Thailand’s tourism revenue in 1st quarter grows 9 per cent

BANGKOK, March 29 (TNA) -- Thailand’s tourism revenue in the first quarter has grown 9 percent to Bt734 billion, continuing the upward trend from last year when the sector grew nearly 11 percent. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) on Tuesday released a report on Thai tourism industry in the first quarter of 2017, indicating 9.2 million foreign visitor arrivals. TAT Governor Yuthasak Suphasorn said visitors from all country groups had risen contributing Bt490 billion in revenue. The World Travel & Tourism Council has predicted Thailand’s travel and tourism sector will be the world’s 10th-fastest-growing over the next decade, with an average growth rate of 6.5 per cent per annum. The prediction is based on the 11 percent growth last year when travel and tourism contributed Bt2.9 trillion to Thailand’s gross domestic product last year, which was 20.6 per cent of total GDP. Mr Yuthasak also said domestic tourists also rose to 32.5 million generating Bt24 billion in revenue during the first three months of this year. He said he expected the pace would continue to the middle of April when Thailand hosts the world famous Songkran Festival. The Festival would attract 470,000 foreign tourists with at least Bt8 billion being spent, he said. (TNA)