Celebrations to welcome foreign visitors took place at seven airports and two immigration checkpoints yesterday as the country recorded 10 million foreign tourist arrivals for the year.
The Tourism and Sports Ministry organised the "Amazing Thailand 10 Million Celebrations" event to highlight the steady revival of the economically vital industry after a Covid-induced downturn that lasted more than two years.
Local dignitaries and tourism business leaders turned out to form welcoming parties at all seven international airports -- Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, U-Tapao Rayong-Pataya, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi and Samui -- and at the Sadao and Nong Khai border checkpoints.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was at Suvarnabhumi airport to welcome the year's 10 millionth visitor arriving on a flight from Saudi Arabia.
The two lucky tourists who received the prize worth more than 200,000 baht were Ms Njood Alkhuwaiter and Mr Hetham Almdlj.
They were among 357 passengers from Saudi Arabian Airlines flight SV 846 from Riyadh who arrived at the airport at 3pm.
"Today we have welcomed more than 10 million tourists. We will not stop this success but we will try to build more confidence [among visitors] that Thailand is still one of the main destinations for travellers around the world," Gen Prayut said at the event.
"We're ready on all sides to welcome foreign visitors," he added.
In the East, an Azur Air charter flight from Moscow carrying 336 passengers landed at U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya international airport at 11.38am.
It was followed 14 minutes later by another Azur Air charter from Novosibirsk, Russia.
Chon Buri governor Thawatchai Srithong, Rayong deputy governor Pirun Hemarak and senior officials from the airport and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) joined tourism business executives to welcome the Russian tourists and present them with souvenirs.
In Phuket, governor Narong Woonciew led representatives from the public and private sectors to welcome 722 foreign visitors from the United Kingdom, India and South Korea. Thailand welcomed 40 million foreign tourists in 2019 before Covid-19.