# Thailand has welcomed 17.5 million foreign tourists in the first half of the year

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/tourism/149596-thailand-has-welcomed-17-5-million-foreign-tourists-in-the-first-half-of-the-year
- Published: 2024-07-04T09:04:00+07:00
- Author: Boris Sullivan

Thailand has seen a significant increase in foreign tourist arrivals, reaching over
17.5 million in the first half of 2024, with Chinese tourists being the largest 
group.

 * Thailand saw a 35 percent increase in foreign tourist arrivals in the first half
   of 2024, with Chinese tourists being the largest source market.
 * The Thai government is implementing measures such as celebrity-induced tourism,
   ease of travel initiatives, and visa-free entry to boost inbound visitors and
   achieve a tourism receipt target of 3.5 trillion baht in 2024.
 * The government raised its 2024 inbound tourist target to 36.7 million visitors
   in a strategy to elevate the country’s GDP growth to 3 percent, emphasizing the
   importance of tourism to the nation’s economy.

In the first half of the year, China was the leading source of foreign tourists 
to Thailand with 3,439,482 arrivals, followed by Malaysia (2,435,960), India (1,040,069),
South Korea (934,983), Russia (920,989), Laos (618,782), Taiwan (533,280), the United
States (507,251), Vietnam (501,895), and the United Kingdom (485,093).

### Related**Posts**

###  󠀁[Phuket named top wellness destination by Canadian travellers](https://www.thailand-business-news.com/press-release/331672-phuket-named-top-wellness-destination-by-canadian-travellers)󠁿

###  󠀁[TAT highlights Thailand’s film production talents and tourism charm at TIFF 2026](https://www.thailand-business-news.com/tourism/329371-tat-highlights-thailands-film-production-talents-and-tourism-charm-at-tiff-2026)󠁿

###  󠀁[Weather and travel updates for Bangkok and its nearby regions](https://www.thailand-business-news.com/tourism/331213-weather-and-travel-updates-for-bangkok-and-its-nearby-regions)󠁿

###  󠀁[TAT highlights “Healing is the New Luxury” at the Tourism Expo Japan 2026](https://www.thailand-business-news.com/health/331124-tat-highlights-healing-is-the-new-luxury-at-the-tourism-expo-japan-2026)󠁿

ADVERTISEMENT

The government is implementing measures to further boost tourism, including expanding
visa-free entry and increasing flights. The country aims to generate significant
revenue from international tourists and has raised its inbound tourist target to
36.7 million for 2024 in an effort to boost GDP growth.