BANGKOK- Thailand recorded 7.35 million foreign tourist arrivals from Jan. 1 to Oct. 26, as the vital sector picks up following an easing of coronavirus restrictions, the Tourism Authority of Thailand said.
The top five source markets were Malaysia with 1.25 million arrivals, India with 661,751, Laos with 538,789, Cambodia with 373,811, and Singapore with 365,593, the TAT said in a statement dated Friday.
A revival of tourism is a key driver of growth in Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy, and the finance ministry on Friday predicted 10.3 million foreign tourist arrivals this year and 21.5 million in 2023.
That compared with only 428,000 foreign visitors last year, and nearly 40 million in pre-pandemic 2019.
Thailand’s economic recovery will not be affected by a global slowdown due to a rebound in tourism, Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith told reporters.
“Our economy depends on tourism, which is gradually recovering,” he said, adding that not every country is going through a slowdown and so the impact on Thailand’s tourism market will be limited.
“During the winter, European tourists want to escape the cold to Thailand,” Arkhom said.
Tourism is a key driver of Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy. In 2019, it welcomed nearly 40 million visitors, who spent 1.91 trillion baht. — Reuters
