Ministry bullish on 2012 tourism

Ministry of Tourism and Sports estimates international tourist arrivals to Thailand this year could reach 20.5 to 20.8 million representing a projected increase of 7.4% to 8.9% over 19.09 million visits in 2011.

The ministry’s tourism department director general, Supol Sripan, said the estimated arrivals this year were based on an improved supply from 10 markets such as Malaysia, China, Russia, Australia, the UK, Japan, Korea, Singapore, India and the United States.

“We can reach 20.5 to 20.8 million visits and earn Bt788 billion in revenue, up from Bt734.5 billion last year,” he told TTR Weekly.

However, the forecast is higher than one suggested by the Tourism Authority of Thailand that targets 19.55 million tourists and revenue of Bt766 billion.

The department will spend Bt1.81 billion on three main projects. They are: Developing potential tourism sites and restoring flood-hit ones; building accurate tourism statistics; preparing information on the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.

Mr Supol noted the worst flooding in five decades had failed to stop the country breaking a record and achieving revenue of Bt734.59 billion, an increase of 23.9%. Tourist arrivals reached 19.09 million tourists up 19.8% from 15.98 million visits in 2010.

The biggest tourist supply came from Malaysia, at 2,470,686 visits (+20.00%), followed by China (1,760,564; +56.88%), Japan (1,126,221; +13.34%), Russia (1,014,493; +57.36%), South Korea (1,014,292; +25.93%), India (916,787; +20.57%), Laos (887,677; +24.09%), Australia, (854,064; +22.35%), UK (844,224; +4.13%) and the United States (684,073; +11.81%).

Tourists from these countries accounted for 66.60% of the visits to the country in 2011, up from 57.86% reported in the previous year, he said.

“Tourists from other Asian nations continue to grow due to economic expansion in China, India and South Korea,” he said.

On terrorism threats, the Tourism and Sports permanent secretary, Suwat Sidthilaw, said the ministry had asked the Tourism Authority of Thailand to clarify the situation, worldwide through its 27 offices.

Source - ttrweekly