"Koreans Greatly Welcomed"... Thailand Changes Ahead of Chuseok Despite Saying They Dislike Koreans

View of Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand [Photo by Tourism Authority of Thailand]

Contrary to the growing anti-Korean sentiment in Thailand, Thai travel agencies are focusing on attracting Korean tourists. As the Korean government tightened entry restrictions, anti-Korean sentiments such as "Let's not travel to Korea" or "There is nothing to see in Korea" spread mainly through social networking services (SNS). Even the vice president of the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA) apologized after telling Japanese media that the decrease in Thai tourists visiting Korea was due to a relative lack of tourist attractions in Korea. In contrast, the Thai travel industry is busy preparing to welcome Korean tourists ahead of the Chuseok holiday.

According to the Bangkok Post on the 29th, Thailand expects a surge in Korean tourists during the six-day Chuseok holiday next month, and this year, the number of Korean visitors is expected to reach a new record of 2 million. Chuwit Siribeikul, head of East Asia marketing at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said, "Since the beginning of this year, Korean tourists have never dropped from the top ranks in Thailand's inbound market." As of August 25, about 1.22 million Korean tourists have visited Thailand this year, with an average daily visitor count of 6,000 to 7,000 on weekends and holidays, and 5,000 on weekdays.

Tourists visiting the Bangkok floating market [File photo]

The Tourism Authority of Thailand expects at least 23,000 Korean tourists to visit Thailand between September 14 and 17 during the Chuseok holiday, with average spending per trip estimated at 40,000 to 50,000 baht (approximately 1.6 million to 2 million KRW). Last year, 1.66 million Korean tourists visited Thailand, which was less than the 1.88 million in 2019. However, this year, 2 million visitors are expected. The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) plans to hold roadshows in Seoul and Gwangju in October. The Tourism Authority of Thailand will continue to cooperate with major Korean travel agencies and plans to host the Thailand Golf Travel Mart next month to attract overseas buyers, including those from Korea.