Thai tourism likely to grow 10 per cent in 2017

BANGKOK, Dec 5 (TNA) – Thai tourism is likely to expand steadily in 2017 with full-year growth forecast at 10 per cent, according to Ittirith Kinglake, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand. Mr Ittirith said next year’s tourism revenue is expected to reach 2.5 trillion baht with 34 million foreign tourists arriving in Thailand. Still, economic conditions in China and Russia in particular and unrest incidents in many countries could pose major challenges for the growth, he added. Regarding the implementation of a tax relief measure by the Thai government, Mr Ittirith believed the measure would give an effective boost to domestic tourism during the holiday season in December. The Thai government recently introduced a tourism stimulus measure, offering a 15,000-baht tax break on domestic tour packages and hotel accommodation to individual taxpayers. The scheme runs from Dec 1 to 30. (TNA)