Revenue from foreign tourists over the same period amounted to 1.14 trillion baht (US$33.9 billion), a 2.26% year-on-year decline.
China remained the largest source of visitors to the country, followed by Malaysia, India, Russia and South Korea.
Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said in an Oct. 5 update that flight cancellations by some airlines had a limited impact on tourism, preventing some visitors from traveling to Thailand, Nation Thailand reported.
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Bangkok’s skyline is photographed during sunset in Bangkok, Thailand, July 3, 2023. Photo by Reuters |
He said news coverage of Bangkok’s flooding had not directly affected tourism, noting that natural disasters can occur in many parts of the world.
Bangkok was declared a disaster-affected zone late last month after nearly 300 mm (12 inches) of rain fell in three days — roughly the amount the city typically receives throughout September, Reuters reported.
The flooding disrupted travel at Suvarnabhumi, the city’s main airport, causing severe delays and a large number of flight cancellations.
The city is expected to see more heavy rains in the coming days.
Surasak expected Thailand’s foreign tourist arrivals to ease in the week after Oct. 3 as travel from mainland China, South Korea, Hong Kong and Malaysia returned to normal after extended holiday breaks.
Thailand eyes 33 million tourists by the end of this year.
It welcomed over 32 million tourists last year, becoming the second most visted country in Southeast Asia after Malaysia (42 million).