Thailand Targets Wealthy Muslim Tourists

Wealthy Muslim tourists are a growing demographic in the global tourism industry, and they have unique preferences and needs when it comes to travel. Thailand is one of Southeast Asia’s most visited tourist destinations, attracting millions of visitors every year from all over the world. The country’s tourism industry has been snowballing over the past decade, with the government investing in infrastructure, services, and facilities to cater to the needs of tourists. There has been a significant rise in Muslim travelers in recent years, and they are now considered one of the most important target groups for the global tourism industry.

The Department of Tourism (DoT) in Thailand has recognized the potential of this growing market and is now designing plans to promote Thailand as a Muslim-friendly destination. The department has been discussing with the private sector in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, and Phuket to explore measures to attract more high-end Muslim travelers from the Middle East and other places.

Athuek Phrasenmoon, Director of the DoT’s Tourist Attractions Development Division, highlighted that Muslim tourists are a fast-growing market with high spending power. In 2020, Thailand saw 11.8 million international arrivals, with over 400,000 coming from the Middle East, representing a 65% increase compared to the same period in 2019. The total spending of this group also rose by 71% from 2019. Given this trend, the DoT aims to develop a comprehensive plan to better cater to the needs of Muslim visitors and encourage more to come to the country.

Thailand’s Plan to Attract Wealthy Muslim Tourists

The department aims to educate local authorities and hospitality professionals about the culture, behavior, and unique needs of Muslim tourists, including their preference for halal food, in order to provide better service and hospitality.

According to Athuek, the results of the four discussions showed that Muslim tourists preferred Muslim-friendly destinations such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Krabi. They also like hotels and restaurants with halal food and other facilities catering to their unique needs, like prayer rooms.

To appeal to this growing market, the private sector has suggested promoting tourism activities related to the Muslim calendar, such as offering attractive campaigns after Ramadan, Islam’s holiest month. This would further encourage high-end Muslim travelers to visit Thailand.

The MasterCard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index 2022 ranks Thailand fourth on the list of non-Muslim countries popular among Muslim tourists, behind Malaysia, Singapore, and the UK. The country’s ranking reflects the efforts of the government and private sector in promoting Thailand as a Muslim-friendly destination.

In conclusion, Thailand’s DoT and private sector are gearing up to attract more high-spending Muslim tourists by promoting the country as a friendly destination for Islamic travel. The department aims to develop a comprehensive plan to better cater to the needs of Muslim visitors and encourage more to come to the country. 

The private sector has suggested promoting tourism activities related to the Muslim calendar to appeal to high-end Muslim travelers. As a result, Thailand is expected to see a significant increase in Muslim visitors in the years to come, further strengthening the country’s tourism industry. As the Muslim travel market continues to grow, catering to the specific needs and preferences of wealthy Muslim tourists can lead to significant economic benefits for destinations and businesses in the global tourism industry.