Thailand is aggressively targeting tourism as a means to combat slumping export prices and other things negatively affecting the economy.
Latest news show a Thai delegation from Phuket in the Middle East.
The talks were centered around niche groups like luxury travelers, families, and newlyweds, who are considered quality tourists with substantial purchasing power. These tourists can visit Phuket throughout the year, most notably, during the low season.
Phuket’s tourism industry has set its sights on the affluent Middle Eastern Market to counterbalance the seasonal slump in arrivals from Russia and Europe. Over 30 Phuket hospitality businesses presented their offerings at the Arabian Travel Market 2024 (ATM 2024) held in Dubai, aiming to attract high-spending tourists from the region.
The Dubai ATM 2024 fair took place just after Thailand concluded its 2023 to 2024 high season.
International carriers transitioned to their summer schedules on the last Sunday of March, naturally restricting arrivals from Europe, Russia, and other winter markets since April.
The absence of a Songkran surge in arrivals highlighted the seasonal nature of Thailand’s tourism, although the country performed well under the circumstances.
According to Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MoTS), international arrivals in 2023 totalled 28.1 million, a 154.4% increase year-on-year, with 600,499 of those visitors originating from the Middle East (+98.8%). In the first quarter of 2024, total arrivals reached 9.3 million (+43.5%), with 88,024 from the Middle East (+12.2%).
Saudi Arabia was the leading source market in the region, with 178,113 arrivals in 2023 and 27,590 in the first three months of 2024. It was closely followed by the United Arab Emirates, with 138,934 in 2023 and 15,055 in the first quarter of 2024. Other significant contributors included Oman (86,488 and 13,808 respectively) and Kuwait (13,808 and 14,361), reported The Phuket News.
Tons of cost and effort are put in to convince tourists to come to Thailand.
What these people are actually saying, is please come for a HOLIDAY and then leave shortly after.
The government has still not found an easier path forward for VISA’s for those that want to remain in Thailand.
Although there are a multitude of VISA options, most are aimed at retirees with fixed pensions and married people.
The options for those under 50 are quite expensive (VISA Elite), or hard to qualify for (LRV Visa).
This has prompted a huge influx in Youtuber’s doing border bounces to be able to remain in Thailand.
The logic is with no fixed income, the govt thinks these people will become a financial burden to the country at some point. (No savings, retirement pensions or health insurance).
So yes, we covet your tourist dollars, just don’t get ideas about staying forever.