The tourism sector in Thailand continues to expand, evidenced by the bustling number of tourists in various provinces. Data released by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, specifically from the Department of Tourism and Sports Economics, reveals an average daily influx of 62,082 foreign tourists. This accumulates to a total of 9,905,066 visitors since January 1, 2023, generating an income of 410,818 million baht from foreign tourist expenditure.
The majority of these tourists come from ASEAN, East Asia, and South Asia (data as of May 22, 2023). The top five countries with the highest number of foreign tourists to Thailand include Malaysia, China, India, South Korea, and Vietnam, constituting 48% of all foreign tourists. This surge can be attributed to extended holidays and the onset of the tourist season for short-haul market tourists.
Meanwhile, data from Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Ltd. indicates that in the first seven months of the fiscal year 2023, or from October 2022 to April 2023, there were 12,805 flights from China to Thailand, an increase of 98% compared to the same period last year. This increase is due to China's policy allowing tour companies to lead group tours abroad. It is anticipated that in May there will be 5,330 flights, June 6,090 flights, July 7,150 flights, August 7,460 flights, and September 7,340 flights. Consequently, throughout fiscal year 2023, there will be 46,175 flights from China to Thailand.