procedures so the country could meet its target of 25 million tourists this year.
She said she believed this would be achieved as the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched the Visa Pre-Scrutiny System (VPSS) this month to speed up the processing of tourist visa applications.
Ms Traisuree said tourist arrivals totaled 12.46 million in the year to June 25, up 539 per cent on the same period last year. The top five tourist source countries are Malaysia (1.98 million), China (1.38 million), Russia (784,000), South Korea (741,000) and India (732,000).
The increase in tourist arrivals is in line with a report by the Airports of Thailand (AOT), which showed that a total of 34.31 million tourists passed through Thailand’s six major airports in the first half of fiscal 2023 (December-May), a year-on-year increase of 635.7%. AOT Jurisdiction – Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Mae Mae Lai, Chiang Rai, Phuket and Hat Yai. A total of 202,700 inbound and outbound flights were made, an increase of 175.2%.
The Ministry of Finance’s Office of Fiscal Policy said continued growth in tourism was a major factor in the economic expansion.
“Confidence and security,” Ms Traisuree said.
According to estimates by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand will reach the target of 25 million, of which 5 million will be tourists from China, she said.
