BANGKOK, Oct 15 – Thailand will achieve its target 20 million tourist arrival by year end, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
Ministry permanent-secretary Suwat Sidthilaw said 15 million tourists entered Thailand from January through September, an 8-per cent increase year-on-year reflecting performance for the first three-fourths of the calendar year.
He said the number of tourists will reach the targeted 20 million, as the last quarter is the high season period, and 900 charter flights will also fly to Thailand.
Mr Suwat said the ministry goal for tourism revenue was set to reach Bt2 trillion in 2015.
Urgent issues to be dealt with to reach both objectives include illegal taxis and jet ski problems in the resort island of Phuket.
Other matters to attract more tourists are finding solutions to slow immigration processing at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport, as well as focusing on new markets such as ASEAN, eastern Europe, Latin America, the Baltic countries, and promoting Thai cultural activities at a world-class level.
