PHOTO / WORLD
Thailand targets 7.5 pct tourism revenue growth for 2025
By Xinhua Published: Jul 18, 2024 10:28 AM
Foreign tourists visit the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden in Pattaya, Thailand, July 17, 2024. Effective on July 15, Thailand expanded its visa-free entry scheme to include citizens from 93 countries and territories, allowing them to stay for up to 60 days without a visa, while those from 31 countries and territories are now eligible for visas on arrival. (Photo: Xinhua)

Foreign tourists visit the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden in Pattaya, Thailand, July 17, 2024. Effective on July 15, Thailand expanded its visa-free entry scheme to include citizens from 93 countries and territories, allowing them to stay for up to 60 days without a visa, while those from 31 countries and territories are now eligible for visas on arrival. (Photo: Xinhua)


 
Foreign tourists visit the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden in Pattaya, Thailand, July 17, 2024. Effective on July 15, Thailand expanded its visa-free entry scheme to include citizens from 93 countries and territories, allowing them to stay for up to 60 days without a visa, while those from 31 countries and territories are now eligible for visas on arrival. (Photo: Xinhua)

Foreign tourists visit the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden in Pattaya, Thailand, July 17, 2024. Effective on July 15, Thailand expanded its visa-free entry scheme to include citizens from 93 countries and territories, allowing them to stay for up to 60 days without a visa, while those from 31 countries and territories are now eligible for visas on arrival. (Photo: Xinhua)


 
Foreign tourists visit the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden in Pattaya, Thailand, July 17, 2024. Effective on July 15, Thailand expanded its visa-free entry scheme to include citizens from 93 countries and territories, allowing them to stay for up to 60 days without a visa, while those from 31 countries and territories are now eligible for visas on arrival. (Photo: Xinhua)

Foreign tourists visit the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden in Pattaya, Thailand, July 17, 2024. Effective on July 15, Thailand expanded its visa-free entry scheme to include citizens from 93 countries and territories, allowing them to stay for up to 60 days without a visa, while those from 31 countries and territories are now eligible for visas on arrival. (Photo: Xinhua)


 
Foreign tourists visit the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden in Pattaya, Thailand, July 17, 2024. Effective on July 15, Thailand expanded its visa-free entry scheme to include citizens from 93 countries and territories, allowing them to stay for up to 60 days without a visa, while those from 31 countries and territories are now eligible for visas on arrival. (Photo: Xinhua)

Foreign tourists visit the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden in Pattaya, Thailand, July 17, 2024. Effective on July 15, Thailand expanded its visa-free entry scheme to include citizens from 93 countries and territories, allowing them to stay for up to 60 days without a visa, while those from 31 countries and territories are now eligible for visas on arrival. (Photo: Xinhua)


 
Thailand targets at least 7.5 percent growth in its vital tourism industry for 2025, aiming to generate a revenue of 3.4 trillion baht (about 94.16 billion U.S. dollars), the country's tourism agency said on Monday.

With a transformation into high-value tourism, the kingdom will focus on upgrading its tourism supply chain to better accommodate high-quality tourists, along with promoting sustainable standards and charming destinations to ensure a fair and equitable distribution of income, Minister of Tourism and Sports Sermsak Pongpanit told a news conference.

Effective Monday, Thailand expanded its visa-free entry scheme to include citizens from 93 countries and territories, allowing them to stay for up to 60 days without a visa, while those from 31 countries and territories are now eligible for visas on arrival.

As the visa exemption measure helps improve the ease of travel and travel frequency, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will continue its push to increase seat capacity on current routes and new routes, as well as for both regular and charter flights, while promoting hidden-gem cities and Thai charms that align with tourists' needs, said TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool.

Thapanee said 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China, and the TAT will host multi-level celebratory activities, including inviting world-renowned influencers and celebrities to Thailand, along with organizing joint promotions with partners and offering special deals for Chinese tourists.

With 3.58 million arrivals, Chinese tourists have made up the largest source market for Thailand so far this year. The kingdom has received over 18.2 million foreign tourists, on course to meet the year-end target of 36.7 million inbound visitors, Ministry of Tourism and Sports data showed.

In pre-pandemic 2019, Thailand welcomed a record 39.9 million foreign arrivals, generating 1.91 trillion baht (about 52.89 billion dollars) in revenue. Tourism, the key driver of the nation's economic growth, accounts for about 12 percent of its GDP.