BANGKOK, Nov 25 – Almost 22 million tourists have visited Thailand in the first ten months of this year, according to Deputy Government Spokesman Chalitrat Chantarubeksa.
Mr Chalitrat said the Cabinet on Monday acknowledged an official report stating that Thailand welcomed 21.7 million international tourists during the first 10 months of 2013, an increase of 3.9 million persons or 22.3 per cent higher year-on-year.
Tourists from ASEAN and European countries and the USA primarily visited Thailand as well as those from China, Malaysia, Russia, Japan, Korea, Lao PDR, India, Australia and the United Kingdom.
Factors affecting the number of inbound tourists in the last two months of this year include restrictive tourism policies in China, Thailand’s domestic political instability and safety concerns for tourists.
Mr Chalitrat concluded that the number of international travellers is expected to reach this year’s target, generating hundreds of billion baht in revenue.
