TAT confident tourism in Rayong to remain active

BANGKOK, Nov 8 (TNA) - The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said that tourism in Rayong provinces this year is seeing better growth than the previous year, while targeting that by 2017, the local tourism would become more popular in line with the 'Following in the Father of the Land Footsteps' project, which would expand Rayong's tourism by another 10 per cent. Director of the TAT Office in Rayong,Ms Kanokkittika Kritwutthikorn said tourism in the province has been expanding continuously and is doing better then last year, as the number of tourists and income have increased by roughly 8-12 per cent from 2015, where the current tourist arrivals stand at 6,650,710, generating an income of around 28.38 billion baht. She said the figure is predicted to further rise by the end of 2016. Meanwhile, the office has targeted that by 2017, tourism in the province should expand no less than 10 per cent from the figure of 2016, as the province is set to attract visitors to its famous tourist destinations, as well as initiate the project, in which tourists can travel through the province following in the routes taken by His Majesty late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Ms Kanokkittika said apart from its beautiful beaches, Rayong also possesses numerous fruit farms, where visitors can visit to have a taste of exquisite Thai fruits, whereas the U-tapao Airport and the route linking between Rayong and Pattaya City also act as transportation points, which help to bring in more visitors into the area. Both national and international tourists would get the chance not only to travel around the province and adjacent provinces following in HM King Bhumibol's routes around area, but also learn more about Thailand, as well as on His late Majesty's royally initiated projects. (TNA)