Thailand, the Land of White Elephants that Never Get Tired

In the morning, motor vehicles pass by alongside the hustle and bustle of activities of the people in the city of Bangkok. The city begins to be overwhelmed by the heat of the sun. Sun rays creep and sting to the pores of the body.

One day before the grand concert of Coldplay's World Tour 2023-2024, residents around the towering Vihara Budha Zamrud with its pointed dome began bustling with their daily activities. Located in the main palace area, it is an icon of the city of Bangkok which preserves countless natural and cultural tourist attractions.

International tourism is a major contributor to the economy of Thailand. The White Elephant nation was severely affected during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, it managed to weather the storm and prepare itself for the recovery of the tourism sector.

Before the pandemic era, Thailand ranked eighth globally in terms of foreign tourist arrivals (Wisman). Wisman from China was its main market.

The Covid-19 pandemic has significantly reduced the volume of airplane passengers to Thailand. Hotel occupancy rates have even dropped to as low as 9 percent.

Now, Thailand's tourism industry is starting to rise again. Deloitte reported that until the fourth quarter of 2023, the top five countries contributing tourists to Thailand are Malaysia (3.7 million), China (2.8 million), South Korea (1.3 million), India (1.3 million), and Russia (1.1 million).

Read more from Prof Dr Ir Mohammad Hamsal, MSE, MQM, MBA  article on Manajemen ISMS Column at kompas.id -click here-