BANGKOK, March 19 – Thai tourists are streaming overseas for the mid-April Songkran holiday, with Japan being the preferred destination after the island nation waived visa requirements for Thai visitors last year.
Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA) president Suthipong Pheunpipop said the number of outbound tourists in April is expected to reach some 400,000 people, up 20 per cent from around 300,000-350,000 persons last year.
Some 200,000 Thais who plan to travel during the April 9-16 Songkran festival make up more than one-third of total tourists travelling during the month.
According to Mr Suthipong, most travellers will venture to Asian destinations, especially Japan, thanks to the visa exemption for Thai nationals. The rest will likely visit other Asian destinations including South Korea and China, followed by ASEAN member countries such as Singapore, Myanmar, Malaysia and Vietnam.
Mr Suthpong also said that the emergency decree lifting would boost tourist arrivals in the country as travel advisories issued by foreign countries would soon lowered.
He said Europeans are among the first groups of tourists who visit the kingdom as the emergency decree did not affect them that much when it was in effect. Then prospective tourists from Asia including Japan, China and South Korea would follow.
