Thailand has one of the most developed tourism markets in Asia. The ‘Land of Smiles’, is known for it hospitality, beautiful beaches, historical places and eco-attractions, its world-famous cuisine, good infrastructure and affordable accommodation.
Annually, Thailand welcomes over 30 million visitors and this figure is expected to surpass 40 million by 2020. Most visitors will continue to come from the Asia Pacific region (31.2 million in 2020), followed by European tourists (5.7 million in 2020).
Thailand is facing increasing competition from neighboring countries such as Vietnam and Myanmar, and in response the Thai government has made visa procedures easier. For Chinese and Indian visitors the Thai government introduced a six-month multiple entry visa and reduced the visa-on-arrival charges. In addition, for visitors from 19 countries Thailand waived visa fees, while visitors from 52 countries can stay up to 30 days in Thailand when entering via an international airport. These lenient visa policies make Thailand an attractive country for both long term tourism and short term visits.
Tourism is one of Thailand’s main economic sectors, accounting for 7% of its GDP. Revenue reached USD 71 billion in 2016. Daily tourist spending reached THB 5.100 per person last year and is expected to further increase in the coming years.
We look forward to meeting with travel agents, tour operators and accommodation suppliers in Bangkok in June / July 2018. To find out how Hero can help supercharge your travel agency, get in touch!