Tourism/Q4 tourism promotion

Chatrudee Theparat

Prime Minister Settha Thavisin ordered the Tourism and Sports Ministry to prepare for promoting tourism in the fourth quarter as the high season of Thai tourism.

Mr Settha said yesterday after the cabinet meeting that the government wants to promote tourism significantly in the fourth quarter to attract the bigger number of foreign tourists.

“I asked the Tourism and Sport Minister to prepare a plan to boost tourism in the fourth quarter in different aspects ranging from service improvement, tourism spots and safety measures. What we do will help attract foreign visitors and can create more impression among travelers.”

Tourism industry is one of the significant sectors that the government aims to shore up the sluggish economy.

He said the cabinet also approved a plan to extend visa exemption programs for tourists from India and Taiwan for six months.

The visitors from India and Taiwan will be able to enter Thailand without a visa until November 11 after an existing waiver ends on Friday (May 10).

The Tourism and Sports Ministry reported in the first four months, the number of foreign visitors to Thailand recorded 12.12 million, an increase of about 142.87% from the same period last year and generated revenue of 575 billion baht.

The top 10 nationalities visiting Thailand during the period were Chinese (2,351,909), Malaysians (1,569,856), Russians (767,210), South Koreans (679,481), Indians (643,587), Laotians (403,107), Germans (375,224), UK tourists (368,564), Taiwanese (358,990), and US citizens (355,452).

Deputy government spokesperson Kanika Ounjit

Deputy government spokesperson Kanika Ounjit said the Foreign Affairs Ministry estimated to lose an amount of 2.15 billion baht of income from the visa exemption.

However, the visa exemption will benefit to the economic and international dimensions with India and Taiwan as a whole, especially in terms of connections between people.