National —
On November 26th, 2024, Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, the Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), revealed factors supporting Thai tourism growth in late 2024.
Flight recovery and increased forward bookings signal strong momentum, with ticket reservations to Thailand rising 28% compared to last year. Key source markets include Germany, South Korea, the UK, the U.S., Japan, and Russia.
TAT predicts a peak of 500,000 foreign visitors per day during the final three days of 2024, fueled by nationwide countdown celebrations and relaxed entry measures.
These include visa-free entry for tourists, business travelers, and short-term workers from 93 countries, with a 60-day stay permitted.
Visa on Arrival (VOA) has also been expanded to 31 countries, up from 19, while the Destination Thailand Visa supports work-and-travel stays. Temporary suspension of immigration forms at key entry points until April 2025 further enhances convenience, according to Thapanee.
However, domestic tourism faces hurdles due to slow economic recovery, high household debt, and cautious spending among Thais.
Outbound tourism, on the other hand, is growing, with over 1.1 million Thais traveling abroad from October 12th–27th, an 8.19% increase from the previous year. Contributing factors include a stronger baht, school holidays, and promotions on international airfares, making regional destinations particularly attractive.
Recently, the president of Khaosan Business Association, revealed that hotel bookings in the Khao San Road area for December 30th-31st, are averaging 60%, still lower than the 70% recorded for the same period in 2023.
This article originally appeared on our sister website The Pattaya News.
