Thailand is anticipating double-digit growth in the number of visitors from the Middle East this year, despite its tourism industry being hit hard by political conflict that left dozens dead.
Tourism to Thailand from the GCC and Levant countries has surged 9.5 per cent in the first nine months of this year compared with the same period last year to 339,000 visitors, said the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
"From the Middle East, in June, just after the [worst conflict], the numbers have increased," said Pramoth Supyen, the director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Middle East office in Dubai.
Zeid Malhas, the marketing manager at the same office, said: "In July, we have increased [tourists] from the UAE 80 plus per cent in terms of nationals.
"People tried to go to Thailand before Ramadan started. At the same time, people that could not go in May [because of the riots] went in July.
"We are aiming for double-digit growth from the Middle East this year. It's unfortunate [the violence] happened but I think people in the Middle East forget fast." Mr Malhas said numbers fell in August due to Ramadan.
Mr Supyen said the average amount travellers from the UAE spent in Thailand was US$180 (Dh661) a day, one of the highest among global visitors.
A number of factors have conspired against Thailand's tourism sector. The riots in Bangkok left at least 35 people dead and forced many tourists worldwide to cancel holidays. Severe flooding in Thailand in recent weeks has also hit the industry, as has the strengthening of the Thai baht.
Thailand's tourism authority is working hard to revive the industry.
"There is a recovery," said Mr Malhas, adding that visitors to Thailand were automatically insured by the government for up to $10,000 for any harm caused by political unrest.
The destination is often associated with budget travellers. But the tourism authority says Thailand is trying to establish a balance between attracting lower-spending and high-spending tourists.
Thailand is also striving to position itself as a destination for medical tourism, with visitors arriving for surgical or drug treatments that are either unavailable in their home countries or prohibitively expensive.
This month, Istithmar World opened its W Retreat Koh Samui and Residences, which has 75 hotel villas and 17 residential villas and is a partnership with the Thai developer Amburaya Hotels and Resorts.
The W Bangkok property, a joint venture between Dubai's Istithmar Hotels and Golden Land Property Development, will have its delayed opening in 2012.
Other luxury properties that have recently opened in Thailand include the first Westin resort, in Phuket, and a new Hilton hotel. A Madame Tussauds waxworks museum is due to open in Bangkok next month.
"Three years ago you did not find many families going [to Thailand], or it was not looked at as a luxury destination," said Mr Malhas.
"It was known for backpacking, for low-cost travelling. Now we're trying to reach equilibrium.
"Those people who went backpacking before now have the money and they're coming back for luxury." Mr Malhas expects strong demand from the region over Eid this year.
"We do not only promote Thailand to the Middle East but we also do seminars on informing or educating the Thai private sector about the Middle East culture," he said.
There is also an increasing number of restaurants and hotels in Thai cities that serve only halal food, Mr Malhas said.
rbundhun@thenational.ae
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
AndhaDhun
Director: Sriram Raghavan
Producer: Matchbox Pictures, Viacom18
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan
Rating: 3.5/5
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: nine-speed
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh848,000
On sale: now
Who are the Soroptimists?
The first Soroptimists club was founded in Oakland, California in 1921. The name comes from the Latin word soror which means sister, combined with optima, meaning the best.
The organisation said its name is best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.
Since then the group has grown exponentially around the world and is officially affiliated with the United Nations. The organisation also counts Queen Mathilde of Belgium among its ranks.
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
PRO BASH
Thursday’s fixtures
6pm: Hyderabad Nawabs v Pakhtoon Warriors
10pm: Lahore Sikandars v Pakhtoon Blasters
Teams
Chennai Knights, Lahore Sikandars, Pakhtoon Blasters, Abu Dhabi Stars, Abu Dhabi Dragons, Pakhtoon Warriors and Hyderabad Nawabs.
Squad rules
All teams consist of 15-player squads that include those contracted in the diamond (3), platinum (2) and gold (2) categories, plus eight free to sign team members.
Tournament rules
The matches are of 25 over-a-side with an 8-over power play in which only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Teams play in a single round robin league followed by the semi-finals and final. The league toppers will feature in the semi-final eliminator.
