Thailand promotes new tourist destinations

Number of Indian tourists fell 8-10% during political unrest

Indian tourists are returning to Thailand after months of political unrest saw 8-10 per cent drop in arrivals. Last year, Thailand attracted about 1.05 million Indian visitors, and the country is expecting 1.1 million tourists from India this year, and, the country's tourism department is promoting new destinations.

Thailand attracted 26 million foreign tourists last year, with China topping the list at 4.7 million visitors. The number of Chinese visitors to Thailand fell about 20 per cent this year and Thailand is offering free visas to encourage more tourists from that country. However, there is no scheme to offer free visas to Indians yet.

"Tourist arrivals from India fell during months of political unrest, but now there is normal growth. Destinations like Pattaya and Phuket are well known among Indian tourists and now we are marketing destinations like Chiang Mai and hope to get repeat visitors," said Teerapong Vanichanon, deputy consul general of Thailand Consulate in Mumbai.

Chiang Mai is a city in northern Thailand and is known for its natural attractions and cultural sites, but only 40,000 Indians visited the city last year.

In May, Thai army imposed martial law following several months of protest against then prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Political unrest and imposition of martial law prompted foreign governments to issue advisories and alerts to their citizens to exercise caution while visiting Thailand. This had a ripple effect on tourism in Thailand and led to a drop in arrivals. From India, various meetings and incentive tours were cancelled and individual holiday makers postponed their trips.

Thailand receives over a lakh visitors from India every month in October, November and December while arrivals drop in other months. Last month, over 70,000 Indians visited Thailand, said Sethaphan Buddhani, director of Tourism Authority of Thailand.

"We hope to attract two million Indian visitors by 2020,'' he added.

"We invited 32 companies from Thailand to raise awareness about new destinations,'' said Lubaina Sheerazi of Blue Square Consultants, which is Thai tourism authority's west region representative. The Tourism Authority of Thailand also held roads shows in Bhubaneswar and Jaipur last month.