THAILAND SEES 20 PER CENT INCREASE IN ARAB VISITORS FOR 2010

By Muin Abdul Majid

DUBAI, Jan 12 (Bernama) -- The number of visitors from the Middle East to
Thailand last year was projected to have increased by 20 per cent, as
compared to 371,368 visitors the previous year, said the Tourism Authority of
Thailand (TAT).

It said for the first nine months of last year, the total number of visitors
from the Middle East stood at 392,294, and had already surpassed the 2009 yearly
total.

The final quarter statistics were being confirmed, the tourism promotion
agency said in a statement Wednesday.

TAT Middle East director Pramoth Supyen reckoned that 2010 had been a
challenging year for all destinations due to various global and international
events, and that Thailand was no exception.

Nevertheless, the tourism official noted, Thailand continued to grow
strongly as a favoured destination of choice, thanks to the role played by
travel trade partners and the continuing popularity of the country among Middle
Easterners.
-- BERNAMA


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