Thailand sits up and takes action as tourist numbers fall

Bangkok (TAN): Thailand experienced a rare drop in the number of tourist arrivals and spending in March.

Data collected by data and media firm Bloomberg show visitor numbers fell by 0.7 per cent from a year ago to 3.5 million. Spending by visitors was THB 184.5 billion, a drop of 1.3 per cent.

The tourism industry is a major contributor to the country’s economy and the government has already taken notice and initiated action to woo tourists. 

Thailand’s military government has already approved an extension of the ongoing waiver on visa-on-arrival fees for 21 countries till October 31. The ongoing visa-fee waiver was scheduled to end on April 30.

Under the waiver programme, citizens of the specified countries will be granted stay in Thailand for up to 15 days without having to pay the THB 2,000 visa-on-arrival fee.

Thailand expects to welcome a record 40 million tourists in 2019.