The Tourism Council of Thailand expects growing tourism in Thailand in the third and fourth quarters of this year and the number of foreign visitors to the country should nearly reach the target of 27 million.
Council president Piyaman Techapaiboon said that tourism operators’ confidence was low in the second quarter because the survey on their opinions had taken place before the national administrative takeover by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
She now believes that tourism will start to improve in the third quarter as the Peace and Order Council is restoring confidence among foreign tourists and investors.
Ms Piyaman said if restoration of confidence continued, 6.84 million foreigners would visit Thailand in the third quarter, rising by 5.23 per cent, and 7.85 million would come in the fourth quarter which would be the peak period of arrivals.
Consequently overall foreign arrivals would reach 26.84 million this year, increasing by 1.09 per cent, and Thailand should generate Bt1.26 trillion from their visits.
The Tourism Council of Thailand head said Thai authorities should boost foreign visitors’ confidence regarding safety in the country and take special care of tourists from China, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and India who formed a big group of foreign visitors.
