Due to threats to global tourism from the Middle East conflict, the number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand is at its lowest level in three years.
Nariya, Permanent Secretary of the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports, said that if the conflict continues for six months, the number of foreign tourists in Thailand this year may decrease by 3 million, with an economic loss of 150 billion baht (18.2 billion ringgit), accounting for about 10% of last year’s total foreign tourist revenue.
Even if the war ends by the end of March, Thailand’s tourism industry will still be hit hard by the loss of 1-2 million foreign tourists.
On the 24th, Nariya told Bloomberg, “The core of tourism lies in the journey, and journeys require fuel. Everyone is affected and faces the same high costs.”
She said that to alleviate the impact, the tourism industry needs new marketing campaigns to attract more wealthy Middle Eastern tourists seeking refuge. Thailand’s goal this year is to attract at least 200,000 tourists from the Middle East. She also said that authorities are developing marketing strategies to attract short-haul tourists from Asia.
Last year, Thailand received 32.97 million foreign tourists, a 7.23% decrease compared to the previous year.