Thais count on tourism

Business Asia, May 17, 1999

Thailand expects tourist arrivals to grow about 5 per cent this year as Asia's economic recovery breathes more life into one of the nation's biggest industries.

Thailand's Tourism Authority says it expects to achieve its goal of 8.2 million tourist arrivals and revenues of 300 billion baht (US$8.15 billion) this year, compared with 7.78 million arrivals and 260 billion baht in revenues last year.

It said that in the first quarter of 1999, arrivals rose about 12 per cent year-on-year to 2.4 million as more Asian tourists packed their bags and once again headed for Thailand, one of the region's major destinations.

"For this year and next year, there is a good chance that our targets will be met," said the authority's deputy governor, Ms Juthamas Siriwan.

Thailand is considered a cheap destination internationally, with the baht still well below its pre-crisis levels.

--Reuters