With only 32 million foreign tourist arrivals projected for this year, the Association of Thai Travel Agents (Atta) is urging the government to offer more flight promotions, while the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) plans to request “Quick Win” stimulus measures such as tax incentives for organisers of meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (Mice) events.
Atta president Thanapol Cheewarattanaporn said the association forecasts only 32 million foreign arrivals this year, down from 35.5 million in 2024.
The Chinese market may generate 4.6 million arrivals, less than the revised target of 5 million set by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), as daily Chinese arrivals tally only 10,000 at the moment.
He said arrivals from Malaysia and South Korea might reach 4.5 million and 1.5 million, respectively, below the 4.9 million and 1.8 million recorded in 2024. Indian and Russian markets are expected to post the same numbers as last year at 2.2 million and 1.6 million, respectively.
Mr Thanapol said Atta will soon propose to the TAT an additional tourism stimulus including flight promotions, either via heavy discounts or free tickets, depending on the agency’s budget.
Regarding mourning for Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the late Queen Mother, he said the association already informed foreign tourists they can participate in major events as usual, as organisers have adjusted only selected activities.
Most operators remain upbeat on growth next year, banking on large international events such as a group of 13,000 people from Amway China and the IMF-World Bank meeting scheduled for Thailand, which is projected to have more than 10,000 participants, said Mr Thanapol.
URGENT RELIEF
TCEB discussed Quick Win measures yesterday with seven tourism and Mice organisations, including the Thai Hotels Association (THA) and the Thai Incentive and Convention Association (Tica).
TCEB president Supawan Teerarat said the bureau is scheduled to meet Napintorn Srisunpang, the prime minister’s office minister, to submit proposals from private operators next week.
The proposals include tax incentives or soft loans for the Mice sector, both organisers and venue operators, as their revenue has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels, she said.
The government should also subsidise new events over the coming months, and encourage public organisations to hold meetings in regional destinations, said Mrs Supawan.
Meetings and events in the coming months will proceed as planned, except for new entertainment events and concerts, which might be postponed until after the mourning period, she said.
Supawan Tanomkieatipume, honorary president of THA, said the Finance Ministry should increase the meeting budget for the public sector and organisations, which has not changed in more than a decade, resulting in a lack of consideration of current accommodation costs. For instance, hotel spending is capped at 1,200 baht a night, which is unreasonable given surging living costs, she said.
Prachoom Tantiprasertsuk, president of Tica, said the government could use a small budget to hold hybrid or online trade shows to draw new events and meeting groups to Thailand, targeting markets with high growth rates such as India and the Middle East.