2012 is golden year for Thai tourism

BANGKOK, December 28 (TNA) - The Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) says that the Thai tourism breaks all records this year, with international tourist arrivals reaching nearly 22 million. TCT President Piyaman Tejapaibul proclaimed on Friday that 2012 is the golden year of the Thai tourism, as the number of international visitors has kept rising unexpectedly, breaking its record. Piyaman acknowledged that about 21.7 international visitors have visited Thailand since early this year, earning the Kingdom tourism-related revenues of at least 900 billion baht, and that local tourists’ spending has also increased to 500 billion baht, resulting in national income from overall tourism standing at about 1.4 billion baht. Piyaman assessed that the number of international visitors in Thailand and the country's tourism-related revenues should grow by at least 4-5 per cent next year despite persistent economic problems in Europe and the United States, thanks to political stability in Thailand, the rising popularity of tourist destinations in the country and higher incomes of Asians. Besides, border disputes between China and Japan have prompted more tourists to visit Thailand, with those from China standing at 2.5 million, Russia some million, India almost one million and South Korea and Japan nearly one million each. Meanwhile, Thai travel agents said they hope the Chinese hit film “Lost in Thailand” will bring more Chinese tourists to Thailand, especially in the northern resort Chiang Mai province, as the most settings of the hit movie are locations in Bangkok and Chiang Mai and the film is making the greatest box office receipts in China. (TNA)