More Thai vacationers go abroad during New Year

BANGKOK, December 27 (TNA) - The Kasikorn Research Center (KRC) says that more Thai vacationers will go abroad during New Year holidays and spend about 6.2 billion baht totally on their trips. After its recent survey on 502 people in Bangkok, the KRC estimated on Friday that about 146,000 Thai people will likely travel overseas during their New Year celebrations, a 10.6 per cent year-on-year increase, with their total spending expected at about 6.2 billion baht. According to the KRC survey, those planning to go abroad said ongoing domestic political demonstrations should not affect their overseas trips. The leading Thai private think tank also found that most popular overseas destination for the respondents is Japan, followed by Singapore and China. The Bangkok-based research firm found, however, that the majority of the respondents wanted to travel to domestic destinations, including Chiang Mai, Phetchabun, Mae Hong Son, Khao Yai and Wang Nam Khieo. Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, President of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, told reporters, meanwhile, that recent violent incidents from political demonstrations have affected domestic tourism, as 39 countries have maintained their travel advisories about Thailand. (TNA)