Why fewer tourists are going to Thailand - Asia Specific podcast, BBC World Service

Tourism is one of the lifebloods of Thailand’s economy, but tourist numbers have fallen and have never gone back to the same level since before the pandemic.

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The government has been trying to shore up tourist numbers. But, in May, Thailand cut visa-free stay period for tourists from 60 to 30 days.

It sounds counterintuitive, cutting the visa-free stay period when it’s trying to shore up tourist numbers, but that’s actually a solution to a different problem, according to the BBC’s South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head. He joins our host Mariko Oi on this episode of Asia Specific to unpack the reason behind Thailand’s latest move.

Read more about Thailand’s decision to cut visa-free stay period here 👉🏽https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78q3qjqnn5o

Watch a short explainer video on how the cut will impact the way you travel here 👉🏽https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/c142r8yexzno

CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Introduction
01:35 - A brief history of Thailand’s tourism economy
03:13 - Why Thailand decided to shorten visa-free stay for some tourists
05:30 - What businesses are foreigners setting up in Thailand
07:50 - Who are the “high-value tourists” Thailand wants to attract
10:35 - Would Thailand’s new visa rules affect regular holidaymakers?
12:10 - Why there is a dip in Chinese tourists going to Thailand
12:58 - Can Thailand’s economy rely less on tourism dollars?
14:14 - Should Thailand shift its focus away from mass tourism?

Watch more episodes of Asia Specific here 👉🏽 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz_B0PFGIn4c3njIxB0KHuO8SS2mBMtUc

Instagram: @bbcworldservice
Email: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk
Presenter: Mariko Oi
Producers: Derek Cai, Rachel Lee
Camera: Muhammad Firdaus Bin Mohd Ansary, Rosalehin Bin Rosli, Fahmi Jamal
Editor: Bill Birtles

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