Bangkok, Thailand, May 29, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / The resumption of domestic tourism in Thailand is becoming increasingly apparent, with Bangkok emerging as the hub for the imminent return of day trips, short breaks, and inter-provincial travel. With over eight million inhabitants and a vast catchment area of ​​more than 15 million, the recovery of the country's tourism industry is expected to originate in the capital.

Looking at Bangkok's nearest destinations outside the provinces, over 59 million domestic visitors were counted last year, according to data from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Given that Thailand's total number of international visitors in 2019 was just over 39 million, the clear message to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is to focus on existing tourism offerings.

New research by hotel consultancy C9 Hotelworks has identified the eight most popular tourist destinations within the provinces of Nakhon Ratchasima and Kanchanaburi, all reachable within a six-hour drive from Bangkok. They are ranked by visitor numbers: Nakhon Ratchasima, Kanchanaburi, Chon Buri, Petchaburi, Rayong, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Prachuap Khiri Khan, and Saraburi.

While Thailand's reopening to international tourism requires cross-border bilateral agreements, the government is currently focused on mobilizing a critical mass of domestic travelers through a series of health, safety, and economic measures. These measures, expected to be implemented in June, include formal certification of hotels and tourism businesses by the Public Safety and Health Administration (SHA), as well as government financial assistance to boost domestic tourism.

In an informal survey of a representative group of Bangkok residents, Bill Barnett, CEO of C9, stated: “Given the current uncertainty regarding quarantine regulations for air travel, there was an overwhelming majority in favor of initial road trips outside the city to destinations in other provinces. We expect Thailand’s reopening for the remainder of 2020 to be heavily influenced by domestic travel.”

Regarding the most frequently mentioned travel destinations in the provinces, David Johnson of Delivering Asia Communications summarized: “The most popular destinations for Bangkok residents were Hua Hin, Pattaya, and Khao Yai. Surprisingly, Koh Chang generated significant interest, and many Thais expressed a desire to travel more than six hours to Chiang Mai or Nan, and even to travel overland to Phuket.” Since the airspace over Thailand is currently relatively empty, car travel is certainly a possibility for Bangkok residents.

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