Thursday, August 29, 2024 Thailand anticipates a surge of South Korean tourists during Chuseok, aiming for a record 2 million visitors by year-end, despite strong regional competition. Thailand is preparing for a surge of South Korean visitors during the six-day Chuseok holiday, aiming to sustain its strong performance as it anticipates reaching a record 2 million Korean tourists by year-end. Despite tough competition from Vietnam and Japan, Thai tourism operators remain optimistic.
Chuwit Sirivejkul, the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) regional marketing director for East Asia, highlighted that South Korean tourists have been among Thailand’s top inbound markets since the start of 2023. As of yesterday, Thailand had welcomed around 1.22 million South Korean visitors this year.
On weekends and holidays, daily arrivals average between 6,000 and 7,000, while weekdays see around 5,000, according to Chuwit. During last year’s Chuseok holiday, the number of South Koreans traveling abroad hit 737,687, surpassing the figures from the same period in 2019. Chuwit expects at least 23,000 South Korean tourists to visit Thailand from September 14-17 during Chuseok, with each trip estimated to cost between 40,000 to 50,000 baht (US$1,180 to 1,470).
With flights between Thailand and South Korea now fully operational, the market is projected to expand further in the final quarter, potentially reaching the 2 million mark. Last year, 1.66 million South Korean tourists visited Thailand, slightly below the 1.
88 million in 2019. Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, President of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), noted that while the number of Korean tour groups has rebounded, they are now traveling in smaller numbers. ATTA is planning a roadshow to Seoul and Kwangju in South Korea next month, recognizing these cities’ potential to draw many travelers.
Promotional efforts targeting South Korean tourists are also seen as a way to counter slower growth from markets such as Japan and China. Chuwit explained that with the rise in Korean travelers visiting Japan and Vietnam, TAT is focusing on retaining repeat visitors and enhancing its appeal to younger generations. By July, over 5.
1 million Koreans had visited Japan, while Vietnam attracted 3.6 million Korean tourists, making them the top visitor group in 2023. Chuwit noted that Japan’s weak yen has significantly boosted its attractiveness.
The TAT plans to maintain partnerships with major Korean travel agents and will host the Thailand Golf Travel Mart next month to attract international buyers, including those from South Korea. Sisdivachr stressed the importance of upholding high hospitality standards and improving accessibility to stay competitive with emerging destinations like Vietnam and established ones like Japan..
