Thailand passed the 10 million visitor mark since the beginning of the year on Saturday, a sign that tourism, a key sector for the kingdom, has largely recovered even if it is still far from the pre-pandemic level of Covid-19. At Bangkok airport, traditional dancers and percussionists welcomed the passengers of a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight which, according to the authorities, allowed Thailand to pass the milestone of 10 million visitors.
Representatives of the Tourism Authority handed flowers, gift cards and water park tickets to a Saudi couple, Hetham Almdlj and Njood Alkhuwaiter. Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha hailed the resilience of entrepreneurs in the country’s tourism and hospitality sector.
“Heaven is open,” he said in a speech. “We would like to build confidence that Thailand remains one of the (best) tourist destinations in the world,” she added. The arriving passengers said they were happy to discover the wonders of the kingdom. “First time in Thailand, it’s a beautiful country, very beautiful people,” said tourist Ignatik Ilia.
Thailand will therefore welcome just over ten million visitors this year, a substantial jump from the 427,000 tourists it received in 2021, at the height of restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic.
But in 2019, nearly 40 million traveled to the kingdom. Declining tourism is causing a loss of income for Thailand’s struggling economy, which is experiencing a slower growth rate than its neighbors in Southeast Asia.
Authorities expect 23 million visitors in 2023, which are expected to bring more than 32 billion euros to the Thai economy, according to data from the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC).
