Is Thailand safe to visit after the recent Bangkok Siam Paragon shooting? The challenges of boosting tourism while addressing its social issues will be a test of leadership, says Thai scholar Prem Singh Gill.
has cast a shadow over Thailand’s hopes to boost its economy by wooing tourists. It amplified concerns about safety, refreshing memories of the 2015 bombing in Bangkok’s city centre, killing and injuring many tourists visiting the Erawan Shrine.
The easing of travel restrictions for foreign tourists in 2022 marked a turning point. During the first eight months that year, the number of Indian arrivals surpassed the number of Chinese arrivals for the first time. The Thai government has expressed confidence in its ability to attract more Indian tourists. Notably, the governor of Bangkok has exhibited a keen interest in fostering deeper India-Thailand cooperation and is actively promoting the Pahurat neighbourhood as “Little India” and the community’s Deepavali celebrations.
Demand is gradually returning to pre-pandemic levels and was near double the number of Chinese arrivals between January and August, but special efforts to maintain and boost these numbers are essential given the evolving tourism landscape.
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