Thai tourism on rise in 1st quarter of 2017

By：Xinhua Update：2017-03-31

Thai tourism revenue of the first quarter of 2017 is expected to reach the target of 20.9 billion U.S. dollars, up 9 percent over the same period of 2016, said Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) on Thursday.

Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the TAT, said, "The growth momentum is anticipated to continue through to the second quarter with an 11 per cent year-on-year increase on revenue to US$18 billion, including US$474 million revenue targeted from tourism spending during the five-day water festival holiday in middle April."

He said this expectation is based on a number of factors.

Thailand will host the The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit 2017 in April in Bangkok, and the Destination Wedding Planners Congress 2017 in May in Phuket. Holding international meetings will help to attract arrivals and income to host country, according to Yuthasak.

Besides, the TAT will also enhance marketing efforts in China through a series of roadshow events that focus on the luxury, health and wellness, and new markets as well as through celebrity marketing under the "Experience Thailand with Mario" campaign."

In the first quarter of 2017 (January-March), TAT expects Thailand to welcome 9.2 million international visitors and generate 14 billion U.S. dollars, representing a year-on-year increase of 2 percent and 7 percent, respectively.

Meanwhile, domestic tourism is expected to yield 32.5 million trips and 6.8 billion U.S. dollars, a year-on-year growth of 8 percent and 12 percent, respectively.