The number of Thai tourists visiting the country is on the rise amid many popular destinations reopening without restrictions, while a weaker currency against the baht is also supporting the outbound tourism market, according to Yuthasak Supasorn, director general of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
The top destinations for Thai tourists during the New Year period include Japan, the Republic of Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, and Laos. The growing number of flights to those destinations had also helped to expand the outbound market this month.
The majority of Thais who can afford to travel abroad are typically middle- to high-income earners who have been unable to travel abroad over recent times due to the prolonged impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yuthasak noted that the foreign tourism market in December, especially during the New Year holiday, has reached the highest level over the past three years. This could therefore affect domestic tourism to some extent, particularly as people redirect their spending to overseas destinations, he explained.
Citing data compiled by booking.com, an online travel agency, Yuthasak stated that Thai tourists booked more hotels to Asian destinations this month.