Bt30b expected to be changed hands during Chinese New Year in Thailand

BANGKOK, February 8 (TNA) - The government predicts that some 30 billion baht should be changed hands during the Chinese New Year Festival 2016, as Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha extends his best wishes to people of the Chinese descent. Government Spokesman Major General Sansern Kaewkamnerd told journalists that the government has anticipated that 30 billion baht should be spent by visitors from five main markets, including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia. The spokesman said the expected sum should rise by 32 per cent year-on-year and the arrivals of Chinese tourists should grow by 300,000, a 21 per cent year-on-year increase, as a recent survey on Chinese business operators found that Thailand is a most favorite tourist destination of Chinese people. The spokesman acknowledged this year's Chinese New Year Festival during February 6-8 would be another period of the fastest growing national economy, The spokesman stated that the prime minister has extended his best wishes to people, expressing his hope that they would have good health, thrive on their career and enjoy prosperity on the occasion of the 2016 Chinese New Year. According to the spokesman, the prime minister is also scheduled to attend the Chinese New Year Festival in Yaowarat area, known as Chinatown, on February 8, to celebrate the day of happiness with Thai people with the Chinese origin. With care, the Thai premier has advised people nationwide to celebrate the festival cautiously, prevent fire from their lighting and firecrackers and travel safely and generously with others so that the ongoing Chinese New Year celebration should be a truly happy beginning of the year for Thai people with the Chinese origin. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Commerce was selling Chinese New Year-related products at 20-40 per cent discounts and authorities were controlling the prices of such products and consumer goods for the time being to prevent a price hike. (TNA)