Thailand looks forward to 2010
BANGKOK – The Tourism Authority of Thailand expects 14 million foreign tourists to visit Thailand next year.
The number of inbound tourists will represent a 5.6 percent increase over this year’s expected 13.2 million visitors.
Officials in China yesterday withdrew that country’s official warning against travel to Thailand, following Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s visit last week.
The move is expected to draw more than 100,000 Chinese tourists to Thailand in the remaining months of this year.
Acting TAT governor Pensuda Priaram said the agency would concentrate on attracting tourists from two potential markets next year: South Asia and the Middle East – regions which have suffered less than others from the global economic crisis.
Visitors from East Asia, particularly Japan, South Korea, China and Hong Kong, are expected to drop 14.9 per cent to 6.7 million.
Weerasak Kowsurat, chairman of TAT’s board, said packaged tours would be introduced to attract transfer passengers waiting on stopovers at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
The government has extended the exemption on fees for tourist visa applications until March 31 next year. The exemption will apply to visa applications made on arrival at all international airports and at Thai embassies.
As well, booklets have been released detailing travel programmes lasting only 72 hours in popular destinations like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Pattaya.
Santichai Euachongprasit, deputy governor for international marketing, said the TAT planned to open two new offices later this year, in Kunming, China and Mumbai, India. Next year, it plans a new office in Jakarta.
Source: The Nation
Ian Jarrett
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