Southeast Asia’s second largest economy welcomes nearly 33 million foreign tourists

China was the largest source of visitors this year, with 6.3 million arrivals, followed by Malaysia (4.6 million), India (1.9 million), South Korea (1.7 million), and Russia (1.5 million).

The Thai government aims to attract more long-haul visitors, particularly from Europe, in the remaining days of the year to meet its target of 36 million international arrivals, according to Jirayu Houngsub, spokesman for the Prime Minister’s Office, as cited by Bangkok Post.

The government’s decision to make visa exemptions for Chinese tourists permanent in March significantly boosted the number of Chinese visitors.

Since June, Thailand has also expanded visa-free entry to travelers from 93 countries, allowing stays of up to 60 days, compared to…