[BANGKOK] Thailand saw a 4.91 per cent increase in tourist arrivals in January year-on-year, after a 7.7 per cent rise in December, the tourism ministry said on Friday.
The 3.72 million tourists spent 196 billion baht (S$8.46 billion) in January, up 2.4 per cent from a year earlier.
Visitors from China, Thailand’s biggest source of tourists, jumped 10.29 per cent in January from a year earlier.
Foreign tourist receipts account for about 12 per cent of Thailand’s gross domestic product.
Thailand has focused on regaining the Chinese tourism market year over year after several incidents, including a boat sinking that killed many tourists, damaged the amount of Chinese visitors who came to Thailand. The increase in tourists year over year is certainly good news for Thailand after officials focused on regaining the trust of Chinese tourists and welcoming them back to the country.
