The Secret of Thailand Tourism 🇹🇭

Описание: In 2026, Thailand remains the more advanced tourism market in Southeast Asia due to its superior infrastructure, seamless travel experience, and aggressive marketing strategies. While the Philippines boasts world-class natural beauty, it continues to face logistical and policy-driven hurdles that limit its overall visitor volume compared to its regional peer. 

The key reasons for Thailand's lead include:

Superior Infrastructure and Connectivity: Thailand offers a more developed transportation network, including advanced public rail systems (BTS/MRT in Bangkok) and extensive, affordable road networks that make travel smooth and enjoyable. In contrast, the Philippines' archipelagic nature makes travel between islands more costly and logistically challenging, often requiring multiple flights or ferries.

Ease of Access and Visa Policies: Thailand utilizes highly flexible visa regimes, including 60-day visa exemptions for 93 countries and expanded visa-on-arrival options, which contribute to high visitor counts. The Philippines is noted for having less flexible visa policies compared to its ASEAN peers.

Tourism Value and Food Culture: While daily costs are low in both countries, Thailand is frequently cited for providing better value for comfort and higher quality street food. Thai cuisine is a global driver for its tourism industry, whereas travelers often find Philippine food offerings less varied or appealing by comparison.

Global Branding and Strategic Planning: The "Amazing Thailand" campaign is a long-standing, world-renowned marketing tool. For 2026, Thailand has launched a new "Value Is the New Volume" strategy to focus on high-quality, sustainable tourism.

Healthcare and Specialized Tourism: Thailand is a global hub for medical tourism and wellness, offering technologically advanced services at a low cost, which attracts a diverse segment of long-stay travelers. 

Note on Philippine Progress: Despite lower arrival numbers, the Philippines ranks first in ASEAN for tourism GDP as of early 2026, reaching USD 91.8 billion. This is largely due to higher per-person spending (roughly US$2,100 per visitor compared to US$1,300 in Thailand) and a thriving domestic tourism sector. 

These materials detail Thailand's superior infrastructure, flexible visa policies, and successful marketing campaigns that foster its tourism growth over the Philippines.