Thai tourism targets high-spending travelers from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

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The Nation/Asia Information Community

BANGKOK — Thai tourism is concentrating on rising markets in central Asia as a rising supply of much-needed vacationer {dollars}.

Tourism Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn mentioned on Monday that vacationers from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have proven growing curiosity in visiting Thailand for the reason that Visa on Arrival was prolonged from 15 to 30 days on October 1.

On October 30, Air Astana will launch direct day by day flights from Almaty, Kazakhstan to Bangkok and Phuket, increasing from the present three flights per week. In the meantime, Sunday Airways will even add new flights this winter from main Kazakh cities akin to Almaty, Astana, Kostanay, Shymkent and Uralsk to Phuket and U-Tapao.

“Kazakh airways and tour firms mentioned final month they want to see Thailand scrap all visa necessities and charges for Kazakhstan vacationers this 12 months to allow them to promote Thailand in the course of the excessive season,” Phiphat mentioned.

In 2019, earlier than the pandemic, Thailand obtained about 56,000 vacationers from Kazakhstan, producing about 3.46 billion baht in tourism income.

The primary 9 months of 2022 noticed round 22,000 arrivals from Kazakhstan. The ministry estimates that determine will attain 55,000 by year-end, virtually returning to pre-Covid ranges.

Phiphat mentioned Uzbekistan vacationers even have excessive spending energy and qualify for the Visa on Arrival, however there are presently no direct flights from the nation to Thailand. Nationwide provider Uzbekistan Airways is making ready to renew worldwide flights after being grounded in the course of the pandemic, he added.

At present, Uzbekistan vacationers wishing to go to Thailand need to catch a flight from Tashkent or Samarkand to Almaty, Istanbul, or Dubai and seize a connecting flight to Thailand.

Over 19,000 Uzbekistan vacationers visited Thailand in 2019. The primary eight months of 2022 noticed 2,496 arrivals from Uzbekistan, with a complete of 8,500 anticipated this 12 months.

The ministry has diminished its tourism income goal for this 12 months from 1.5 trillion baht to 1.28 trillion baht after lower-than-expected bookings. Subsequent 12 months, it expects income of two.4 trillion baht from an estimated 20 million international guests and 160 million journeys made by Thais.