The Prime Minister welcomes foreigners visiting Thailand in the first week of 2024, exceeding 600,000 people, with Chinese tourists coming in at number 1, emphasizing the move forward with the free visa measure. Stimulate Thai tourism Mr. Chai Watcharong, spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office, revealed that Mr. Settha Thavisin, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Follow the tourism situation in Thailand according to the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Has updated the latest travel situation. From January 1-7, 2024, there were a total of 605,537 foreign tourists traveling to Thailand. The Prime Minister is pleased that the new era has only been opened for 7 days. There are statistics of over 600,000 foreign tourists interested in traveling, and Chinese tourists have arrived. Number 1 with 81,854 people, Number 2 Malaysia with 64,053 people, Number 3 Russia with 51,467 people, Number 4 South Korea with 43,894 people, Number 5 India with 30,203 people, which is consid ered good news for Thai tourism. Ready to emphasize moving forward to stimulate the Thai tourism industry throughout the year with free visa measures for foreign tourists. Confident that it will have a positive impact on Thai tourism in 2024 Mr. Chai said that the overview of the past week There was a decrease of 184,106 tourists arriving, or a decrease of 23.32% from the previous week. This is a decrease in tourists in almost every market. Due to the completion of traveling during the New Year Festival Including tourists from main markets also decreasing. for next week It is expected that there will be an increase in foreign tourists. From exempting passport or visa-free visas for Chinese and Kazakhstan tourists, to extending the stay for Russian tourists. and an increase in long-distance market tourists in groups traveling after the New Year festival. 'The government under the leadership of Mr. Settha Thavisin, Prime Minister, will push and drive the creation of income from tourism. This is the main engin e and hope for driving the country's economy as a whole. The Prime Minister has set a goal to generate 3.5 trillion baht from tourism in 2024, divided into 1.2 trillion baht from domestic tourism from a target of 205 million Thai tourists per visit and tourist income from tourism. Foreign tourists 2.3 trillion baht from the target number of foreign tourists of 35 million, which the Prime Minister has asked the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) related sectors and Thai people Let's work together to push for this goal to be achieved,' Mr. Chai said. Mr. Chai said that as for the target of foreign tourists, The government will continue to stimulate the Thai tourism industry. With free visa measures for foreign tourists continuing from 2023, when the government will issue free visa measures for foreign tourists from more than 60 countries/territories, and in 2024 it is expected that the number of countries/territories receiving free visas will increase. add more This will be an i mportant part in facilitating travel to Thailand. and attract foreign tourists to choose Thailand as a travel destination. It is believed that the free visa measure will have a positive impact on the Thai economy and tourism throughout 2024.-314. -Thai News Agency Source: Thai News Agency
Monday, September 16, 2024