Thailand is preparing to welcome a significant surge in South Korean tourists during the upcoming Chuseok holiday, a key travel period for Koreans. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) anticipates this influx will contribute to a record-breaking year, with South Korean visitors potentially surpassing the 2 million mark in 2024.
Despite growing competition from popular destinations like Vietnam and Japan, Thailand remains a top choice for South Korean tourists. Chuwit Sirivejkul, Regional Director of Marketing for East Asia at TAT, highlighted that South Korean tourists have consistently ranked among the top inbound markets for Thailand throughout the year. As of August 25, approximately 1.22 million South Korean tourists had visited Thailand, with daily arrivals averaging 6,000-7,000 during weekends and holidays and around 5,000 on weekdays.
The Chuseok holiday, which runs from September 14 to 17, is expected to bring at least 23,000 South Korean tourists to Thailand. These visitors, including independent travellers, family groups, honeymooners, golfers, and business travellers, are projected to spend an average of 40,000-50,000 baht per trip. Last year, 737,687 South Koreans travelled abroad during Chuseok, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, and similar trends are expected this year.
While the Chuseok holiday is typically a busy period for domestic tourism in Thailand, with various events and promotions targeting local travellers, many South Koreans are expected to seek overseas trips. The full resumption of flights between South Korea and Thailand is expected to boost the number of visitors during the final quarter of the year, potentially reaching the 2 million mark.
In 2023, 1.66 million South Korean tourists visited Thailand, still slightly below the 1.88 million recorded in 2019. However, with strong demand from South Korea, Thailand is optimistic about reaching new heights this year.
Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, President of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), noted that while Korean tour groups have already recovered, there has been a shift towards smaller, more personalised groups. To further attract South Korean tourists, ATTA is planning a roadshow in Seoul and Kwangju in October, targeting cities with high potential for travel.
To maintain its competitive edge, TAT is focusing on promoting quality tourism products and attractions to lure repeat visitors and younger generations from South Korea. With Japan and Vietnam also drawing large numbers of South Korean tourists, Thailand is committed to enhancing its hospitality standards and improving accessibility to remain a preferred destination.
