Global tourism report for 2013 shows Thailand up in both arrivals, earnings

Thailand’s record-breaking visitor arrivals in 2013 helped it move into the list of the world’s top 10 tourism destinations in terms of both visitor numbers and visitor expenditure, according to a report by the Madrid-based UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

The UNWTO has recently released the Tourism Report 2014, which is an overall assessment of international tourism in 2013. The report states, “Thailand moved up two positions in the ranking by international receipts to 7^th, while it entered the top 10 by arrivals in 10^th position, in a bumper 2013 when international arrivals were up by 19% to 27 million and receipts by 23% to US$ 42 billion.”

It is the first time that Thailand entered the top 10 list in terms of arrivals. Thailand was ranked No. 11 in 2012, when the number of tourists totalled 22.4 million. The UNWTO referred to this climb of five positions as an “amazing” development.

Classified by tourism receipts in 2013, Thailand was ranked No. 7, up from No. 9 in 2012, as revenue increased from 33.8 billion dollars (about 1.01 trillion Baht) to 42.1 billion dollars (about 1.26 trillion Baht).

Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Thawatchai Arunyik said, “This report is a tribute to the hard work of the entire industry, and all those who work in it. We can now clearly demonstrate the importance of travel and tourism to the Thai national economy, and emphasise the need to ensure that it makes a quick recovery in the second half of 2014. TAT is grateful for the many important measures being taken to help regain visitor confidence.”