Thailand

The Commerce Ministry reported that headline inflation rose 0.19% in Apr, the first increase in seven months, but remaining below the Bank of Thailand’s target range of 1%-3% for the twelfth consecutive month. Average annual inflation fell 0.55% in Jan-Apr

Phuket Tourist Association President urged the government to find a sustainable solution to the annual water shortage crisis in Phuket. He reported that the primary reservoirs – Bang Wad, Klong Kata, and Bang Neow Dum – are now operating at a 20% reduced capacity. He stated: “Phuket is the country’s prime tourist destination. We are supposed to have a better water supply system”. Phuket is currently negotiating with private water suppliers to procure an extra 1.4 million m3 of water, with plans to procure another 960,000 m3. The Phuket Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) is currently providing free water supplies to areas affected by drought upon request through local administrative organisations

Dragon Trail Research’s Sentiment Report for Spring 2024 has shown that 38% of Chinese travellers rated Thailand as an unsafe destination, down from a high of 51% in Aug 2023. Around 24% said Thailand was a safe destination, up from 18%. DTI attributed the improved sentiment to TAT’s Thai Always Care online campaign, which was launched to reassure international visitors and improve safety standards in Thailand

Deputy Mayor of Pattaya addressed the Koh Larn water shortage crisis, noting that this is the first time the island has faced such severe shortage. He highlighted the city’s proactive actions in handling the crisis, including through the distribution of piped water to residents and boosting seawater desalination capacity through partnerships with water treatment companies, which aims to increase production from 400 to 3,000 m3 per day within 2024

Vice President of the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) plans to discuss the need to go ahead with the plan to collect the 300 THB tourism tax with the new Tourism Minister, Sermsak Pongpanich, as soon as he takes office. He noted that most tourism stakeholders in Thailand agreed that the fee is needed as there is no other method to raise funds for priority tourism development projects. He added that there are “serious problems with safety standards” for tourism operators, as the budget for standards regulation and audit is only 10 million THB per year. Chief Executive of Siam Park City Group agreed with the necessity of collecting the fee, adding that the small amount would “definitely not impact the market”. President of the Association of Thai Travel Agents said the government should have fee collection methods that do not affect other types of arrivals, such as business travellers

IQAir ranked Chiang Mai as having the second-worst air pollution in the world on 1 May, whilst Bangkok is ranked fifth

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) reported that rails in Nakhon Si Thammarat were bent due to extremely hot weather, taking railway workers about an hour to cool them down and restore it to normal condition

The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) is preparing to support the 10,000 THB digital wallet scheme, which is targeted to benefit 50 million Thai citizens. The National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) will monitor the digital initiative, whilst the Digital Government Agency (DGA) will handle the digital ID registration through its Tang Rat super-app

The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a severe heat warning for upper Thailand, with temperatures expected to reach up to 44°C in northern, central, and northeastern regions. Bangkok is expected to see a temperature of up to 42°C. TMD also forecasts a westerly wind flow to affect the upper northern and upper northeastern regions from 3-7 May, which, along with the southwest and southerly winds, could lead to summer storms with thunderstorms, strong winds, and possible hail in some areas

The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) believes that water shortage due to El Niño in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) could be avoided, as 1.18 million m3 of water supplies have been prepared for factories in the area during the dry season

The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Agency (Gistda) reported 166 hotspots in Chiang Mai on 28 Apr, with the Chiang Mai Provincial Wildfire and Pollution Control Command Centre reporting 52 additional hotspots on 29 Apr. Chiang Mai’s six air quality monitoring stations also recorded unhealthy levels of PM2.5 matter

The Tourism Minister and the Culture Minister will switch roles under the cabinet reshuffle. Culture Minister Sermsak Pongpanich will become the tourism minister, whilst Tourism Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol will become the Culture Minister

The Tourism Ministry reported that Thailand welcomed 11.95 million international arrivals YTD as of 28 Apr, generating 575 billion THB in revenue

TAT and UnionPay International (UPI) have signed a two-year Letter of Intent (LOI) to cooperate in promoting Thailand’s tourism to Chinese visitors and UnionPay cardholders through collaborations like co-funded joint marketing initiatives, joint promotions and press releases, and data sharing, as well as specific marketing and outreach towards UnionPay’s high-tiered clients with high income to encourage travel to Thailand and stimulate high spending

The Provincial Electricity Authority for Phuket (PEA Phuket) announced that the south side of Phuket Town will experience a series of power outages on 30 Apr. The outages will be in 30 minute-periods throughout the morning and afternoon, in order to lessen the impact on local businesses and residents

The tourism ministries of Thailand and Brunei signed an MoU on tourism cooperation, which reaffirmed commitment on strengthening collaboration in trade, investment, the halal industry, tourism, the digital economy and people-to-people exchanges through existing bilateral methods. They also agreed to develop the “Six Countries, One Destination” scheme proposed by Thailand; cooperate in health and wellness tourism, ecotourism, and Muslim-friendly tourism; as well as cooperate on increasing Thailand-Brunei flight routes

Bank of Thailand to launch QR-code cross-border payment system between Thailand and India by Q3, with plans to extend the system to become a multinational payment network across Asia. Assistant Governor for Payment Systems Policy and the Financial Consumer Protection Group at the Bank of Thailand said that the next phase cross-border payments will include money transfers across regions through multinational linkages, instead of the current bilateral arrangements

The Phuket Provincial Agricultural Office introduced the “Fusion Farm” project, which aims to strengthen knowledge and develop the potential of an expected 400 local farmers annually whilst maintaining product price stability and improving quality standards. The project also aims to develop agricultural tourism, in line with the Bio-Circular-Green Economic Model under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives

Khanh Hoa Province hosted a conference in Bangkok, Thailand on 26 Apr. Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand said there is great potential for tourism cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand. In 2023, 500,000 Thai tourists visited Vietnam and 900,000 Vietnamese tourists travelled to Thailand

The Labour Minister announced that the tripartite wage committee’s decision on the planned increase in minimum daily wage to 400 THB is expected to be announced on 1 Oct

Phuket City launched a water management campaign, calling on the public to be more mindful and economical with their water usage, not only during the dry season but also year-round

The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) announced that the Phuket has been selected to host the Global Sustainable Tourism Conference in Apr 2026. The event is expected to welcome over 700 attendees from over 60 countries, and generate over 50 million THB in revenue

Deputy Government Spokesperson announced that the planned increase in minimum daily wage to 400 THB has been postponed and will not start on 1 May. The government is now awaiting approval from the 22nd tripartite wage committee meeting, which is scheduled for 14 May

The Commerce Ministry reported that Thailand has seen over 35 billion THB in foreign investment within Q1 2024. Thailand also saw over 178 international entrepreneurs seeking permission to establish businesses in Thailand in Q1, with 53 choosing to establish their businesses in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). Over 35.9 million THB was invested in business ventures, creating over 849 job opportunities for Thais. The top five foreign investors include Japan with 40 individuals investing 19.06 million THB, primarily into advertising or solar energy businesses; followed by Singapore with 32 individuals investing 3.294 million THB, primarily into health rehabilitation services or e-commerce businesses; the US with 29 individuals investing 1.048 million THB, primarily into engineering services or IT businesses; China with 20 individuals investing 2.886 million THB, primarily into metal or software businesses; and Hong Kong with 11 individuals investing 1.017 million THB, primarily into retail businesses or vehicle parts manufacturing ventures

Middle East and North Africa (MENA) online travel marketplace Wego has extended its partnership with TAT for the fourth consecutive year

The Korea Tourism Organisation partnered with the KTC (Krungthai Card Public Company Limited) for the “Korea Everything” campaign, aiming to encourage KTC credit card members to choose South Korea as their travel destination. KTC Head of Credit Card Marketing reported that total KTC credit card spending in the travel category increased throughout 2023, particularly on Korean routes in H2. The number of cardmembers’ spend in Korea increased by 38%, with average spending of 17,500 THB per member. Bookings for airline tickets, accommodation, and Korean tour packages at KTC World Travel Service by KTC credit card members increased by 378% YoY in 2023, nearing pre-pandemic levels. KTC World Travel Service has curated 3D2N packages to Seoul and Busan. It also offers discounts for airline tickets, shuttle service, and attraction entrance tickets for FITs. KTC also partnered with Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, and Thai Airways, to offer discounts and extra reward points for direct flight bookings made on the airlines’ respective websites from 1 May-30 Nov

The Thai and Bangladeshi PMs oversaw the signing of five agreements and MoUs, including a mutual visa exemption agreement for passport holders of both countries, as well as an MoU on tourism cooperation between the two countries’ Tourism Ministries

The Thai Foreign Ministry Spokesperson called for a “more proactive ASEAN” to help resolve the conflict in Myanmar. Thailand proposed a meeting on the issue that would include Laos, as well as previous year’s chair Indonesia and next year’s chair Malaysia

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) gave Thailand a readiness score of 72 out of 100 in its “Smart Tourism Ecosystem Development Readiness in Southeast Asia” report, ranking first in ASEAN

Agoda reported that searches from Japanese users for Thailand increased by 60% YoY from Jan to mid-Mar 2024. Popular destinations include Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Koh Samui, with Chon Buri and Khao Lak also gaining popularity

The Department of Trade Strategy of the Ministry of Commerce urged the government to make Thailand a hub for all-gender weddings in Asia. Thai wedding planning company Wonders and Weddings forecasts a surge in wedding bookings if same-sex marriage is officially legalised, with LGBTQIA+ couples accounting for 25% of the bookings

TAT invites hotel operators and tourists to join its CF-Hotels initiative, which allows hotel and accommodation operators to create a database of environmental inventory (energy, water, waste and greenhouse gases) and calculate the carbon footprint of their operations via an online platform. The platform currently has a network of 160 hotels nationwide, and tourists are encouraged to stay at said hotels where possible to help reduce the impacts of climate change

TAT has soft-opened its Chicago Office, which is expected to be fully operational on 1 Aug. It is TAT’s third office in the US, after Los Angeles and New York

President of the Thai Hotels Association (THA) said that electricity expenses for hotels could increase to 20% of total costs during the hot season, compared to 10% in the cool season. He added that this could be challenging for hotels, along with rising fuel costs, and the proposed minimum wage hike. He noted that hotels may not be able to pass the costs to guests, especially small hotels still recovering from the pandemic that still rely on price competition during the low season. He believes occupancy rate in May could come in at around 50%, similar to May 2023. Vice President of THA’s Western Chapter urges the government to considering a low interest rate of 2%-3% for small and independent hotels that wants to invest in clean energy or install energy-saving equipment, as that would help hotels reduce energy costs whilst contributing to the global net-zero goal

The Foreign Affairs Minister of Mongolia paid a courtesy call on the Deputy PM and Foreign Affairs Minister of Thailand. The two sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations in various areas, including tourism, trade and investments, as well as connectivity and development

The Thai and Kazakh Foreign Ministers have signed a mutual visa exemption agreement, allowing passport holders from both countries to enter each other’s countries without visa for up to 30 days per visit, with a maximum of 90 days within a six-month period. The visa exemption policy is set to take effect 30 days after both countries complete their legal formalities

The Tourism Ministry reported that the 2024 Songkran Festival from 1-21 Apr attracted 1,926,443 foreign visitors, +37.54% YoY, and generated 140.335 billion THB in revenue, including 42.06 billion THB for the accommodation sector, 33.06 billion THB for the F&B sector, 15.50 billion THB for the travel sector, 14.75 billion THB for entertainment, 5.86 billion THB for tourism services, and 2.23 billion for others. China was the top source market during the period with 395,830 visitors (+89.16% YoY), followed by Malaysia (298,263; +41.62% YoY), India (114,330; +27.53% YoY), Russia (104,538; +19.61%), South Korea (84,539; +36.02% YoY), Laos (66,396; +43.59% YoY), the UK (60,495; +11.31% YoY), Taiwan (60,153; +58.74% YoY), the US (56,068; +10.43% YoY), and Indonesia (55,969; +64.52% YoY). There were 13,897,988 Thai travellers during the period, generating 50.12 billion THB. There were 461,509 foreign visitors from 12-16 Apr alone, generating 21.54 billion THB, as well as 4,337,848 domestic travellers, generating 16.48 billion THB

President of the Tourism Council of Rayong urged the government to create “buffer zones” to clearly separate tourism areas and industrial areas, following a chemical warehouse explosion in the province. He said that whilst the explosion may not immediately impact tourism sentiment as late Songkran (Wan Lai) just ended, the incident could negatively affect the province if no immediate action are taken. He reported that average hotel occupancy rate this week fell to 50%-60% from the level before the explosion, and noted that the incident may discourage visitors during the upcoming fruit season

TAT expects Thailand to welcome 996,000 international arrivals during the 26 Apr-5 May period (Labour Day holiday and Japan’s Golden Week), +29% YoY, with an average of 89,000 international arrivals per day. Tourism income is expected to reach 32.3 billion THB, +35% YoY. Arrivals from China during the period is expected to reach 230,000, +75% YoY, with spending by Chinese tourists expected to reach 9.1 billion THB, +144% YoY. Chinese tourists are expected to start travelling 1-5 days prior to the Labour Day holiday on 1-5 Mar. Arrivals from Japan during the period is expected to reach 41,000, +30% YoY, with spending by Japanese tourists expected to reach 1.39 billion THB, +76% YoY. Japanese tourists are expected to start travelling on 26 Apr, ahead of the Golden Week holiday on 29 Apr-5 May

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has opened bookings for a series of special train tours aboard the Kiha 183 train, featuring 14 trips across nine routes, with trips scheduled on weekends from May-Jun. The destinations include Saraburi, Chachoengsao, and Phetchaburi in May, as well as Lopburi, Chachoengsao, Nakhon Nayok, and Ayutthaya in Jun

The Association of Thai Travel Agents (Atta) President said that Thailand is entering its annual tourism low season, which comes after the Songkran holiday. He noted that tourists from western, eastern, and European regions usually gradually decline, but Thailand traditionally sees a “strong presence” from Taiwanese and Indian tourists during the low season. He added that visitors from China is an exception to the low season trend due to the visa-free agreement. Thailand sees an average of around 20,000-22,000 Chinese arrivals daily, on track to meet TAT’s target of 8 million Chinese visitors by year-end, if the trend continues until Q4. The Atta President also warned of escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which could affect Thailand’s tourism economy

PM Thavisin held a conference with heads of consular missions from 12 countries, as well as police officers from all units, to address foreigners’ law violations in Phuket and how to prevent them. The PM aims to establish the “Phuket Model” to manage tourism and security, which will be extended to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Pattaya if successful

The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) is promoting Thailand as a high-value MICE destination, focused on the 3Ls: Larger than Life – about making each moment count; Localised – aimed at deepening connections with Thailand through experiences with local communities; and Lasting Change – encouraging travellers to create memories whilst driving socially responsible actions for change. The 3Ls aim to promote net-zero carbon emissions and sustainable practices, as well as boost sustainable development between the MICE industry and local communities, through community engagement programmes, MICE sustainability alliance-building, and setting a National and International Sustainability Standard for Thai MICE operators. TCEB is also collaborating with over 50 attractions to offer the “one trip, multiple locations” concept to MICE groups

A malfunctioning aircraft was stuck on a runway at Phuket International Airport on 23 Apr, leading to the closure of the runway, which affected a total of 15 flights – five inbound flights were diverted, five inbound flights were “unable to land”, whilst five outbound flights were delayed. Normal runway operations have resumed

Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport was ranked 58th in Skytrax’s World’s Best Airports list, up 10 places YoY. Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport was ranked 10th in the Low-Cost Airline Terminals list

Secretary General of the Federation of Thai Tourism Associations (Fetta) announced that the federation will present a white paper to the government, which will include solutions to prevent overtourism. He noted that key destinations like Phuket, Samui, and Pattaya are “on the verge of facing overtourism”, adding that Phuket has been seeing traffic congestion, water shortages, and lack of airline slots during the high season. He said that one of the strategies is to attract tourists to secondary cities, including by offering incentives for airlines who operate direct flights to provincial airports, which can alleviate congestion among the main gateways. He added that authorities should also improve connectivity between airports to inner cities. Vice President of the Tourism Council of Thailand said the government should reconsider the 300 THB tourism fee to fund tourism development. He noted that the fee would help tourism authorities obtain a larger budget, and believes that a mere 300 THB tax would not discourage foreign tourists from visiting Thailand

The State Railway of Thailand has approved the 341.35 billion THB-worth second phase of the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail, which connects Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai. SRT will present the project to the Transport Ministry, who will then propose it for cabinet approval within 2024

Hua Hin Mayor held a meeting with local government authorities to discuss immediate and long-term solutions to tackle water shortage and the decreasing water levels at the Hua Na reservoir. The mayor has approved a temporary water station at the Wat Khao Krailas police booth to help the worst-hit areas like Khao Takiap, Hua Don, and Hua Thanon. Khao Yai National Park’s Haew Narok Waterfall has also run dry due to prolonged drought conditions

Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) Region 11 (Phuket) branch submitted four formal requests to PM Thavisin during his visit to Phuket on 19 Apr. The first request is to establish Phuket as a special economic zone for tourism. TCT is seeking a budget allocation of 1%-5% of the revenue from Phuket’s service and tourism sector currently remitted to the central government. The second request is to construct a community marina or marine transportation service around Phuket, comprising ten piers with a budget of 300 million THB. The third request is for the approval of a 397.524 million THB budget for a project to improve Phuket’s traffic management using AI. The fourth request is for the central government to assist small hotels and approve environmental protection measures for Phuket by end-Apr

The Energy Policy and Planning Office reported that electricity demand surged to a record 35,830 megawatts at 8.58pm on 22 Apr amid an average nationwide temperature of 35°C-38°C, breaking the previous high of 34,656 megawatts on 6 Apr

The Highways Department announced that a 50km section of the Motorway 81, between the western Nakhon Pathom and Kanchanaburi gates, will be open for free from 3pm on Friday to 9pm on Sunday each week

The 10,000 THB digital wallet scheme has gained Cabinet approval

The Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) urged the government to promote 10 second-tier provinces as first-tier provinces to further revenue distribution. The ten provinces include Phrae, Lampang, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Phanom, Sisaket, Chanthaburi, Ratchaburi, Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Trang. PM Thavisin has approved tha plan in principle and has set up a working group in collaboration with the TCC and other public agencies. Nakhon Phanom has been selected as the inaugural province on 5 Apr, and nine other provinces are expected to be covered within 2024. The plan is part of the government’s tourism promotion policy across three dimensions: to unlock the potential of targeted provinces to the global stage; to develop public utility systems and infrastructure for secondary cities; and to promote sustainable development of the local economy by stimulating the domestic tourism market and income for SMEs

PM Thavisin called on the UN’s Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) to help in identifying solutions to promote sustainable development in Asia-Pacific, during his address at the 80th ESCAP session in Bangkok on 22 Apr

The Thai Cabinet has extended the 60-day visa exemption policy for Russian visitors from 1 May-31 Jul

Milieu Insight survey has shown that Thais consider travel spots/sceneries the most when travelling domestically (77%), followed by safety of travel and destination (67%), weather of the destination (64%), cost of the whole vacation (54%), and distance of the destination from where they live (47%). They are least concerned about the promotion of the destination (18%) and recommendation of the destination from friends/family (18%)

Thailand has provided humanitarian assistance to more than 3,000 Myanmar citizens who took refuge in Tak province

The Tourism Ministry reported that Thailand welcomed 1.5 million international arrivals from 1-16 Apr, +40.96% YoY, generating a revenue of 70.22 billion THB, +47.98% YoY. Tourists spent an average of 46,968 THB per pax per trip, +4.98% YoY. China was the top source market with 306,314 visitors (+91.64% YoY), followed by Malaysia (239,633 visitors; +64.26% YoY), India (84,022; +22.46% YoY), Russia (82,451; +13.87% YoY), South Korea (66,042; +39.57% YoY), the UK (49,040; +9.36% YoY), Indonesia (46,953; +142.8% YoY), Taiwan (45,296; +53.21% YoY), Laos (45,141; 41.05%), and the US (43,934; +9.93% YoY)

The Phuket Bike Week was held from 19-20 Apr, with the estimated participation of 50,000 people, bringing 5,000 vehicles, including classic motorbikes and cars

The Meteorological Department forecasts extremely hot weather in the North, the Northeast, the Central Plains and the East from 22-26 Apr, with temperatures expected to peak at 43°C in the North on 22 Apr

Phuket held tourism promotion roadshows in three Chinese cities – Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Chengdu – from 8-12 Apr. Vice President of the Phuket Administration Organisation said the organisers expects the roadshow would attract an additional one million tourists from China to Phuket by year-end, injecting around 40 billion THB in tourism revenue

PM Thavisin said that F1 executives were in Bangkok to survey and study routes for Formula 1 races, at the invitation of the Thai government. The PM met with F1 Chief Executive in Mar to discuss the possibility of Thailand hosting a street race. Deputy Secretary-General to the PM estimates that if Thailand was granted the rights to host an F1 race in 2027, it could generate about 4 billion THB in economic value and generate over 1,000 jobs

President of the Thai Restaurant Association advised the government to consider building an integrated entertainment complex in a second-tier city, and to promote local dishes in the complex

The Sri Lankan Finance Ministry revealed that AirAsia Consulting is one of the six bidders who has submitted a request for qualification from potential investors for the acquisition of shares in SriLankan Airlines Limited

Chair of the National Committee on Soft Power Development announced that the government will launch the One Family One Soft Power (Ofos) project in Jun, aiming to create 20 million jobs with a minimum annual salary of 200,000 THB. The project will offer free upskilling and reskilling courses to Thai citizens, with registration starting in early Jun. The courses are expected to see 266,400 online and 30,210 onsite participants, and will cover occupational skills in various industries, including tourism, food, film and drama, music, sports, fashion, festival, book, video game, and art. One of the project’s courses is the “One Village One Thai Food Chef”, which was designed by the Chair of the Food Industry Steering Committee of the National Committee on Soft Power Development, who is also a famous Thai chef

The annual Pattaya Flowing Day, or Wan Lai, was held on 19 Apr

President of the Thai Hotels Association (THA) expects occupancy rate in Pattaya to reach 70% this weekend during Wan Lai, or the late Songkran celebration, which is being held from 16-21 Apr in many areas, including Bang Saen, Na Kluea, and at major shopping malls in Pattaya. Occupancy rate is expected to drop from the over 90% recorded during the peak Songkran travel period of 14-13 Apr. The THA President also expects hotels to receive many last-minute bookings during this weekend. She added that a lot of visitors for Wan Lai are young travellers from the area and surrounding provinces, opting for daytrips or overnight at budget hotels. She said that even second-tier provinces in the region like Chanthaburi are seeing many tourists for its Wan Lai events. She stated: “Despite a sluggish economy, domestic tourists are still allocating a travel budget and visiting Pattaya because of various activities and accommodation options, including several budget choices”. She noted that families that are repeat guests of 4- and 5-star hotels already checked out following the end of major Songkran events. She said most hotels were fully operational during the long holiday, including those focusing on large tour groups, but noted that average daily room in Pattaya is still lower compared to 2019. She estimates revenue to be around 80% of pre-pandemic levels, attributed to a slow recovery of flights. She criticised the government’s promotion of the 21-day Songkran Festival, saying that it did not have an effective strategy and did not successfully attract a lot of tourists

The New York Legislative Assembly adopted a resolution designating Songkran as an important cultural event for the Asian-American community in the state. In the resolution, it is noted that Songkran is not only celebrated in Thailand, but also in Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, as well as among minorities in Vietnam, China’s Yunnan province and in Sri Lanka

A consortium of Phuket companies, PKCD, and the Sustainable Tourism Development Foundation to launch a free air-conditioned electric bus service in Phuket Town from 9 May. The service is operated by Smart Bus EV and will operate every day as a trial period. The bus will run along a circular route every 30 minutes, and features 16 stops

TAT to launch the month-long Nihao Festival in Oct on Yaowarat Road in Bangkok’s Chinatown, aiming to attract Chinese tourists during China’s National Day Golden Week. TAT also plans to urge tour operators to offer deals and promotions for Chinese visitors throughout Oct

Head of the Central Restaurants Group forecasts the restaurant market in Thailand to grow by 5%-7% in 2024, reaching a value of around 480 billion THB. He noted several challenges such as rising household debt and expenses, like logistics, as well as China’s economic situation, geopolitical tension and economic uncertainties related to key trading partners, such as the US, and the ongoing elections in Russia and India. He outlined three emerging trends in the restaurant industry, including: • A shift back to traditional sales channels – 30% of the company’s sales during the pandemic came from delivery channels, but it has now declined to 20% • A noticeable change in customer preferences – there is an increasing demand for unique culinary experiences and more premium dishes, as well as a change in dining habit, with many restaurants now catering to late-night diners • A shift in customer demographic – restaurants need to devise new strategies as family sizes reduce and single-person households become more common • Technology has started to play a key role – many establishments now use tech solutions to streamline order taking, whether at the table, counter, or via a kiosk, and also to facilitate contactless payments

PM Thavisin met with a group of Middle Eastern and Chinese companies, including Emaar Group, Broad Group and Vatone Group, to discuss plans to “build the world’s tallest building in Thailand”. Emaar is the company behind Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world. Founder of Emaar said that the project would not be developed by the company, but by a group of investors that includes him in a personal capacity. The project, which is proposed to be located in Bangkok, will include a department store, offices, a financial hub, a hotel, and an entertainment centre

TAT and Klook signed a Letter of Intent of Strategic Partnership to strengthen cooperation on promoting and developing quality tourism experiences in Thailand. The two parties agreed to increase awareness and travel demand to Thailand, utilise Thai soft power to promote meaningful travel experiences in primary and secondary cities, strengthen efforts on promoting sustainable and community tourism, and adopt digital transformation to boost Thai tourism industry. Both sides also agreed to collaborate on forging partnerships with major ticketed festivals in Thailand, in order to offer an integrated booking experience, with an extension to in-destination services such as accommodation, curated experiences, and local attractions. Klook currently offers nearly 1,700 experiences and over 10,000 packages in Thailand, with the number expected to rise by 20% in 2024, including curated experiences in line with the Thai five soft power

PM Thavisin to visit Phuket on 19 Apr to receive a briefing at Phuket International Airport on ongoing traffic improvement projects, as well as inspecting the construction sites of the Airport Connection Bridge, Sarasin Bridge, and the overpass project at the intersection of Highway No. 402 and Highway No. 4027

President of the Southern Chapter of the Thai Hotels Association believes that conflict in the Middle East would not affect Phuket’s hotels in Q2, as it is the low season for long-haul markets. Tourists from the Middle East are expected to come to Phuket again during the rainy season in Jul-Aug

A “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire”-themed attraction has been opened at Columbia Pictures Aquaverse in Pattaya, featuring Ghostbusters-themed bumper cars, complete with projection mapping for visual effects throughout the ride

Deputy PM announced that Thailand has submitted an application to join as a member of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), with the majority of OECD member countries supporting the application. The Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) estimates that joining OECD could increase Thailand’s GDP by 1.6% or 200 billion THB

The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) reported that the upper region of Thailand is experiencing extremely hot weather due to a low-pressure area from intense heat, with could likely lead to afternoon thunderstorms

Chief of the Phuket Irrigation Office reported that the water levels in the province’s three main reservoirs are enough to last until end-May, noting that there “will be no problem” as rainfall is expected in May

Phuket Mayor stated that the Phuket Municipality has sent a letter to the PM requesting to become a special administrative organisation, in order to make Phuket’s administrative system more flexible to expedite the resolution of problems and increase urban development opportunities to compete with major tourist cities around the world. PM Thavisin said that he had not received the proposal yet, but will consider it and gather opinions from all sectors once he does. The proposal includes enacting 17 more laws to manage the city in an integrated manner, including laws on tourism and travel guides, as well as immigration. Under the plan, the structure and administration of Phuket City will be under the supervision of the Phuket Special City Supervisory Committee, which reports directly to the Cabinet

Director-General of the Revenue Department said that the deparment has increased its revenue collection target to 2.27 trillion THB for FY2024, +3% from 2.02 trillion in FY2023. The increase is in line with the National Economic and Social Development Council’s GDP growth estimate of 2.7% and the Fiscal Policy Office’s estimate of 2.8%. Tax collection reached 766 billion THB from Oct 2023-Feb 2024, +1.6% YoY. The Revenue Department listed several sectors with growth potential, including tourism-related sectors, which are expected to grow owing to government policies such as visa exemptions

A delegation of Phuket officials went on a 3-day visit to Chengdu in China to explore potential collaborations in tourism, trade, and investment. The delegation was led by the President of the Phuket Chamber of Commerce and includes the Commander of the Phuket Provincial Police and the Phuket Vice Governor, among others. One of the discussions include the application of drones to tackle various issues in Phuket, such as traffic management and tourist assistance

Deputy Transport Minister revealed that the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) expects the last two out of 14 construction contracts for the first phase of the Thai-Chinese high-speed railway, which connects Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima, to be signed soon. The contract covering the 9.9 billion THB Ban Pho–Phra Kaeo section in Ayutthaya is expected to be signed after a heritage impact assessment (HIA) report on the proposed Ayutthaya station is completed. The Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy expects to submit the HIA report to UNESCO within Apr. The other contract covers the Bang Sue-Don Mueang section in Bangkok, of which the initial design is connected to the high-speed railway linking the Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-Tapao airports. Construction for the railway has not started as Asia Era One Company, who holds the concession, is seeking to renegotiate some terms of its contract. The Board of Investment (BoI) is expected to approve the contract by 22 May. If not approved, the government need to find another solution, such as for SRT to solely invest in the Bang Sue-Don Mueang section. Final decision by SRT is expected in end-May

True Corporation’s Mobility Data has shown that around 19% of Bangkok residents travelled during the Songkran holiday from 13-15 Apr, with the top destination provinces including Buriram, Ubon Ratchathani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Si Sa Ket, and Khon Kaen. Some of the most crowded areas at night during Songkran events include Songkran Midnight at Khaow Tiphya Road in Chanthaburi, Khao San Road in Bangkok, and Patong Beach in Phuket on 13 Apr; Siam Songkran Music Festival and Summerland Water Fest at RCA in Bangkok, ICON SIAM in Bangkok, S2O Songkran Music Festival at Live Park Rama 9 in Bangkok and Bangkok's Old City Songkran at Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya on 15 Apr; Pre-Sand Pagoda Ceremony at Bang Saen in Chonburi, Pak Chong at Mitr Phap Road in Nakhon Ratchasima, and Khaow Hang Road in Sakon Nakhon on 16 Apr. Bangkok was the top province with the highest data usage during the Songkran Festival, followed by Chonburi, Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani, and Nonthaburi

The government spokesperson said that Thailand and New Zealand will strengthen strategic partnership in 2026 to mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties, with increased cooperation in various areas of mutual interest, including tourism, culture, security, trade and investment, science and technology, and closer people-to-people ties. Thailand and New Zealand also agreed to prioritise visa facilitation and the resumption of direct flights, with the goal of attracting 100,000 tourists from New Zealand to Thailand and 40,000 tourists from Thailand to New Zealand by 2025. Thai Aviation Industries Co Ltd and New Zealand’s NZSkydive Limited signed an MoU on supply, repair, and maintenance support

Thailand hopes to sign a tourism deal within 2024 with the Philippines to push the “Two Countries, One Destination” initiative. The Thai Ambassador to the Philippines revealed that stakeholders are in talks for a possible direct Cebu-Phuket flight

The Thai Cabinet has approved the permanent visa exemption for tourists from Kazakhstan

TAT reported that the “Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024”, held at Sanam Luang and Ratchadamnoen Avenue on 11-15 Apr, attracted over 780,000 visitors, including around 81,000 foreign tourists, and generated around 2.8 billion THB, including around 742 million THB in tax revenue

Highway police in Nakhon Ratchasima opened an extra lane for reversing traffic near kilometre 40 in Pak Chong district to ease traffic flow after congestion worsened since the night of 15 Apr, one day before the end of the Songkran holiday period

Officers at Bali Hai Pier in South Pattaya reported a surge of tourists during the Songkran holiday period, with 41,708 passengers embarking on island trips from 12-15 Apr, including 8,102 passengers across 42 ferry services on 12 Apr; 16,885 passengers across 87 ferry services on 13 Apr; 7,462 passengers across 36 ferry services on 14 Apr; and 9,259 passengers across 48 ferry services on 15 Apr. The total number of visitors is expected to reach 120,000 when accounting for speedboat trips

Chiang Mai Zoo reopened its aquarium on 1 Apr after being closed in 2023 for a 29-million-THB renovation. The Director-General of the Zoological Park Organization of Thailand (ZPO) expects a 10% increase in aquarium income from admission fees following the reopening. ZPO plans to provide an additional 1 million THB budget to the aquarium for sourcing more marine species

The Deputy Finance Minister said that a super app is being developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) and the Digital Government Development Agency (DGA) to be used for digital-based policies, including the 10,000 THB digital wallet scheme. The app will work in sync with existing mobile banking apps on users’ phone

The Tourism Ministry reported that Thailand has welcomed 10,723,953 international arrivals as of 14 Apr, +140% YoY, generating an income of 518 billion THB. China was the top source market with over 2 million visitors, followed by Malaysia (1.39 million), Russia (695,624), South Korea (619,186), and India (546,935). Thailand welcomed 735,802 international arrivals from 8-14 Apr, +19% WoW, with an average of 105,115 visitors per dat. Malaysia was the top source market during the period with 150,390 visitors, followed by China (148,653), India (36,056), Russia (34,671), and South Korea (30,427)

The Transport Ministry reported that there were 15,035,465 trips made during the Songkran holiday from 11-16 Apr, +7.92% YoY. A total of 485,323 people travelled by rail, 543,017 by air, and 822,725 by road. There were 13,877,651 vehicles departing and entering Bangkok during the period. A total of 1,811 accidents were recorded during the period, -9.2% YoY, with 1,837 injured people and 243 deaths, down from 2,005 and 223, respectively, in 2023. Motorcycles were the top vehicle type involved in accidents at 684, followed by four-wheel pickup trucks (608 accidents), private vehicles (517), lorries with over 10 wheels (47), six-wheel lorries (39) and tuk-tuks (33)

The Department of Rail Transport recorded 6.55 million train passengers in and around Bangkok, as well as to/from Bangkok, during the 6-day Songkran period, +21.22% YoY. A total of 6,071,358 passengers used electric trains in Bangkok on the Green, Blue, Gold, Yellow, Pink, Red and Purple lines, and the Airport Link, whilst 485,323 used State Railway of Thailand services. There were 793,018 train passengers on 16 Apr alone, the last day of the holiday, -10.55% compared to early projections

President of Transport Company Ltd reported that there were 99,995 public bus and van passengers during the Songkran holiday on 15-17 Apr, across over 6,689 trips

Herbalife Asia Pacific Extravaganza 2024 to be held in Bangkok’s IMPACT Arena from 9-12 May, expected to attract 25,000 participants. Money 20/20 to be held at Bangkok’s Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC) and is expected to attract around 4,000 participants. Both events were held in Singapore in previous years, but is now moved to Thailand. QSNCC will also hold FIFA Congress 2024 on 17 May, expected to welcome 1,300 participants, as well as the 32nd Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis from 22-26 Jun, expected to welcome 7,000 participants. IMPACT Arena will host the Bangkok for the Global Leadership and Innovation Conference 2024 in Oct, with the expected participation of 20,000 Unicity delegates. China’s Infinitus will hold its annual event in Thailand in Noong Nooch, Pattaya, from 12-19 May, expected to attract 3,500 delegates

The Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Region 4 Forward Command and the Southern Border Provinces People’s Assembly co-hosted the 2024 Melayu Raya Event on 13 Apr at Wasukri Beach in Pattani, attracting over 8,000 youths from southern provinces

TAT reported that the “Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024”, held at Sanam Luang and Ratchadamnoen Avenue in Bangkok on 11-15 Apr, attracted 784,883 visitors, including 693,288 locals and 91,595 international visitors. The event’s occupancy rate was 3.94%. It generated over 2.88 billion THB in economic activity, including 742 million THB in tax revenue. Of the local visitors, 72.18% were from Bangkok, 22.28% were from surrounding provinces, whilst 5.54% were from other provinces. Shops within the event recorded a sales value of 9.33 million THB, with the OTOP zone generating 7.29 million THB, the soft power zone recording 1.9 million THB, the food trucks generating 1.29 million THB, restaurants generating 640,476 THB, and the retro activity zone generating 101,160 THB. Over 500 small vendors outside the event reported additional revenue during the event. The event reportedly benefitted over 2,000 people in the service industry through job creation and an increase in income. TAT’s survey of the event found out that: • Main information sources for the event was online media (62.88%), followed by word of mouth (12.75%) and television (10.72%) • Thai visitors expressed a high level of satisfaction at 4.2622 whilst international tourist satisfaction was at 4.2485 • Shopkeepers expressed a satisfaction level of 4.4557 for stores within the event and 4.5357 for stores outside the event • Satisfaction for the parade was rated 4.2666 • 57.34% of participants were aware of Songkran Festival’s designation as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage

A fire broke out on a sightseeing boat on the Chao Phraya River in Ayutthaya. The boat was carrying 24 tourists, including 5 children, as well as two crew members. All passengers and crew members were successfully evacuated

Meliá Hotels International expands partnership with Asset World Corporation (AWC) to launch two new properties, namely Meliá Pattaya City and Paradisus Jomtien Resort, the first Paradisus-branded property in the region

Tourism operators expressed mixed opinions in response to calls for elected provincial governors to replace appointed governors. Local communities in Chiang Mai recently criticised the performance of appointed governors in handling the hazardous smog in the North on social media. President of the Association of Thai Travel Agents believes that provincial governors should play a greater role in developing local economies, especially tourism, as well as tackling issues regarding tourist safety. He expressed agreement “with locals who want provincial governors to be elected”, adding that “elected governors won't be afraid to get their hands dirty if they know constituents gave them the authority, unlike appointed governors who still have to consider their career path”. Board Advisor for the Thai Hotels Association’s Northern Chapter said appointed governors can still play a key role in the provinces as they are directly connected with the national government and will balance the local administrative power of the elected municipal mayor and the president of the provincial administrative organisation (PAO). She added that some provinces might not have appropriate local candidates who know the strengths and weaknesses of their areas

PM Thavisin addressed the rumours about cabinet reshuffling, stating that if there were to be changes, discussions would be needed and would involve a number of parties, such as the Secretary-General of the Prime Minister, the leader of the coalition party, and the leader of the Pheu Thai Party. Discussions is expected to take place immediately after the Songkran holiday. He also said that many problems have not been solved satisfactorily in the last 7 months since he’s taken office. He noted that tourism numbers have increased by 140% vs normal days since 12 Apr for Songkran. He expressed confidence that tourist arrivals will hit 39.4 million in 2024 due to the visa exemption for several markets, the easing of checks on tourists, and the resolution of problems with unlicensed tour guides and cab drivers

The Thailand Culinary Image Assessment and Michelin Guide Thailand 2023 survey has shown that: • Japan is the top destination for food tourism (56%, up from 54% in 2022), followed by Thailand (44%, up from 38%); China (30%, up from 24%); South Korea (28%, down from 29%); and Hong Kong (27%, up from 25%) • Awareness of the Michelin Guide for restaurants and accommodations among foreign tourists remained at 76%, whilst awareness of the Michelin Guide Thailand increased to 18% in 2023, from 16% in 2022 • The Michelin Guide influenced travel destination choices of 62% of respondents, same as in 2022 • Overall satisfaction of foreign tourists who dine at Michelin-rated restaurants remained at 95% • 85% of foreign tourists who dine at Michelin-rated restaurants shared their dining experiences online, up from 83% in 2022 • 92% of foreign tourists who dine at Michelin-rated restaurants expressed willingness to revisit Michelin-rated restaurants, down from 93% in 2022 • 97% of foreign tourists who dine at Michelin-rated restaurants recommended these restaurants to others, down from 98% in 2022 • 95% of foreign tourists who dine at Michelin-rated restaurants tried dining at other Michelin-rated restaurants in Thailand, up from 94% in 2022 • 97% of foreign tourists who dine at Michelin-rated restaurants recommended Thailand as a culinary tourism destination, unchanged from 2022 • 40% were aware of the Michelin Guide Thailand project in 2023, and 11% or 1.86 million people, said the guide influenced their decision to visit Thailand • Additional revenue from food expenditure by foreign tourists as a result from the Michelin Guide Thailand project was approximately 262.99 million THB in 2023, up from 223.34 million THB in 2022 • Awareness of Michelin Guide the Michelin Guide for restaurants and accommodations among Thai tourists decreased to 58%, from 78% in 2022, whilst awareness of the Michelin Guide Thailand decreased to 46%, from 61% in 2022 • Overall satisfaction of Thai tourists who dine at Michelin-rated restaurants increased to 92%, from 91% in 2022

The National Soft Power Strategy Committee of Thailand aims to transform traditional events into world-renowned festivals, through research and festival organisation training. Vice President of the Committee stressed the need for better management of Thai attractions and proposed that each province should establish its own soft power committee responsible for creating unique city festivals. The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) President revealed that TCEB aims to support over 30 large events and festivals in FY2024, expected to attract around 2.3 million visitors and generate over 3.6 billion THB. Upcoming events include the Money 20/20 Expo in Bangkok in Apr, the Mango Art Festival in Bangkok in May, and the Isan Creative Festival in Khon Kaen from 29 Jun-7 Jul

The government spokesperson advised Thai nationals in Israel to “comply with safety guidelines issued by Israel” and to “follow announcements by local authorities and keep contact with the Thai embassy in case of emergencies”

The Phuket Marine Office reported that over 2,500 passengers departed Chalong Pier on 13 Apr across 119 boat trips from the pier and 36 from the marina area, for activities such as sailing, snorkelling, fishing, or sunset-watching. Koh Hei and Koh Racha were the most popular destinations, with most passengers being foreign tourists. There were a total of 379 outbound boat trips from Phuket piers on 13 Apr, carrying 11,637 passengers, +25% YoY. The number of passengers is expected to increase by around 1,000 on 14 Apr

The Transport Ministry recorded 5.63 million travellers on public transports nationwide during the Songkran period on 11-12 Apr, +0.99% YoY. Rail transportation was the most popular, with a market share of 45.4%. The central region recorded 91,442 flights, the highest number of air travellers. The northeast region saw the most travellers using land transport with 80,679 passengers, followed by the south (69,534), the north (49,728), and the east (40,671). Bangkok’s 10 main highways saw 2.21 million vehicles, +4.71% YoY. Bangkok’s motorways recorded 2.98 million vehicles, -4.62% YoY. The Transport Minister said that there were four additional train routes to serve the northern and northeastern routs, with extra carriages to accommodate the expected 100,000 passengers per day

The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda) reported that only three provinces in the North and the Northeast recorded red (seriously harmful) levels of PM2.5 matter on the morning of 14 Apr, namely Mae Hong Son, Nakhon Phanom, and Mukdahan. Orange (initially unsafe) levels of PM2.5 were recorded in 29 other provinces in the North and the Northeast. Central Plain, East and South provinces recorded moderate to good air quality

The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) expects 140-200 billion THB to circulate in Thailand during the Songkran Festival, of which 11.8 billion THB is expected to come from foreign visitors. An estimated 129 billion THB is expected to come from Thais, stimulating economic growth by 2.9%

The National Security Council (NSC) expressed concern that the exemption of the TM.6 immigration forms at land and sea border checkpoints could allow foreign criminals to enter Thailand. NSC suggested the use of the Foreign Ministry’s electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system for foreign tourists to register their information electronically regarding their stay in Thailand

The Meteorological Department expects temperature to reach to up to 41°C in the coming days, and warned the public to avoid staying outdoors for too long

Ao Nang’s Tambon Administration Organisation (TAO) said that it is considering either having a pipeline bring water from the mainland to the Phi Phi Islands or producing fresh water from the sea, amid a freshwater shortage due to the water reserve of Water Hill Company Limited – the private company that provides tap water for households, businesses, restaurants, hotels and resorts on the Phi Phi Islands – running out of water. President of the TAO said that it had received a budget to explore the two options. Large hotels, resorts and businesses on the islands remained unaffected from the water shortage as they had their own artesian wells

Hat Yai district in Songkhla expects to welcome around 100,000 Malaysian tourists this weekend during the Songkran Festival

PM Thavisin expressed readiness to upgrade Thailand and Vietnam’s relationship to a “comprehensive strategic partnership” soon. The two countries also plan to collaborate on advancing the ACMECS for inclusive and sustainable development in the Mekong sub-region

The Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) reported that tourism confidence index stood at 81 in Q1 2024, lower than the standard of 100, attributed to lower revenue for tourism operators and deflation risks. The figure is an improvement from 77 in Q4 2023 and 74 in Q1 2023. TCT President noted that the high season in Q1 led to an increase in tourism confidence from Q4 2023. Total international arrivals reached 9.4 million in Q1 2024, up from 8.1 million in Q4 2023. Tourism confidence was hampered by deflation risks slowing domestic demand, delays to FY2024 budget disbursement, and a high household debt-to-GDP ratio. Southern provinces secured the highest confidence index at 86. TCT also reported that tourism revenue reached 53% of 2019 level, down from 58% in Q4 2023 due to ongoing deflation. Hotel occupancy nationwide stood at 60%. Hotel businesses recorded the highest revenue recovery at 59% of 2019 levels, followed by the souvenir and spa business at 45% of 2019 levels. The northern region recorded the lowest sentiment at 85, compared with an average of 92. TCT forecasts the index to rise to 83 in Q2 due to the 21-day Songkran celebration, school holiday, and the FY2024 budget disbursement. TCT also forecasts international arrivals to reach 35.7 million in 2024, generating 1.68 trillion THB in revenue

Bank of Thailand’s Payment Insight Report has shown that the number of financial transactions using electronic payment platform PromptPay rose to a record high of 75.9 million per day in Dec 2023, with daily money transfers reaching an average of 54.5 million with a total value of 130 billion THB. There were an average of 538 digital payment transactions made per user in 2023, up from 135 in 2019. The average number of cash withdrawals fell to 2,118 per person in 2023, from 2,414 in 2019. Cash withdrawals value declined to 24,835 THB per person per year in 2023, down from 32,977 THB per person per year in 2019

The Royal Thai Police (RTP) aims to reduce road accidents by 5% during the “seven dangerous days” of travelling during the Songkran holiday on 10-17 Apr. RTP expects a 3.1% YoY increase in road travellers during the holiday, with the highest number of people leaving Bangkok expected to be on 12-13 Apr, and the highest number of people returning to Bangkok on 16-17 Apr

The 42nd Thailand Tourism Festival, held on 28 Mar-1 Apr at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok, attracted 152,799 attendees, more than doubling YoY, and generated an income of 63,487,357 THB. Over 96% of visitors were reportedly satisfied with the event. “Travel inspiration” increased by 89.82%, with Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Krabi as the top provinces people were most interested in visiting. The event also led to 89.49% of people surveyed becoming more interested in traveling to various communities and experiencing the Thai way of life; whilst 87.68% learned about new places and gained new experiences

The My Sawasdee special train, aimed at promoting tourism in Southern Thailand to Malaysian tourists, carried over 400 passengers from Kuala Lumpur to Hat Yai for Songkran celebrations. The Malaysian train authority will run seven more My Sawasdee train trips in 2024

The Cabinet has approved the Interior Ministry’s proposal to suspend the requirement for foreigners entering Thailand via land or sea to fill out TM.6 immigration forms from 15 Apr-15 Oct. The suspension will be implemented at eight land immigration checkpoints: Aranyaprathet in Sa Kaeo, Muang district in Mukdahan, Muang district in Nong Khai, Chiang Saen in Chiang Rai, Padang Besar and Sadao in Songkhla, Sungai Kolok in Narathiwat, and Betong in Yala. It will also be implemented at eight sea immigration checkpoints: Pattaya, Sri Racha and Sichang in Chon Buri, Map Ta Phut in Rayong, Samui in Surat Thani, and Phuket, Krabi and Surat Thani

Chiang Mai Provincial Governor announced that the province will declare a disaster relief area for emergency assistance for areas experiencing PM2.5 dust pollution crisis of Level 2 or higher. The Comptroller General's Department is currently developing criteria and guidelines for declaring the disaster relief areas. The governor added that 21 conservation forests have been closed to combat wildfires, with 25 national forest reserves also expected to be closed soon. Transportation authorities have been instructed to intensify checks of vehicles emitting black smoke to combat pollution in urban areas, whilst industrial work officials have been instructed to inspect factories emitting pollutants

The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) reported that the Thai Industries Sentiment Index rose to 92.4 in Mar, from 90.0 in Feb, attributed to an increased domestic demand driven by the visa exemption scheme and rising foreign tourist arrivals, among others

The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda) reported that Bangkok was the only province recording red (seriously harmful) levels of PM2.5 matter on the morning of 11 Apr, whilst another 62 provinces recorded orange (initially unsafe) levels

TAT expects tourism revenue to reach 614 billion THB in Q2 as the number of domestic trips surpasses Q1 due to Songkran. TAT Governor said that 246 billion THB is expected to be generated from 44.4 million domestic trips, whilst 368 billion THB is expected to be generated from 8.27 million foreign arrivals. The number of domestic trips in Q2 is also expected to surpass 2019 levels, with domestic income reaching 97% of 2019 levels. TAT recorded 41.1 million domestic trips in Q1, generating 228 billion THB. The number of international arrivals is expected to grow 29% YoY, reaching 92% of 2019 levels, whilst revenue from international markets is expected to grow 25% YoY, reaching 25% of 2019 levels. TAT expects Asian markets to stabilise in Q2, with long holidays in key markets, including Japan’s Golden Week and China’s Labour Day. TAT also expects Middle East travellers to travel overseas in Apr, following the end of Ramadhan

The annual IAAPA Expo Asia to be held from 27-30 May at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok. The event will gather global stakeholders in amusement facilities and attractions sector

A Sungai Golok Immigration Spokesperson believes that the number of Malaysians, especially those from Kelantan, travelling to Thailand are expected to surpass the average daily number of 300 visitors following the exemption of the submission of TM.6 form for foreigners from 15 Apr-15 Oct

Vice Chair of Dusit International believes that the government should focus on increasing tourist spending rather than the number of arrivals, as well as encourage tourists to visit second-tier cities, in order to boost the tourism sector. He added that the government should also expedite registration for accommodations to maintain high standards of service. He said that the growth of hotels in key cities in Thailand is continuing, owing to stronger inbound markets from the Middle East, China, Southeast Asia, and South Korea. Dusit International plans to reopen the Dusit Thani Bangkok hotel in Sep as a part of its 46 billion THB mixed-use Dusit Central Park project. The project is currently 90% completed

PM Thavisin has ordered Chiang Mai and every upper North province to prepare operation centres to deal with the haze situation, in order to reduce air pollution during peak tourist season during the Songkran Festival. The Natural Resources and Environment Minister said that all relevant parties have been working to reduce air pollution over the past months, denying criticisms that said this action is too late. He added that relevant state agencies have been instructed to work with the Foreign Affairs Ministry to discuss with neighbouring countries that are believed to have caused transboundary haze pollution in Thailand

The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce reported that consumer confidence index fell for the first time in eight months to 63.0 in Mar, from 63.8 in Feb, attributed to slow economic recovery and higher living costs

PM Thavisin announced that the 10,000 THB digital wallet handout scheme for 50 million Thais will be launched in Q4 2024. He said that the policy is expected to boost GDP growth by 1.2-1.6 pp

Deputy Government Spokespersons announced that the Cabinet has approved the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s proposal to nominate Songkhla and its associated lagoon settlements – located in four districts, namely Ranot, Sathing Phra, Singhanakhon, and Muang – for UNESCO World Heritage Site listing

TAT is launching a 30-second animated advertisement to introduce Songkran to audiences on the BBC News channel, as well as the BBC app and BBC.com site. The ad was produced by BBC Storyworks Commercial Productions in Singapore and will run from 10 Apr-15 Jun

TAT announced the “ASEAN + India Shoppers in Thailand” campaign, inviting ASEAN and Indian tourists to vote for their favourite Thai soft-power from 29 Apr-15 Jun. Participants will be given 500-3,000 THB worth of gift vouchers and special privileges as a token of appreciation. The project is expected to attract 5,000 participants, generating around 131 million THB in tourism revenue. Thailand expects to welcome over 10 million visitors from ASEAN and 1.7 million from India in 2024, around 35% of the overall international arrivals target

Chiang Mai Provincial Governor issued a work from home directive for all state agencies from 9-11 Apr due to hazardous air pollution. Private companies and business establishments are also encouraged to allow their employees to work from home. Chiang Mai Provincial Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation organised a “Big Clean Day” to clean the streets, water trees, and spray mist at the Three Kings Monumnet Square to increase air humidity. Municipal executives and staff also conducted street cleaning by using water to was hroads and reduce dust at the Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3

Non-governmental tourism agency Tourism.co.th has announced its latest project – Thailand.org. The platform aims to provide reviewed and verified resources for travellers. The platform also aims to promote lesser-known areas and sustainable tourism activities. The mobile app will be available on both Android and iOS

The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that Thailand’s approval of Myanmar’s special flights to pick up passengers and cargo from Mae Sot, a Thai border town opposite Myawaddy that has been seized by rebel forces, is based on humanitarian reason. The Thai PM confirmed that the flights were normal civilian transfers and did not involve military transportation

Singapore-based SUTL Enterprise to collaborate with Numchai Group on the development of ONE°15 Marina Panwa Phuket, the nearest departure point to Phi Phi Islands. The collaboration will see the development of upscale dining options and recreational club facilities. The marina will start welcoming yachts and superyachts of up to 120ft from Q4 2024

Chiang Mai to open clean-air facilities for people endangered by PM2.5 pollution. Chiang Mai Governor announced that public health units are dispatching mobile medical teams to communicate health advisories and provide check-up services for residents in vulnerable groups. Each local administrative organisations (LAOs) have also been instructed to designate at least three clean air rooms each

Chiang Mai was ranked the most polluted city in the world by IQAir on the morning of 9 Apr. Chiang Mai Governor has declared disaster zones in seven district, except Muang district, despite it being one of the province’s most-polluted areas

The Public Health Ministry issued heat stroke warning for the Songkran Festival period, with temperatures exceeding 40°C in many areas

TAT has partnered with TikTok Thailand to launch the “Songkran 2567” campaign, encouraging the public to create and share videos “that captures the essence of Songkran”. The contest will run through 19 Apr and 38 winners will be picked based on the number of views and likes on 7 May. The winners will receive prizes worth over 500,000 THB

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Traffic and Transport Department has finalised a deal with the Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTSC) for a fleet of 23 electric buses from China, as part of a five-year, 465 million THB plan. Bangkok’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system is also planned to be extended with two more stops on its Sathon-Ratchapruek route, as well as a 2km extension from Sathon road to Rama IV road, facilitating an interchange with the MRT Blue Line at Lumpini Station

Pattaya is utilising AI technology to elevate Songkran celebrations, including in event planning and promotion; providing real-time guidance on schedules, transportation, and nearby attractions; streamlining communication between organisers and participants; as well as enhancing visual displays and interactive experiences

The Finance Ministry expects the economy to grow “a little over 4%” in 2024, driven by measures to boost the property sector, which was recently approved by the Cabinet. The measures include reduced transaction fees for houses worth up to 7 million THB, with ownership transfer fees and mortgage registration fees reduced to 0.01%. The government will also offer home loans worth 30 billion THB from state banks, tax breaks for some property developers, and tax cuts of up to 100,000 THB for people who want to build their houses. The measures are expected to lead to around 800 billion THB in property trades, over 400 billion THB in investment, and 120 billion THB in consumption

The Department of Tourism (DoT) plans to take legal action against a tour company and unlicensed guide who took two Youtubers on a trip. The Director-General of the DoT said it was found that the tour company’s business license had expired on 3 Oct 2022, and the guide appearing in the Youtubers’ video did not have a valid tour guide license. The Southern Region Office of the Department of Tourism is expediting the collection of evidence to proceed with legal action

The Tourism Minister aims to secure 3.5 trillion THB in tourism revenue in 2025, with an aim to make Thailand a “world-class event hub”. General Manager of UOB LIVE noted that Thailand is “very well position to capitalise on [fans interested in purchasing concert tickets outside their home market] because it's a top international travel destination”. Group Chief Executive of Index Creative Village Plc believes that Thailand cannot establish itself as a festival hub only by hosting multiple events, noting that it also needs infrastructure support, such as efficient transport and connectivity, with sufficient international flights

The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda) reported that 37 of the 77 provinces were affected with hazardous thick smoke, with 7 northern provinces facing red (seriously harmful) levels of PM2.5 matter, and 37 provinces, mostly in the northeast, facing orange (initially unsafe) levels. Provinces in the lower Central Plains, the east, and the south recorded moderate and good air quality

The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) recorded a record-high electricity consumption surge of 34,443.1 megawatts at 8.54pm on 6 Apr, breaking the previous record on 6 May 2023. The Ministry of Energy attributes the surge in energy demand to the gradual recovery of businesses and tourism, along with the intense heat wave nationwide. Electricity usage is expected to surpass 35,000 megawatts in the coming days. The Meteorological Department has issued extreme weather warnings for 9-11 Apr, with temperatures expected to hit up to 43°C in the northern region

Chiang Mai expects hotel booking rates to reach 65%-70% on 12-16 Apr due to the Songkran Festival, with average occupancy rate for the entire month of Apr expected to come in at 55%-60%. Pattaya to hold its “Wan Lai” festival from 19 Apr, which will merge modern entertainment with cultural traditions. Bangkok is expecting around 100,000 visitors for the Songkran celebrations from 13-15 Apr. Phuket will hold the “Songkran Water Music Festival on the Beach 2024” and other cultural events, with hotel bookings already nearing 80% capacity. Phuket is expected to welcome over 264,350 visitors, generating 7.04 billion THB in revenue

The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) announced toll fee waivers on the Chaloem Maha Nakhon Expressway, Si Rat Expressway, and Udon Ratthaya Expressway on 13 Apr to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce travel expenses during Songkran. The Highways Department announced that toll fees will also be waived on 12-18 Apr on Motorway No.7, serving the route from Bangkok to Chonburi, Pattaya, and Map Ta Phut, as well as two sections of Motorway No.9, serving the route from Bang Pa-In to Bang Phli and from Phra Pradaeng to Bang Khun Thien. Toll fee on a 64-kilometer stretch of Motorway No.6, from Pak Chong to Si Khiew and Kham Thalay Sor, will also be waived

Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon District plans to deploy over 1,600 officials and volunteers to ensure safety in key areas, such as Khao San and Silom roads, during the Songkran festivities. The district office also plans to install CCTV cameras equipped with AI, as well as emergency booths along Khao San Road from 11 Apr. The district will also ensure the availability of shuttle buses and taxis to maintain movement flow amid the partial closure of certain roads during the festival. Khao San Road will be vehicle-free from 13-15 Apr until 9pm, whilst Silom Road will be closed from 12pm-12am on 13-14 Apr

The first phase of the Thai-Lao cross-border QR payment system, which started on 3 Apr, allows Lao nationals in Thailand to use their Lao commercial bank apps to scan the Thai PromptPay QR code to make payments in Thailand. The second phase, which will begin around end-Jun, will allow Thai nationals to use their mobile banking app to make QR payments in Laos

PM Thavisin expressed the government’s support towards the Marine Department’s plan to build a cruise ship terminal on Koh Samui to boost tourism. He noted that the government also wants to see a seaplane base and a duty-free zone at the marina terminal to boost local economy. The Marine Department Chief said that the Samui cruise terminal project would be a part of the key sailing route of Singapore-Hong Kong, and that the government expects cruise ship to make a call there. The Samui cruise terminal is expected to accommodate 180,000 tourists and 118 cruise ships annually, with a projected income of about 8.5 billion THB over a 30-year period. The project is being submitted to the Public-Private Partnership Policy Committee and is expected to be submitted to the cabinet for approval in 2024. Construction will then start in 2029, and completed around end-2032. The government also plans to establish other cruise terminals at Laem Chabang Port in Chon Buri, as well as Phuket and Krabi

The Tourism Ministry announced that Thailand welcomed 9.37 million international arrivals in Q1 2024, +44% YoY, generating 454 billion THB in revenue. China was the top source market with 1,756,337 arrivals, followed by Malaysia (1,168,574), Russia (622,813), South Korea (558,873), and India (472,952). Thailand welcomed 644,328 international arrivals in the past week alone, -1.07% WoW, but with a “significant surge” of arrivals from Europe and Oceania, due to the Easter holidays. The number of tourists from the UK rose 44.08% WoW, whilst tourists from Malaysia increased 5.03% WoW. A decline was recorded in the number of tourists from India (-15.13% WoW), Russia (-8.10%), and China (-5.80%)

Phang Nga Provincial Administration and Mu Ko Similan National Park Officials are considering reopening Tachai Island to controlled tourist visits, in order to ensure that the island’s environment, ecological system, and natural resources will not be damaged by tourism again. The island was closed in 2016 for rehabilitation of the ecological system

PM Thavisin has discussed his Schengen-type, joint-visa idea with Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar and Vietnam in recent months, with most leaders reportedly responding positively to the concept

The Economic and Business Forecast Centre of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC)’s survey has shown that: • 66% of respondents said they intend to celebrate the Songkran festival by merit making, 42% by paying respects to senior citizens or relatives, 41.6% by splashing water at one another, and 39.2% by partying • 51.2% of respondents said they will travel, but mostly within their respective provinces, whilst 26% said they will stay home and 10.6% said they will travel to other provinces • Top domestic tourist destinations include Chon Buri, Ayutthaya, Rayong, Sukhothai, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phuket, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Bangkok • Average domestic travel spending per pax is estimated at 6,425 THB, whilst average foreign travel spending per pax is estimated at 40,129 THB • Spending by foreign tourists and locals during the festival period this month is estimated to reach 140-200 billion THB • Road accidents during domestic travel are an issue of concern for most travellers • Songkran Festival is expected to stimulate growth by 2.01%-2.50%

Newly-elected President of the Thai Hotel Association Eastern Chapter announced a strategic shift in focus to revive tourism in the region, including through the restructuring of the association to better serve the entire Eastern Chapter, covering provinces such as Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat, Prachinburi, and Chachoengsao. She also stressed the importance of collaboration among hospitality associations and businesses. The new strategy will also introduce the Table Top Sale at Nong Nooch Pattaya Garden as the flagship event. Other strategies include incentives to address labour shortages, such as training programmes and partnerships with universities, including the negotiation of MOUs to facilitate internships for Chinese students in the hospitality sector. The strategy also aims to adapt activities and services to cater to romantic markets, extended holiday periods, and events

At least 142 LGBTQIA+ couples have queued to register their marriage following the approval of the Marriage Equality Bill by the House of Representative and the Senate

The Department of Energy Business reported that Thailand’s total fuel consumption increased by 4.1% YoY to 155 million litres per day (MLD) in Jan-Feb. Jet fuel usage rose by 19.5% YoY to 16.7 MLD, attributed to a boost in tourism driven by the visa exemption schemes

Airbnb General Manager for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong, and Taiwan reported that: • Guests who stay in local neighbourhoods tend to stay longer compared those staying at traditional hotels • Thailand was the most-visited Southeast Asian destination on Airbnb in 2023, with the number of room nights increasing 60% YoY • Long-term stay of 28 days or more grew 32% YoY • Solo travel increased 52% YoY • Most bookings in Thailand on Airbnb came from the US, China, Germany, the UK, and South Korea • The number of searches by Indian guests during the Holi festival, as well as general searches during Easter holidays, increased 200% YoY • Thailand was the top destination for Chinese guests during the cool season • 40% of Chinese tourists who booked a stay in Bangkok also booked stays in other provinces