Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Deputy Governor for Domestic Marketing, Thapanee Kiatphaibool said the agency expects to welcome 35 million foreign tourists and encourage 200 million domestic trips next year.

"With the carefully planned 2024 strategic direction, TAT has set an overall revenue target in the best-case scenario of 3 trillion baht which includes 1.92 trillion baht from international tourism and 1.08 trillion baht from domestic tourism,” she said in a statement.

TAT has lowered the target for international tourism from an earlier 2.29 trillion baht to 1.92 trillion baht as inflation, recession, interest rate hikes, surging fuel prices, and the slow resumption of international flights have hampered the tourism industry. - Bernama

Take it easy, take it easy!
As long as we please each other,
Let's keep on going out together,
Because I'm not looking for trouble,
I've never wanted to upset anybody.

Take it easy, take it easy!
If we keep on going out together,
I won't expect anything but love and sincerity.
I've never needed anything else.

Take it easy, take it easy!
And you'll probably figure out
That we ought to get to know each other
In unhappy times as in happy ones.

Take it easy, take it easy!
Even if some day your heart turns away from me,
I won't find it weird
So long as I learn of it from your own mouth
That you're going to leave me.

Most likely I would understand
That you have to leave me,
I would be disappointed
And I would probably be sorry.

But I would stay cool!
If you decide to let me go,
Since I don't want to upset anybody,
We would go our separate ways by taking it easy!

https://lyricstranslate.com/en/%E0%B8%AA%E0...ke-it-easy.html

Yee Peng (or sometimes also written as Yi Peng) is a festival unique to northern Thailand which is celebrated on the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar (usually in November). The “Festival of Lights” was adapted from Brahmin origins and has close ties with the ancient Lanna Kingdom.

Yee Peng traditionally was celebrated as a stand-alone event to mark the end of the monsoon season and the beginning of the cool season, however, nowadays it is celebrated in tandem with Loy Krathong.

https://theculturetrip.com/asia/thailand/ar...antern-festival

Paetongtarn said 2024’s Songkran would be a world-class event, celebrated not just for three days but the whole month of April, in all 77 provinces across the kingdom.

Chairperson of the festival industry promotion subcommittee Chadatip Chutrakul said that the water festival will be a celebration of the Thai new year being listed as Unesco’s world cultural heritage.

“The central location for the Songkran celebrations next year will be Ratchadamnoen Avenue in Bangkok for three days and three nights,” she said. “Representatives from each of the 77 provinces will send in a parade to highlight their culture and tourist attractions.”

She added that stage performances and exhibitions will be held across key locations in Bangkok during the Songkran Festival, including Sanam Luang, Lan Khon Mueang town square, and Royal Pavilion Mahajetsadabadin.

On Nov 30, the committee met and finalised a budget of 5.164 billion baht (S$200 million) to promote Thailand’s soft power, which will in return generate revenue for tourism and related industries.

Ms Chadatip estimates that the Songkran Festival will generate at least 35 billion baht in revenue for the tourism industry and local communities.

The committee expects to submit its proposal to the Cabinet for approval in January. - THE NATION THAILAND/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanp...soft-power-plan

Hat Yai Songkhla Hotel Association President, Sitthipong Sitthiphataraprabha said Hat Yai’s irresistible appeal lies on its combination of delectable and diverse food choices, easy accessibility, and affordable hotel options drew Malaysians in droves.

He said Hat Yai has firmly established itself as a favoured destination for travel enthusiasts seeking a delightful and budget-friendly getaway.

On ordinary weekdays throughout the year, he said Hat Yai typically enjoys a steady flow of around 5,000 Malaysian visitors daily, doubling to nearly 10,000 on weekends.

“Hat Yai experiences a joyous surge in visitor numbers from Malaysia during the year-end holiday season. On peak season weekends (Christmas and New Year), Hat Yai welcomed an average of 20,000 Malaysians daily, while weekdays see around 10,000 visitors.

“During the festive cheer of Christmas and New Year, Malaysian tourists’ average spending per trip per person reaches 10,000 baht.

“Aa a result, Malaysian tourists are estimated to have contributed approximately 2 billion baht to the Hat Yai economy this Christmas and New Year celebration,” he told Bernama.

Sitthipong also noted Hat Yai hotels have witnessed unprecedented surge in demand, with downtown, a popular area for Malaysian tourists, fully booked during peak holiday weeks.

He added that Hat Yai currently boasts around 20,000 rooms, including 8,000 to 12,000 concentrated at downtown.

Ministry of Tourism and Sports said Thailand welcomed 27.25 million tourist where Malaysian tourists top the list with 4.43million followed by Chinese (3.41 million) and South Korea (1.6 million), India (1.58 million) and Russian (1.42 million), as of December 24. — Bernama

Bangkok, 17 October 2024 – Thailand has extended the suspension of the requirement to fill out the ‘To Mo 6’ (TM6) immigration form for foreign travellers entering and exiting Thailand at 16 land and sea checkpoints until 30 April 2025.
The TM6 form is the arrival/departure card, which foreigners are required to fill out with their passport information and other personal and travel information when entering or leaving Thailand. The form was permanently cancelled for foreign travellers arriving by air since July 2022.

The extended suspension of the TM6 form is aimed at easing immigration procedures and alleviating congestion at eight checkpoints each for entry by land and sea.

Land checkpoints:

Aranyaprathet Immigration Checkpoint, Sa Kaeo
Mukdahan Immigration Checkpoint, Mukdahan (Only on the permitted overland transportation route from the border to the checkpoint)
Nong Khai Immigration Checkpoint, Nong Khai (Only on the permitted overland transportation route from the border to the checkpoint and the permitted rail transportation route from the border to Nong Khai Railway Station)
Chieng Saen Immigration Checkpoint, Chiang Rai (Only on the permitted overland transportation route from the border to the checkpoint)
Padang Besar Immigration Checkpoint, Songkhla
Sadao Immigration Checkpoint, Songkhla
Su-ngai Kolok Immigration Checkpoint, Narathiwat
Betong Immigration Checkpoint, Yala
Checkpoints for arrivals by cruise ships and yachts:

Pattaya Immigration Checkpoint, Chon Buri
Si Racha Immigration Checkpoint, Chon Buri
Si Chang Immigration Checkpoint, Chon Buri
Map Ta Phut Immigration Checkpoint, Rayong
Phuket Immigration Checkpoint, Phuket
Krabi Immigration Checkpoint, Krabi
Surat Thani Immigration Checkpoint, Surat Thani
Samui Immigration Checkpoint, Surat Thani (Only at allowed mooring location on Na Thon Bay)

https://www.tatnews.org/2024/10/thailand-su...d-sea-arrivals/