Russian tourists to inject about $5 billion into Thai economy this year, TAT governor says – Business & Economy

BANGKOK, October 16. /TASS/. Russian tourists will invest about $5 billion in the Thai economy by the end of this year, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool told TASS in an interview.

“As we expect 1.7 million Russian tourists to come to Thailand by the end of the year, based on the average spending of 68,000 baht ($2,000) per person per trip, the revenue generated by Russian tourists could be about 156.6 billion of baht ($4.7 billion),” he said.

Thai authorities hope the country’s new 60-day visa-free stay rules that came into effect on July 15 will bring even more tourists to Thailand, the TAT governor said. “I hope that these visa-free measures will encourage Russian tourists to extend their stay in Thailand, allowing them to explore new destinations and tourism products, especially those considered ‘hidden gems’. This initiative also addresses the needs of long-stay tourists, including digital nomads and families looking to escape the winter season in Russia,” he noted.

“Ultimately, we expect an increase in the number of Russian tourists, longer stays and, consequently, higher spending in Thailand,” the governor added.

Thailand expects to attract 36 million foreign tourists by the end of this year, generating 1.8 trillion baht ($54 billion) for the tourism sector.