Mon Sep 23 22:27:00 UTC 2024: ## Domestic Tourism on Track for 200 Million Trips, but Revenue Falls Short of Target

**Bangkok, Thailand** – Thailand’s domestic tourism sector is projected to reach 200 million trips this year, a significant achievement despite falling short of the ambitious revenue target of 1 trillion baht.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reports that domestic tourism revenue for the first seven months of 2024 reached 581 billion baht, an increase of 12.4% compared to the same period last year. The number of domestic trips also rose by 8.8% to 160 million.

However, despite the strong performance, the TAT acknowledges that revenue is likely to fall short of the 1 trillion baht target. Factors such as flooding in various provinces and cautious spending by domestic travelers may hinder revenue growth in the upcoming months.

While the fourth quarter typically sees the highest tourism revenue, generating 35% of annual revenue, the TAT remains hopeful that the high season will boost spending and bring the total closer to the target.

**Second-Tier Cities in Focus**

The Federation of Thai Tourism Associations (Fetta) has proposed a strategy to increase tourism revenue and spread economic benefits across the country. They advocate for a loyalty program focusing on promoting second-tier cities, aiming to attract tourists to destinations beyond the popular tourist hubs.

Fetta suggests creating a program that rewards tourists with points for traveling to provincial airports such as U-tapao, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Chiang Rai, Krabi, Hat Yai, and Surat Thani. These points could then be redeemed for discounts at various businesses in these cities.

The association also calls for government incentives to encourage international airlines to fly directly to second-tier cities and facilitate convenient transfers between these cities and major tourist destinations.

**Overall Tourism Performance**

Overall tourism revenue from both domestic and international markets between January and July reached 1.4 trillion baht. The average hotel occupancy rate nationwide stood at 73%, a slight increase from the previous year.

The Central region attracted the most travelers, with 68.1 million trips generating 295 billion baht in revenue. The South region, however, earned the highest revenue of 566 billion baht, fueled by international tourists visiting popular destinations like Phuket, Phangnga, and Krabi.

The TAT and Fetta are confident that by implementing these strategies, they can stimulate tourism growth in second-tier cities, boost overall revenue, and further enhance Thailand’s position as a leading tourism destination.

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