When discussing Thailand's potential, many people likely think of tourism, as it is a primary source of income for the country. Bangkok has ranked among the top tourist cities in the world for four consecutive years. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the tourism sector both in Thailand and globally, with the Tourism Authority of Thailand estimating that it will take at least two years to return to normal.

               Despite the downturn in tourism, Thailand still possesses significant potential in various areas, placing it among the top countries in the world. These factors may help attract foreign tourists and investors to our country. So, what global rankings does Thailand hold? TerraBKK has compiled the following information.

               At the beginning of the past year, during the COVID-19 outbreak, Thailand was ranked as the second most at-risk country for COVID-19 in the world. Thanks to effective measures and cooperation from the government, private sector, and citizens, within just two months, Thailand's risk level dropped to 59th place. The country has managed to control the COVID-19 situation effectively up to the present. Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) selected Thailand and New Zealand (the only two countries worldwide chosen) to film a documentary on successful COVID-19 control, indicating that Thailand has handled the pandemic exceptionally well.

               Currently, according to the Global COVID-19 Index (GCI), Thailand ranks 9th in the world for COVID-19 recovery out of 184 countries. This ranking is based on a large data analysis system that looks at recovery trends, active cases, and the severity of outbreaks. As tourism begins to recover after the COVID-19 situation improves and many countries reopen to tourists, Thailand will undoubtedly be among them, as the world believes that Thailand is relatively safe from COVID-19.

Source: Global COVID-19 Index (GCI)

               This aligns with Thailand's healthcare system, which has been ranked 6th in the Global Health Security Index 2019 out of 195 countries. Thailand is the only developing country in the Top 10 globally and ranks 1st in Asia with a score of 73.2 out of 100, following the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia, and Canada. This ranking considers various indicators, including disease prevention, detection and reporting capabilities, rapid epidemic response, a stable healthcare system, and commitment to enhancing the country's disease control capabilities.

Source: Global Health Security Index

               In terms of safety, Thailand has a high Safety Index, ranking 3rd, and the Crime Index ranks 81st out of 133 countries, which is relatively low compared to neighboring countries. In addition to the efforts of the Royal Thai Police to prevent crime, Thailand has approximately 3,000-4,000 security companies and employs around 400,000 to 500,000 security personnel nationwide.

Source: www.numbeo.com

               According to a survey report by U.S. News & World Report on the Best Countries to Invest In 2020, Thailand ranked 2nd, following Croatia, out of 25 countries surveyed. This ranking was based on ratings from over 6,000 business investors and various criteria, such as business stability, land taxes, innovation, skilled labor, and technology expertise in the country. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report ranked Thailand as the best country in the world to start a business in 2020, based on feedback from 6,000 business executives worldwide, considering five factors: affordable management costs, a business-friendly bureaucracy, low manufacturing costs, good international trade connections, and easy access to capital.

               Regarding Thailand's competitiveness, the IMD World Competitiveness Center ranked Thailand 29th out of 63 countries in the world for 2020, considering four factors: economic conditions, government efficiency, business efficiency, and infrastructure. This ranking dropped from 25th to 29th due to a downturn in the domestic economy and a lack of ability to attract foreign investment. Although Thailand is in the middle range, it still needs to continuously enhance its potential in areas such as workforce skills and infrastructure to improve and sustain its competitiveness.

               In terms of living conditions, Thailand ranks 17th in the world for retirement living, according to The World’s Best Places to Retire in 2020 from internationalliving.com. This ranking is based on an assessment of 12 key factors affecting retirees' quality of life, such as healthcare, cost of living, healthy lifestyle, investment opportunities, and entertainment. This aligns with the U.S. News & World Report ranking of the Best Countries for a Comfortable Retirement, where Thailand is ranked 16th.

               It is evident that Thailand has significant potential in various aspects. The points discussed highlight its strengths, but there are also other areas where Thailand performs moderately well, such as in exports, imports, and industrial production. Additionally, Thailand is a culturally rich country with friendly people. If the COVID-19 situation improves and we can enhance our capabilities in various areas, it will help attract more foreigners to invest or travel to our country.