BANGKOK, 12 June 2013 –– With the continuously rising number of foreign tourists coming to Thailand in the past 5 months, the nation’s tourism growth seems promising despite the fluctuation in its economy.
President of the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) Piyaman Techapaibul is confident that this year the nation would be able to attract 26 million tourists as earlier targeted, citing the aforementioned figures.
The numbers were based on the Tourism Business Operator’s Confidence and Tourist Behaviors Index compiled by the TCT and Chulalongkorn University’s Economics Faculty.
The index indicated the steady rise in the tourist number with 6 million seen in the first quarter and a nearly similar number in the second quarter although June is not yet included. The highest increase was seen in the number of Chinese visitors, followed by those from other ASEAN member countries, and Europe. Chinese tourists were visiting the kingdom at the rate of 300-thousand per month.
The TCT president predicted that the number would be slightly higher in the third quarter and increase to 7 million in the last quarter. She claimed that the combined number of foreign tourists this year would exceed the target of 26 million, representing an increase of 17% from last year.
