More int'l tourists expected to visit Thai South in 2019

BANGKOK, February 12 (TNA) - The Ministry of Tourism and Sports says it is likely that more international tourists will visit tourist attractions in Thailand's southern region along the coast of the Gulf of Thailand this year. Deputy Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Sports Santi Pawai voiced the assessment on February 11, indicating that the number of international tourist arrivals in five southern Thai provinces along the Gulf of Thailand, including Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Chumphon, Phattalung and Songkhla, should increase by at least 10 per cent year-on-year in 2019, also earning the Kingdom additionally at least 10 per cent year-on-year in tourism-related revenues. The senior official told journalists that in 2018, the five southern Thai provinces along the Gulf of Thailand welcomed at least 20 million international tourists, earning the Kingdom at least 200 billion baht of tourism-related revenues. "In the five southern Thai provinces along the Gulf of Thailand, there are several tourist attractions, namely, for instance, Baan Kiriwong, Cheow Lan Dam, Koh Samui, Koh Pha-ngan and Koh Tao", the senior official acknowledged. (TNA)