Photo: Bangkok Post
The recent conflict in Israel and the aftermath of a shooting incident in a Bangkok mall last week are predicted to lead to a decrease in foreign arrivals next week, significantly impacting Thai tourism. However, the private sector is optimistic that the visa exemption scheme will help revitalise the market in the next two months.
The Tourism and Sports Ministry noted a 9.86% decrease in foreign arrivals last week (Oct 2 to Oct 8), with numbers falling to 497,966, largely due to a significant reduction in Chinese visitors. A number of them opted to return home early to avoid the rush at the end of the Golden Week holiday, while others were worried about their safety following the Oct 3 shooting at Siam Paragon.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas militants raises additional concerns about inbound tourism, particularly from the…
