Bangkok (Thailand) – March 5, 2018 (travelindex.com) – According to the first comprehensive market research report on what is expected to be the “next big trend” in Asia-Pacific tourism, outbound travel from Thailand is expected to reach 10 million this year.

The report, which aims to help destinations worldwide better understand the dynamics and drivers of this promising revenue stream, states that outbound travel from Thailand, including both Thai nationals and thousands of middle- to high-income people living abroad, reached 8.2 million trips in 2016, almost double the number in 2011.

The number is expected to have exceeded 9 million in 2017 and to reach 10 million in 2018, provided the global, regional and local geopolitical/economic situation remains stable.

The study, authored and researched by Imtiaz Muqbil, editor-in-chief of Travel Impact Newswire and one of the most experienced travel journalists in the Asia-Pacific region, is available at various prices. Those interested can contact him by email at [email protected].

Easy accessibility will be a decisive factor in choosing a travel destination in the future. Japan, which abolished visa requirements for Thai citizens in 2013, has become the fastest-growing destination for Thai tourists. Korea and Taiwan have followed Japan's example, and Russia is next in line.

All are intensifying their marketing and advertising campaigns to reduce the significant differences between the number of their tourists visiting Thailand and the number of Thais visiting their countries.

Although most Thais know that they can travel visa-free to their neighboring countries in the ASEAN states as well as to Northeast Asian countries and destinations, according to the report they are not yet aware that they can travel relatively easily to several countries in Latin America and Africa.

The report urges these countries on both continents to pay more attention to their marketing profiles. It offers numerous trends, ideas, contacts, and opportunities on how to achieve this.

The report also criticizes the visa application procedures for Europe, Great Britain, North America, Australia and New Zealand as "insulting, offensive and expensive".

The report states: “Almost 90% of the required documents are identical, but the rules and regulations differ in a complicated way. Technically, a unified visa system should be feasible. Aside from the high profits these visa-required countries generate, it is unclear what security or immigration risks they intend to reduce. Some questions on the application forms are completely irrelevant. The proof of financial means is also questionable, especially at a time when thousands of wealthy Thais have credit cards and are significantly better off financially than citizens of visa-required countries.”

It also calls on South Asian countries to reform their visa policies. “South Asia as a whole suffers from the fact that only the Maldives grant visa-free access to Thai citizens. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka all require a visa. Although India and Sri Lanka offer online visas, the associated costs and time reduce the attractiveness of these countries compared to other travel destinations.”

The report also highlights the large discrepancy between the number of airlines flying to Thailand (118 according to the winter 2017/2018 flight schedule) and the number of foreign national tourism organizations with permanent or marketing offices in Thailand (only 12). Some other countries have separate agreements, for example, through appointed General Sales Agents (GSAs).

The enormous potential of road transport is also highlighted, as the completion of the Asian Highway Thailand offers the opportunity to fully exploit its unique geographical location in the heart of the ASEAN region, with strong land links to Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia.