Mr. Itthirith Kinglek, President of the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), revealed that the tourism business confidence index for Thailand in the third quarter of 2017 stands at 98, which is close to normal levels. However, business costs, intense competition, and the low season are pressing factors.

        For the fourth quarter of 2017, TCT expects the confidence index to rise to 103, maintaining a normal level, indicating that operators view the situation positively towards the end of the year. It is anticipated that in 2017, around 35.39 million foreign tourists will visit Thailand, an increase of 8.59% from 2016, generating revenue of 1.84 trillion baht from foreign tourists, up 12.49% from the previous year.

        The foreign tourist market continues to expand well, supported by a favorable domestic atmosphere for travel, along with ongoing proactive marketing plans from government agencies. In the fourth quarter of 2017, barring any unusual events, it is expected that approximately 9.15 million foreign tourists will visit, representing a 17.76% increase from the same period last year. This includes 2.43 million tourists from ASEAN, up 3.40%, 3.89 million from East Asia, up 34.60%, and 1.58 million from Europe, up 4.64% compared to the fourth quarter of 2016.

          As for domestic tourism trends in the fourth quarter of 2017, it is expected that only 25% of Thai tourists plan to travel domestically, a significantly low proportion compared to 2013-2015. This is believed to be due to the still sluggish economy, leading Thai tourists to be more cautious with their spending and to control their travel budgets more strictly.

          Nevertheless, TCT believes that for Thai tourism to grow well, cooperation from all parties is essential. The government should expedite the development of transportation systems to ensure quality and safety standards, while operators must collaborate to maintain tourism sites to high standards and preserve their uniqueness.