Officials from the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) expressed concerns that the country may be unable to hit its target of 39 million foreign arrivals for 2025.
ATTA president Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn pointed out that the maximum number of foreign arrivals this year could go down to 37 million, two million short of the national target.
Travel agents attribute this decreased forecast to safety concerns among foreign tourists, particularly those from Mainland China.
Concerns lead to lower numbers
It may be recalled that Chinese actor Wang Xing was abducted in Thailand back in January of this year.
As a result, the number of Chinese tourists making their way to the country dropped to 371,542 in February, the lowest it has been in 15 months and reflecting a year-on-year decline of up to 44.9 percent.
At the same time, ATTA highlighted increasing competition from destinations such as Japan and Vietnam, which are drawing more Chinese tourists since they reopened their borders following the pandemic.
In response, Cheewarattanaporn urged the Thai government to prioritise restoring confidence in the country’s safety and security.
The ATTA president explained that clear and consistent law enforcement is crucial to ensuring a smooth experience for all international travelers.
