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Foreign tourists arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, November 1, 2021. Photo by Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha
Thailand, Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy, expects to welcome its 10 millionth foreign tourist of the year this Saturday, achieving its target after easing visa policies to revive tourism.
The Nation newspaper said citing a source from the Tourism Authority of Thailand: “As of December 5, Thailand had recorded 9.78 million foreign visitors this year. We believe the tally will hit 10 million on December 10.”
There will be a ceremony to mark this milestone.
On Saturday souvenirs will be presented to all arrivals at seven airports – Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, U-Tapao, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, and Koh Samui – and two border checkpoints at Nong Khai and Sadao.
Thailand was one of the first countries in Southeast Asia to fully reopen after Covid and has tourist-friendly entry policies.
It offers a 45-day visa-free stay for tourists from over 50 countries including Vietnam and e-visas to nationals of 23 countries.
Vietnam opened its borders on March 15 but the number of foreign visitors in the first 11 months of the year has been modest at 2.95 million, or just more than half the full-year target of five million, due partly to visa hassles.
It offers 30-day single-entry e-visas to citizens of 80 countries and territories and visa exemption for visitors from 24 others.
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