The Thai government recommends that hoteliers, business owners, and private hospitals in the country refrain from offering discounts to attract tourists. The main goal of the upcoming seasons is to reinforce the idea in the minds of travelers that Thailand is a premium tourist destination.
Thailand received about 2 million foreign tourists in the first six months of this year, which can be considered a success. The country’s tourism industry has nearly collapsed due to the pandemic and 18-month entry restrictions.
“We can’t let people come to Thailand and say it’s cheap,” Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said at an event at Bangkok International Airport to promote tourism.
The official compared the approach to that of luxury fashion brand Louis Vuitton. “Stand your ground. Sell premium. The more expensive, the more customers, otherwise Louis Vuitton would not have any sales.
One of Asia’s most popular tourist destinations, Thailand, before the 2019 pandemic, received a record number of visitors of nearly 40 million people who spent THB 1.91 trillion (US$53.53 billion), equivalent to 11 percent of gross domestic product. . The number of arrivals fell to 6.7 million the following year and 428,000 in 2021 despite successive moves to lift quarantine requirements. According to forecasts, 10 million foreign tourists will arrive in the country in 2022.
Earlier this year, Thailand launched a long-term visa program for wealthy foreigners and skilled workers, sticking to its plan to attract high-spending tourists despite heavy job and tourism business losses during the pandemic.