The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) said the number of foreign visitors from the country’s four largest markets – Malaysia, India, South Korea and Russia – is expected to hit a record high in 2024, thanks to the Thai government’s support for Thailand’s tourism industry and soft power.
Visitor numbers from Malaysia are expected to reach five million this year, surpassing the record of 4.27 million recorded in 2019 before the pandemic, ATTA chairman Sisdeepavacha Cheevarattanapong said on Thursday.
ATTA estimates visitor numbers from India and South Korea at 2 million each, also above pre-pandemic levels (1.96 million and 1.88 million in 2019), while tourist numbers from Russia are expected to reach 1.8 million, surpassing the 1.74 million recorded in 2023.
But Sisdibacha said Chinese tourists, estimated at seven million this year, would still dominate Thailand’s tourism market.
ATTA expects the total number of foreign tourists to exceed 35 million in 2024.
“However, whether we can achieve the government’s target of 36.7 million will depend on promotions in the second half and peak seasons, especially roadshows in targeted overseas markets.”
Thailand received 17 million foreign tourists in the first half of this year, of which 3.5 million were from China.
In September, ATTA will work with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to hold roadshow events in major Chinese cities such as Zhengzhou, Changsha and Xi’an.
