Bangkok Jan. 24 (BNA): Thailand welcomed 11.15 million foreign visitors in 2022, up from about 428,000 in the previous year when widespread travel restrictions linked to the pandemic were imposed, Tourism Ministry data showed Tuesday.
The numbers, which exceeded the government’s target, reflect a strong shift as Thailand tries to revive its vital tourism industry, which took the brunt of strict entry and quarantine policies during the pandemic, Reuters reports.
In December, there were 2.24 million foreign tourists, compared to 230,497 in the same month a year earlier.
2019, in the pre-pandemic period, saw a record number of nearly 40 million foreign tourists for the whole year.
The ministry said Malaysia, India and Singapore were Thailand’s top three export markets last year.
In 2023, the government expects 25 million international visitors, including at least five million from China, Thailand’s largest source market before the pandemic.
On Tuesday, the government approved a budget of 3.95 billion baht ($120.72 million) to boost domestic travel and international tourism in secondary cities.
China’s reopening is expected to boost Thailand’s vital tourism sector, which before the pandemic accounted for about 12% of gross domestic product in Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy.