Thailand attracts nearly 15 million foreign tourists in five months
Thailand received nearly 15 million foreign tourists during the first five months of this year, up 38% from the same period last year, generating over 700 billion THB (over 19 billion USD) in revenue for the country, according to Thai Government spokesman Chai Wacharonke.
Passengers at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand. (Photo: VNA)
Bangkok (VNA)🎉 - Thailand received nearly 15 million foreign tourists during the first five months of this year, up 38% from the same period last year, generating over 700 billion THB (over 19 billion USD) in revenue for the country, according to Thai Government spokesman Chai Wacharonke.
The spokesman said on June 6 that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is looking to promote the development of the tourism industry, with priority given to improving its personnel quality as part of the “Ignite Thailand” development agenda.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Ministry of Labour and the Tourism Council of Thailand will hold a training event on June 15 and 16 to enhance skills for tourism personnel, he added.
The same day, PM Srettha visited the Thai office of Agoda, the world’s biggest hotel booking platform, where he had a working session with its executives, expressing his hope that the platform will be instrumental in making 2025 an important year for the domestic tourism industry, which is on path to a full recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also had discussions with the Airports of Thailand (AoT), Thai Airways International and Thai VietJet Air to find ways to increase the frequency of flights to foreign destinations and offer more fare discounts.
Thailand aims to welcome 35 million foreign visitors this year. China topped the list of foreign arrivals to the country with 2.91 million visitors between January and May./.
The Thai government has set out to boost the country’s competitiveness by becoming a hub for skilled foreign workers as part of a long-term strategy to spur and sustain economic growth.
More Indian tourists, especially those of Gen Y and Gen Z, are visiting Thailand. They like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Phuket, and Koh Samui but have started to look at less-known destinations, according to Thai government spokesman Chai Wacharonke.
Thailand’s Ministry of Industry has established the Thai Halal Industry Centre (THIC) as an effort to turn the country into a regional leader in the production and export of halal products.
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
The facility was established in response to a growing shift in the Filipino labour force from the Middle East to Japan, where workers are seeking safer working environments.
In the latest Indonesia-US trade agreement in July, the US administration agreed to reduce the reciprocal tariff, which was initially set at 32% by US President Donald Trump last April, to 19%.
