Commentary: Thailand must restore confidence it is safe for residents and tourists alike

Chinese tourists have played a pivotal role over recent years in the Thai tourism industry. Prior to the pandemic, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand had surged significantly, reaching a staggering 11.14 million in 2019 and accounting for about US$17 billion in tourism receipts.

But China’s zero-COVID policy led to a sharp decline in tourist arrivals. The number plummeted to 1.25 million in 2020 (almost all in January) and a mere 13,043 in 2021.

This created a void that the Thai tourism industry sought to fill by diversifying its sources of tourists.

ATTRACTING INDIAN TOURISTS TO THAILAND

It was during the pandemic that India emerged as a more active and promising source of tourists for Thailand.

The easing of travel restrictions for foreign tourists in 2022 marked a turning point. During the first eight months that year, the number of Indian arrivals (444,136) surpassed the number of Chinese arrivals (105,860) for the first time.

Notably, Thailand became an appealing destination for Indian weddings held outside of India. These extravagant celebrations, often held at luxurious resorts, gave a significant boost to tourism revenue, with costs ranging from 10 million baht to 30 million baht (US$274,000 to US$823,000).

Ram Sachdev, president of the Thailand Indian Wedding Association, voiced concerns in 2022 to Nikkei newspaper about focusing solely on the quantity, rather than the quality, of Indian tourists’ weddings. With Indian wedding events being held around the world, he has pointed out that Thailand could secure more of them by providing essential support and incentives.