Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), acknowledged that total tourism revenue for 2024 fell short of the projected THB 3 trillion. The initial target included THB 2 trillion from international tourists and THB 930 billion from domestic tourism. Contributing factors included the global economic slowdown, the Middle East conflict, and incomplete tracking of online spending by tourists, which impacted the accuracy of revenue data.
From January 1 to December 31, 2024, tourism generated approximately THB 2.6 trillion for Thailand's economy, a 25% increase from 2023. International arrivals reached 35.32 million, up 26.77%, contributing THB 1.66 trillion in revenue. Meanwhile, domestic tourism recorded 197.53 million trips, a 7.06% increase, generating THB 952 billion, up 11.64%.
Looking ahead to 2025, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports plans to develop a more comprehensive data collection system to better capture spending through online channels. While revenue fell short by over THB 400 billion, the number of both international and domestic tourists reached the highest targets set, highlighting strong recovery momentum in the sector.