Thailand is the world's No 1 most-searched travel destination ahead of Chinese New Year week, with Suvarnabhumi Airport expecting to see over 1.8 million incoming Chinese tourists on Jan 16-28.
Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said on Sunday that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was pleased to see Thailand reach top in the survey carried out by travel marketing platform Sojern.
The platform said Thailand went up another place after finishing second last year.
This time around, searches involving the kingdom comprised 26.7% of all travel-related queries on the region.
Asia Pacific will be popular among international tourists in 2023, with some speculating that tourism might be the only industry in the region to make a full recovery this year, he said.
Sojern also reported that flights to cities in the Asia Pacific region during Chinese New Year are most desirable among tourists from Singapore, the US, Thailand, Taiwan and Japan.
Meanwhile, Suvarnabhumi Airport director Kittipong Kittikachorn said the airport expects to see over 1.8 million passengers arriving during Jan 16-28, or an average of 139,938 passengers daily.
Of that figure, Mr Kittipong said that 1.3 million will be international tourists with 454,996 domestic travellers.
That would represent an increase of 10,965 arriving and departing flights during the time period or an average of 843 flights per day, with 7,635 international flights and 3,330 domestic flights, said Mr Kittipong.
The airport has boosted facilities by opening more check-in counters, making the baggage drop-off service available four hours before departure, and putting more staff on the immigration desks.
Specifically for Chinese New Year week, the airport also has provided interpreters to meet airlines' requests.
Mr Kittipong added the airport had collaborated with its shops and restaurants to provide Chinese signs for Chinese tourists.
It has also prepared information videos in eight languages introducing transport options from the airport to the city such as Airport Rail Link, public buses and airport limousines.
