Thailand predicts just 16 million foreign visitor arrivals in 2020
The Tourism Authority of Thailand has updated its forecast for 2020, and now predicts a massive decline of 65%.
It projects only 14 to 16 million foreign visitors will come this year, compared to a record 39.8 million in 2019.
In March it was still hopeful of getting more than 30 million foreign arrivals during 2020 but sees a more pessimistic outlook over the coming months.
From January to March, foreign tourist numbers to Thailand declined nearly 40% to 6.69 million, and the second quarter will likely be much worse, with at least two full months of a flight ban.
"Our best case scenario is that domestic tourism will start to improve in June or July, while foreign visitors should come in around October," TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn told Reuters.
"Forward bookings are showing a good trend, with smaller drops but that will also depend on the outbreak situation and travel restrictions."
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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