Thailand declares 2018 its tourism year

BANGKOK, Sept 13 (TNA) -- The Tourism and Sports Ministry has announced that 2018 will be the year of Thai tourism and Thailand and its local residents are ready to warmly welcome visitors. Pongpanu Svetarundra, permanent secretary for tourism and sports, made the declaration when he attended the World Tourism Organization’s General Assembly in Chengdu city, China, on Sept 11-13. He said that the assembly gathered participants from more than 100 member states of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). In the UNWTO Regional Commission Meeting for East Asia and the Pacific on Sept 11, he informed participants of Thailand’s readiness to host international events including the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2018 in Chiang Mai in January and the UNWTO World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism in Bangkok in May 2018. Mr Panupong invited participants to attend the events, taste Thai foods and develop joint food-oriented tour promotions. He also confirmed Thailand’s readiness to be a UNWTO Affiliate Member until 2019. The UNWTO’s General Assembly was set to consider its new secretary-general and is encouraging member states to promote sustainable development in their tourism. “2018 will be the year of Thai tourism. It is a good opportunity for Thailand and all Thai citizens to be good hosts and demonstrate the country’s readiness to organize international conferences. “I am confident that the events will boost the income and reputation of the country and promote the equal distribution of income as intended by the government,” the permanent secretary for tourism and sports said. (TNA)