Int'l visitors to Thailand on the rise

BANGKOK, October 19 (TNA) - Thailand is expected to see a sharp increase in international tourist arrivals in the country this year, with the total number of Chinese tourists alone exceeding 8 million for the first time. Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) Chairman Itthirit Kinglek said on Tuesday despite a deadly bombing at the Ratchaprasong Intersection in central Bangkok on August 17, killing 20 victims, mostly foreigners, and wounded about 130 others, recent statistics compiled by TCT showed that international tourists visiting Thailand during the fourth quarter this year should total 8.14 million, up 9.12 per cent from the corresponding period last year. Itthirit projected if there is no major incident in the country, some 30.3 million international tourists should visit Thailand in 2015, an increase of about 22.3 per cent year-on-year. Of the total, Itthirit stressed, more than 8 million Chinese are expected to visit Thailand in 2015, making it the first time the number of Chinese visitors exceed the 8 million due probably to the current weakening Thai baht. (TNA)