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Now that all travel restrictions have been lifted and normality has been restored throughout Southeast Asia, it has exploding by popularity.
Filled with rice paddies, sweeping green panoramas and ancient pagodas, it is a fascinating, mystical land that is sure to amaze you.
While there are no fewer than eleven countries in the subcontinent, including some of the most promising destinations in this post-crisis scene, namely Vietnam and Cambodia, one country in particular continues to lead visitor trends with this year more than 14.5 million tourists have been registered.
Already very popular in previous years, now it is too confirm its status as one of the major tourist destinations in the world.
Thailand’s numbers are nothing short of impressive
With such impressive numbers, it’s no wonder that the ancient kingdom of Thailand is at the helm of Southeast Asia, leading the country to a full economic recovery.
Have reachd almost 15 million guests registered between January and July 16, and more than 588 billion baht, or $17.11 billion in revenue, as confirmed by the Ministry of Tourism, it is arguably Southeast Asia’s most sought after and successful hub.
Thailand is far from the only attractive destination in the region, with countries like Vietnam boasting 3,260km of pristine coastline bordered by an azure Baltic Sea, and Singapore, Malaysia and the like consistently ranked as two of the most diverse and developed states in the world. world. group.
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Recently, Vietnam also eased its visa requirements, while Malaysia launched an easy-to-apply digital nomad residence permit. increasing competition among Southeast Asian countries.
So why is Thailand still a regional leader, and what exactly does the country have to offer compared to its counterparts?
Non-stop flights
First of all, Thailand has been slowly re-establishing its once broken ties with North America, with new non-stop flights announced for the first time in a decade.
This makes it easier for North Americans to reach Thailand without resorting to long stopovers in third countries.
AirCanada’s new direct service connecting Vancouver International to Bangkok, Thailand’s bustling capital, has been bringing residents of Canada’s west coast closer to the paradise destination since its launch in early 2022 and is already a huge success.
Although there are no flights between the US and Thailand yet, the Canadian route is already a big step towards strengthening ties between both subcontinents, and has certainly contributed to the recovery of the Asian kingdom, as well as increased competitiveness .
It’s affordable
Thailand is also a lot cheaper than some of the most developed Southeast Asian countries, especially Singapore, where the cost of living is on par with the Western world or even higher.
Although they are part of the same union of countries, Thailand can one lot cheaperdue to a weaker currency, as the Thai baht is considerably less powerful than the US or Canadian dollar, and the availability of fresh food and services at lower prices.
According to NumbeoWith consumer prices in Chiang Mai, Thailand’s second largest and arguably most traditional city, and a favorite with tourists, consumer prices are up to 51.2% lower than Vancouver, Canada, while restaurant bills are up to 79.3%. could be cheaper.
Even Phuket, Thailand’s number one beach destination and the trendiest island, often seen as the most expensive holiday hotspot in the country, can be up to 45.4% cheaper than a western destination, meaning your tourist budget will stretch much further here.
It keeps abreast of trends
Thailand has made sure to keep up with all the latest travel trends, which is part of the reason why it has become so well known lately.
From investing in wellbeing to opening up new migration routes for transient residents and digital workers, it is reinventing itself as a more modern, open state.
Now that they have realized that long-term tourists boost the local economy and help the country achieve its sustainable tourism goals, local authorities have been actively promoting ‘slow’ travel and making it easier for them to apply for residence visas.
In addition, it puts nature at the forefront of the campaign through its numerous relaxation retreats and spa centers, located in green reserves and surrounded by nature.
This widely hailed move will attract wellness seekers who have deliberately avoided Thailand due to its reputation as a party destination.
Thailand is more liberal
Finally, Thailand takes a more liberal approach to the commercialization of psychoactive drugs than its Southeast Asian partners.
For example, in 2022, the ban on medical cannabis was liftedbecoming the first in the subcontinent to do so.
Now you can purchase reasonable amounts of cannabis-based products throughout Thailand as long as you report use for health-related purposes. This distinguishes Thailand from countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia, where the laws are much stricter.
The nightlife in Thailand is much more liberal also, especially in Bangkok, the island of Phuket and the beach zone in Pattaya, where adult entertainment venues are allowed to operate if they meet certain conditions, and attitudes to sexuality are terribly tolerant.
Thailand is affordable, fun and trendy to visit, and we can certainly see the country rise to the top of the world tourism charts in the coming months as the country continues to invest in the sector and promote beautiful, lesser-known gems that Westerners may not have heard of yet.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
