Tourism in Thailand
Tourism plays a significant role in the economy of the Kingdom of Thailand. It directly contributes to the GDP, with estimates ranging from one trillion baht in 2013 to 2.53 trillion baht in 2016, which is equivalent to 9% to 17.7% of the GDP. When considering indirect travel and tourism receipts, the total contribution in 2014 is estimated to be 19.3% (2.3 trillion baht) of Thailand's GDP. However, it's important to note that the actual contribution of tourism to GDP is lower than these percentages, as GDP is measured based on value added rather than revenue. The exact value added by Thailand's tourism industry is unknown, as it is calculated by subtracting the purchases of inputs from the revenue.
According to the secretary-general of the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council in 2019, the government projects that the tourism sector will account for 30% of GDP by 2030, an increase from 20% in 2019.
Globally, tourism accounted for 10.4% of the global GDP and 313 million jobs in 2017, representing 9.9% of total employment. Many governments consider tourism as a lucrative industry and a shortcut to economic development, measuring its success by the number of visitors.
Prior to the pandemic, Thailand ranked as the eighth most visited country in the world according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization. In 2019, Thailand welcomed 39.8 million international tourists, surpassing countries like the United Kingdom and Germany. Additionally, Thailand earned the fourth highest international tourism revenue, amounting to 60.5 billion US dollars.
To promote Thailand internationally, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), a state enterprise under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, utilizes the slogan "Amazing Thailand." In 2015, this campaign was complemented by the "Discover Thainess" initiative.