Vietnam is taking Thailand’s quality tourists in huge numbers while Bangkok flails about with crackdowns

[Coss]

Vietnam is mounting its biggest challenge yet to Thailand’s tourism crown as a once-massive 22-million visitor gap collapses.

Vietnam is surging beyond pre-Covid records while Thailand remains millions below its 2019 peak.

Crucially, Vietnam is beating Thailand on the value that once powered its tourism machine: price. It is also easing visas, expanding airports and attracting soaring Western arrivals.

Thailand, meanwhile, is tightening immigration, ramping up security and struggling to recover its huge Chinese market. Almost 30,000 foreigners were refused entry during this year’s first five months.

Through August, Vietnam’s arrivals surged 14.4% while Thailand’s fell 3.08%. The year-to-date gap had narrowed to roughly five million. A once-distant threat is now a serious regional contest....   LINK