(Bangkok, 20th) Thailand has seen a sharp drop in inbound tourists this year, prompting the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to lower its annual target from the original 37 million to 33 million visitors.
According to a statement released yesterday by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, from January 1 to August 17 of this year, Thailand received a total of 20.81 million foreign tourists, a decrease of 7.04% compared to the same period last year, with only 2.93 million Chinese visitors.
Sources indicate that after the exposure earlier this year of Chinese actor Wang Xing being kidnapped to a scam compound on the Thai-Myanmar border, Chinese tourist arrivals to Thailand plummeted. Thai media reported in July that if the trend continues, the number of Chinese tourists this year may only reach 4 to 5 million, marking the first time in 12 years that this figure falls below 5 million (excluding pandemic and recovery periods).
To attract tourists, the Thai government has recently introduced a new policy allowing tourists to convert digital assets into Thai baht for spending within the country. Finance Minister Pichai announced on the 18th that this program, called "TouristDigipay," will launch in the fourth quarter as an 18-month sandbox trial.
Pichai said: "We hope to provide every convenience for tourists to have a better experience in Thailand. This new initiative will offer an innovative alternative to cash and credit cards for spending."
According to the rules, digital assets cannot be used directly for goods or services—they must be exchanged into Thai baht, and transactions must go through licensed operators and electronic payment platforms. To prevent money laundering, there is a monthly exchange limit of 500,000 baht (about 19,740 SGD), along with strict account opening and wallet activation requirements.
Meanwhile, Thailand is also actively attracting international film crews to shoot on location, aiming to stimulate tourism interest.
According to the Bangkok Post, 80% of the Hollywood blockbuster "Jurassic World: Resurrection" was filmed in Krabi province, with an investment of over 400 million baht, driving a 30% to 40% increase in daily visitor numbers at Krabi attractions.
In addition, the streaming series "Alien: Earth" filmed in seven provinces, with a total investment exceeding 2.8 billion baht, creating nearly 25,000 jobs and setting a new record for foreign film investment in Thailand.
Chayapa, president of the Krabi Tourism Association, said that with more international flights in the peak season and the popularity of these two productions, Krabi and related attractions will gain even greater recognition, and travel agencies have already included the main filming locations in their tour itineraries.
Sources indicate that after the exposure earlier this year of Chinese actor Wang Xing being kidnapped to a scam compound on the Thai-Myanmar border, Chinese tourist arrivals to Thailand plummeted. Thai media reported in July that if the trend continues, the number of Chinese tourists this year may only reach 4 to 5 million, marking the first time in 12 years that this figure falls below 5 million (excluding pandemic and recovery periods).
To attract tourists, the Thai government has recently introduced a new policy allowing tourists to convert digital assets into Thai baht for spending within the country. Finance Minister Pichai announced on the 18th that this program, called "TouristDigipay," will launch in the fourth quarter as an 18-month sandbox trial.
Pichai said: "We hope to provide every convenience for tourists to have a better experience in Thailand. This new initiative will offer an innovative alternative to cash and credit cards for spending."
According to the rules, digital assets cannot be used directly for goods or services—they must be exchanged into Thai baht, and transactions must go through licensed operators and electronic payment platforms. To prevent money laundering, there is a monthly exchange limit of 500,000 baht (about 19,740 SGD), along with strict account opening and wallet activation requirements.
Meanwhile, Thailand is also actively attracting international film crews to shoot on location, aiming to stimulate tourism interest.
According to the Bangkok Post, 80% of the Hollywood blockbuster "Jurassic World: Resurrection" was filmed in Krabi province, with an investment of over 400 million baht, driving a 30% to 40% increase in daily visitor numbers at Krabi attractions.
In addition, the streaming series "Alien: Earth" filmed in seven provinces, with a total investment exceeding 2.8 billion baht, creating nearly 25,000 jobs and setting a new record for foreign film investment in Thailand.
Chayapa, president of the Krabi Tourism Association, said that with more international flights in the peak season and the popularity of these two productions, Krabi and related attractions will gain even greater recognition, and travel agencies have already included the main filming locations in their tour itineraries.