Thailand on track to reach 10 million visitors in 2022
Thailand’s tourism rebound accelerates with 7.56 million arrivals by late October and relaxed entry rules as arrivals from Malaysia, India, and Laos lead the surge.
By October 30, the country had welcomed 7.56 million international arrivals since the start of the year. With an expected 1.5 million visitors arriving each month through the end of 2022, Thailand’s goal of hosting 10 million foreign travelers is within reach.
October alone saw 3.1 million tourists enter the country. The surge follows the restoration of direct flights to Bangkok and Phuket and the removal of all COVID-19 entry requirements, including vaccination and negative-test proofs.
Malaysia remains the top source market for Thailand, followed by India, Laos, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.
To keep the momentum going, Thailand extended visa-on-arrival terms for 64 nationalities effective October 1 through March 31, 2023. Where France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada previously received a 30-day visa-free stay, arrivals from these countries can now remain up to 45 days. While the extension is temporary, the Tourism Authority of Thailand expects the average visitor to stay five extra days, boosting in-country spending.
In pre-pandemic 2019, Thailand hosted about 3.25 million visitors per month. With its rebound now mirroring those levels, the Bank of Thailand forecasts 22 million international arrivals in 2023.
