Hotels Win Numbers In Thailand

THE number of Australians visiting Thailand in the first five months of 2010 has increased by nearly 18 per cent compared with the same peiod in 2009.
Australia ranks as  number four (outside Asia) as a supplier of visitors to Thailand with 275,945 making the journey by the end of May.

Marketing chairman of the Thai Hotels Association Ms Suprawan Tanomkieatipume released figures in Bangkok yesterday just before a major
Tourism Authority of Thailand function for more than 700 travel agents, tour operators and media from around the world.

She said that only the U.K.,Germany and Russia send more tourists than Australia, excepting Asian neighbours.

Significantly, Ms Suprawan said that the total spend by Aussies had also increased to the Baht equivalent of  about A$3.23-billion ? again the fourth highest outside Asia.

Ms Suprawan said that despite the increases Thailand?s 30,000 four- and five- star hotel rooms showed an occupancy of about 45 per cent compared with about 75 per cent normally.

She added that this figure would leap in June and July and again in December and January ? the high seasons for Australian and European
travellers.

Speaking of the future she said that the recent political turbulence had not affected investment and construction of hotel properties which would
make more than 4000 new rooms available by the end of December.

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