Thailand welcomed 2.14 million international tourists last month

Thailand welcomed 2.14 million international tourists in January, data from the tourism ministry showed today. The data showed a small decline from the previous month.

The top three source markets last month were Malaysia with 288,745 tourists, Russia with 202,759 tourists, and South Korea 169,462 tourists.

However, the return of travellers from China, following the removal of Covid-19 restrictions, helped boost the numbers. A total of 91,841 Chinese tourists flocked to Thailand last month, compared with 3,110 in the same period last year.

China’s reopening is expected to give the recovery further impetus. The government is forecasting 7 to 8 million Chinese visitors in 2023, compared with 11 million in 2019, Bangkok Post reported.

Tourism is a vital source of employment and a major driver of the economy in Thailand, typically accounting for about 12% of the annual GDP. Before…