Bangkok: TAT and MCOT welcome Saudi Arabian media group, confident it will help attract Saudi tourists to Thailand as targeted after presenting positive news from Thailand. Mr. Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, Deputy Governor for International Marketing (Europe, Africa, Middle East and Americas), Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), welcomed a group of media from Saudi Broadcasting Authority, the national media organization of Saudi Arabia, which was invited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and MCOT Public Company Limited to participate in the cooperation project to produce and disseminate news and information to strengthen good relations between the two countries.
According to Thai News Agency, the TAT Deputy Governor highlighted the significance of the Middle East as a market with high quality and the highest spending. Middle Eastern tourists, on average, stay in Thailand for 9-10 days, spending approximately 100,000 baht per person per trip. This is significantly higher than the average spending of over 40,000 baht. In 2024, more than 1 million people visited Thailand, partly due to the restoration of relations with Saudi Arabia after 30 years. The number of tourists surged from 20,000-30,000 people in previous years to 96,000 in 2022, and to 170,000 in 2023, before reaching 220,000 in 2024. This year, TAT aims to attract more than 300,000 Saudi tourists to Thailand, believing that the documentary news produced during this visit will create a new image of Thailand in Saudi Arabia, encouraging more visitors.
The Saudi media group also visited the operations of MCOT Public Company Limited, where they were welcomed by Mr. Kittipong Khantirat, Deputy Managing Director, Corporate Administration and News Executives, Thai News Agency. The group observed the behind-the-scenes activities of the Thai News Agency's news broadcast. They praised the agency's special report, 'Opening the Arab World with Saudi Vision 2030,' produced during their visit to Saudi Arabia. The Saudi media team aimed to showcase positive stories of Thailand that align with Saudi interests, covering tourist attractions, sports, hotels, and health services. Their filming took place in Bangkok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Krabi, and Phuket from January 14-20, 2018.