Thailand’s tourism business grows higher than expectations

BANGKOK, July 15 (TNA) -- Thailand’s tourism business grew higher than expectations during the first half this year and is expected to sustain growth during the second half, said Pongpanu Svetarundra, permanent secretary for Tourism and Sports. Arrivals of foreign tourists during the first six months this year totaled about 17.32 million and the country earned approximately 876.68 billion baht, up 4.41 and 6.05 per cent in the number of foreign tourists visited Thailand and the revenue earned respectively compared to the corresponding period of 2016, said Mr Pongpanu. Chinese tourists visited the country most followed by Russians and Malaysians, he said. Meanwhile, some 58 million trips were made under the ‘Thais visit Thailand’ programme between January-May this year, generating about 382 billion baht, an increase of 5.28 and 6.12 per cent in terms of the number of travelling and revenue earned from the same period last year. It is projected that tourism industry in Thailand would sustain growth during the second half of 2017 due to favourable growths in the US and Europe and China. The Tourism and Sports Ministry has planned to propose that 2018 be the ‘Year of National Tourism’, said Mr Pongpanu. Several exciting programmes will be held including the UNWTO World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism, the Moto GP and Air Race 1 competition, and the Sport Accord Convention 2018, he added. (TNA)