What goes in, must go out – Thai outbound tourism

While Thailand waits for tourist numbers to increase, especially as we approach the annual tourist high season, Thais are getting back into the tourist outflow with around 73% more foreign currency exchanges last month, compared to the month before.

The increase in outbound Thai traffic coincides with more countries relaxing restrictions and opening their travel borders.

The stats come from YouTrip Thailand.

They says the extra demand for foreign currency exchanges was due to Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong last month lifting travel restrictions and earlier quarantine requirements for international visitors.

There was a 341% increase in foreign exchanges for travel to Japan, alone. Followed by Australia at 77%.

Another general reason for the increase in foreign currency being exchanged for baht is that Thais, generally, needed more as a result of the weakening of the Thai baht compared with the US dollar – the lowest its been in 16 years.

The most popular destination for Thai outbound tourists at the moment is Japan, especially to Kyoto and Osaka. Travellers from Phuket are choosing trips to Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, South Korea and Vietnam at the moment.

YouTrip also claim that ongoing inflation is demanding travellers to spend more as well.

SOURCE: Nation Thailand