A group of leading Thai hoteliers last week met with
Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij and a representative of the government’s
specialised financial institutions to call for the government to establish a
tourism bank tasked to serve the tourism sector only.
Hotels included in the meeting were the Pavilion Samui,
Boutique Resort, Silver Sand Resort, Nara Resort, and Bandara Hotels &
Resorts.
Small and Medium Enterprise Bank President Soros
Sakornvisava said he did not yet know the details of the request, but said
in practice, establishing a tourism bank is difficult to accomplish.
The group of hoteliers called for the establishment of
such a bank, citing the government’s approval of setting up a Post Bank in
December and the earlier chartering of the Islamic Bank of Thailand.
The hoteliers claimed the establishment of such a bank
would not rely on loan support by the specialised financial institutions, he
said.
Soros said the SME Bank had long given financial support
to the tourism sector. It had so far provided soft loans worth Bt5 billion
to the sector and was ready to give additional loan support. (TNA)
Thailand’s total auto production in 2010 amounted to 1.64
million units, its highest ever, rising 64.63 per cent from the previous year
with record high domestic sales of 800,375 units, or an increase of 45.8 per
cent, according to Surapong Paisitpattanapong of the Automobile Club of the
Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).
Export production in 2010 hit 895,855 vehicles, an increase
of 67.27 per cent, the highest since Thailand started exporting cars in 1988.
Auto sales in December 2010 totaled 93,122 units, an increase
of 29.2 per cent year-on-year, the highest ever since cars were sold in
Thailand.
Sales growth, in particular compact cars and eco-friendly
cars, resulted from the success of the Bangkok International Motor Show held in
December 2010, rising prices of agricultural goods, tourism and export growth,
and greater public confidence.
Export volume in December totaled 71,025 units, an increase
of 32.51 per cent. Higher orders boosted auto output in December 2010 to a total
of 137,403 units an increase of 22.99 per cent.
In 2011, it is expected auto output will reach 1.8 million
units including one million vehicles for export and 800,000 others for domestic
sales and together with about 50,000-60,000 imported cars, domestic car
production will hit 860,000-870,000 units.
The main risk factors for this year’s auto industry are high
oil prices and currency volatility. However, lucrative prices of agricultural
products will increase purchasing power and the launching of eco-friendly cars
from Honda this year and those from Suzuki and Mitsubishi next year will
continue to boost purchasing power. (TTN)
