Thailand to welcome more int'l tourists later this year

BANGKOK, July 1 (TNA) - The Kasikorn Research Center (KResearch) says it is likely that more international tourists will visit Thailand in the second half of this year, accounting for an anticipated growth rate of about 7 per cent year-on-year. According to a latest KResearch report released on June 30, the number of foreign tourist arrivals in Thailand in the second half of 2019 should reach about 20.1 million, higher than about 19.7 million during the first half of the year. The Bangkok-based research firm assessed that the number of foreign visitors to Thailand in the second half of 2019 should, thus, account for an about 7 per cent year-on-year growth. The leading Thai private think tank also maintained its projection on the total number of foreign visitors to the Thai Kingdom in 2019 at 39.0-39.8 million, a 2-4 per cent year-on-year expansion. The KReseach also estimated that the total spending of the international visitors to Thailand this year should stand about 1.94-1.97 trillion baht on average. Meanwhile, the KResearch report suggested that operators in the Thai tourism sector modify their marketing strategies to cope with the changing situation, in which there are greater competitions and international tourists now increasingly opt to visit many countries in an overseas trip and cut their spending and periods of their stays in each destination. The KResearch proposed that operators in the Thai tourism sector introduce different campaigns and activities to, for instance, attract international tourists who have more purchasing power with varied tastes and develop their networks or partnership with other operators within or outside their areas. Besides, the digital technology should be utilized to promote their businesses in the Thai tourism sector, namely their hotels, accommodations and other attractive services. (TNA)