Airports of Thailand (AoT) released figures which show that the number of arrivals on December 6 totaled 15,567. The number of daily arrivals to Thailand has since surged to reach 28,021 on January 5, a nearly 100% increase.

Although arrival figures are still below the normal daily average of about 35,000 arrivals in December 2007, Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Mrs Phornsiri Manoharn said that she was happy with the steady and sustained improvement.

"This is clear proof of the high levels of confidence that visitors have in the kingdom of Thailand, the Thai people and the Thai tourism industry," said Mrs Phornsiri. "We are very happy to see the numbers coming back so quickly."

Mrs Phornsiri said that figures should continue to increase steadily now that a new Thai government has been formed and a new Minister of Tourism and Sports appointed.

"We are very happy to welcome Mr. Chumpol Silpa-archa as the new minister," she said. "The Royal Thai government has received clear directions from His Majesty the King to restore peace and stability to the kingdom, which is exactly what everyone wants."

The minister has released his new three-point tourism policy: to maintain a cluster development policy, which involves promoting tourism to areas around the main tourist destinations, while distributing visitors to new areas or alternative destinations. To set up emergency marketing plan to restore image and encourage tourism in Thailand and to participate in ASEAN Tourism Forum 2009 during 5-12 January 2008 in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Thailand is in the process of finalizing a three-point recovery plan for 2009 which includes: emergency measures to restore visitor confidence in safety and security, policy measures to promote more domestic travel and international visitor arrivals, and tactical marketing measures which include special campaigns, especially via online marketing.

Mrs Phornsiri continued, "Our campaigns will focus on major markets where we will work with industry partners to launch special packages, advertise in local media, promote the Amazing Value Card and Coupon, organize media trips to Thailand, encourage overseas Thai residents to visit Thailand, attract seminar and exhibition in Thailand, etc."

She noted that while the closure had the most significant impact in Bangkok the effects of the eight-day siege were also felt in other destinations such as Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, Cha-am.

However, the impact of the December closure was far lower in beach resorts like Phuket, Krabi and Samui due to the number of charter flights which fly directly to those destinations particularly during the winter (October 2008 - March 2009).

Mrs Phornsiri noted that on December 21, 2008, the inaugural flight of XL charter airlines from Paris landed in Phuket, using an Airbus A330-200, with a capacity 364 seats. The charter is being operated at one flight a week, contributing significantly to the revival of tourism.

"Amazing Thailand is back in business," she said.