BANGKOK
- Arrivals in Thailand rose 2.48% in December from a year earlier, following an
increase of 5.92% the previous month, Tourism Authority of Thailand has
reported.
A total
of 3.93 million tourists in December spent about 193 billion baht (US$6.35
billion), down 2.25% from a year earlier.
In 2019, the
number of foreign tourists rose 4.24% to a record 39.8 million.
Like many other countries in South-east Asia,
Thailand is facing a sharp downturn in Chinese tourists after group tours were stopped
from travelling from China due to the fast-spreading coronavirus epidemic.
It is estimated that prior to the travel ban Chinese tourists made
up almost 30% of the foreign visitors passing through Bangkok’s Don Mueang
Airport every day.
From January 3-24, The Nation reported, there were 43 flights from Wuhan city which
brought 6,982 people.
Thai
AirAsia flights scheduled between Wuhan city and Don Mueang and Phuket airports
during January 23-28 have all been cancelled.