PHUKET: Malaysians were the top international tourists to Thailand for the first week of this month.
This follows Thailand's easing of travel restrictions into the kingdom following the improved state of affairs of the global Covid-19 pandemic.
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Malaysia and Brunei director Nongyao Jirundorn told The New Straits Times that a total of 29,930 Malaysians visited the kingdom from June 1 till June 6.
She said that a majority of the Malaysians visited Songkhla province, where the popular towns of Haadyai and Dannok were located.
"Other popular destinations were Sungai Golok in Narathiwat and Betong in the Yala provinces.
"Not to be undone, is the increasing number of Malaysians flocking to the idyllic island of Phuket which has fully opened up to welcome tourists from across the globe," she said at the opening of the three-day 'Thailand Travel Mart Plus 2022' (TTM+ 2022) at the Angsana Laguna Phuket.
The event was officiated by Thailand's Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.
Present were TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn, deputy governors Tanes Petsuwan (for Asia and South Pacific international marketing), Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya (Europe, Africa, Middle-East and the Americas international marketing), Nithee Seeprae (digital research and development), Numfhon Boonyawat (policy and planning), Thapanee Kiatphaibool (domestic marketing) Siripakorn Cheawsamoot (marketing communications) and Somradee Chitchong (administration), and TAT Malaysia and Brunei marketing manager Richard Lim.
Nongyao added that after Malaysia, the most number of international tourists were from India which saw a total of 20,774 visitors to the kingdom during the first week of June.
This, she added, was followed by Singapore with 11,441 visitors, Vietnam with 7,111 and the United States with 6,049.
"There is also a strong influx of international tourists from Europe, particularly Russia and the United Kingdom, the Middle-East and Australia.
"These visitors prefer to holiday at island resorts like Phuket, Koh Samui and the others.
"But Phuket is the destination at the moment as it has fully opened up without much hassle and restrictions," Nongyao said.
She is leading a dozen-odd Malaysian travel and tour agents and journalists for the TTM+ 2022.
Meanwhile, a Malaysian tour agency expects inbound tourism into Thailand to aggressively pick up by next month when the kingdom further relaxes travel restrictions for visitors.
Travel Forte's managing director Daniel Leow said that nearly 2,000 Malaysian travel and tour agents were promoting inbound tourism into the kingdom.
"The current demand is for visits to the evergreen destinations of Haadyai, Krabi, Phuket, Phatthalung, Koh Samui, Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiangmai and Chiangrai.
"Tourists flock to these destinations as they feel it offers them value-for-money, splendid hospitality and are familiar spots for customers," said Leow.
On the shortfalls of Thailand as a tourism attraction, Leow said at the moment it was the hassle of applying for the Thailand Pass.
"Additionally, there are long queues at the border immigration checkpoints for visitors travelling by road.
"Inbound flights are still not very regular but are expected to pick up as more airlines begin flying into the kingdom.
"Another drawback is the sluggish economy which discourages tourists from travelling abroad," said Leow, adding that the Covid-19 and moneypox health issues were also a threat.
Nevertheless, Leow said TAT was moving into overdrive with strong and encouraging promotional events and aggressive marketing to offer tourists the best and affordable hospitality, entertainment, food and beverage.
TTM+ 2022 is held alongside another three-day 'Thailand Tourism Congress 2022' (TTC 2022) that kicked-off last Monday at the Beyond Resort Kata.
The Thai government had announced on June 1, the official lifting of outdoor mask mandates - at the beach, public park, sports stadium and other public areas in Phuket, the first
province in Thailand to do so.
Phuket Governor Narong Woonsew ordered the lifting of the mask mandate, explaining that people exercising or those who were 'outside where the air flows' were not required to mask up.
Public Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Kiattipoom Wongrachit issued a statement that Thailand aimed to completely drop its mask mandate by mid-June.
The Thai government also planned to transition to an endemic phase by next month.