Int'l tourist arrivals in Thailand exceed 20m in 2013

BANGKOK, November 26 (TNA) - Over 21 million international tourists visited Thailand during the first 10 months of this year. Deputy Government Spokesman Chalitrat Chantarubeksa told journalists the Thai Cabinet has been informed that a total of 21.73 million international tourists visited Thailand during January–October 2013, a 22.30 per cent year-on-year increase. Based on the official report tabled before this week's Cabinet meeting, groups of economies whose people visited Thailand most during the period include the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Europe and North America; while countries whose nationals visited Thailand most during the same period include China, Malaysia, Russia, Japan, Laos, India, Australia and the United Kingdom. The official report said Thailand's total tourism revenue is expected to reach hundreds of thousands billion baht by the end of this year, despite impacts from ongoing domestic political demonstrations and China’s new tourism law. (TNA)