Thailand's tourism targeted to grow over 11% in 2019

BANGKOK, July 10 (TNA) - The state-run Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has targeted to promote and stimulate the domestic tourism to further expand by 11.5 per cent year-on-year in 2019. TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn presented the TAT operational plan on the domestic tourism promotion for 2019, in which the targeted growth figure is included, at an event held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok on July 9, presided over by Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat and participated by relevant public and private parties. Yuthasak said the targeted 11.5 per cent-domestic tourism growth next year, if met, should earn the Thai Kingdom about 3.4 trillion baht. According to the TAT governor, about 12 per cent of the targeted domestic tourism revenues should come from foreign tourists and about 10 per cent should come from local travellers. The TAT governor revealed that there will be three main strategies to expand overseas markets for the domestic tourism and to attract international tourists to Thailand next year, including modifying the Kingdom's tourism branding to be a preferred destination, stimulating more spending in the country by mid-to-high foreign tourists and expanding the niche market. Besides, there will be four main strategies to promote and stimulate travels in the country among Thais, namely campaigning for more spending among major and potential groups, as well as for more days of stay and more tourist destinations in different areas, for building more social capacity and for protecting the environment at targeted areas, aimed at utilizing local potential for driving ahead and sustaining the local tourism in separate areas across the country. The TAT operational plan on the domestic tourism promotion for 2019 is based on four major directions, including reducing disparity among areas, sustaining local tourism, publicizing locals' hospitality and emphasizing on the safety of international tourists. (TNA)