TAT is targeting for the year overall income of Bt2.77 trillion from 34.3 million foreign visitors and 154 million domestic trips.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand is not holding back with its forecasts for a bumper year in 2017.
TAT is targeting for the year overall income of Bt2.77 trillion from 34.3 million foreign visitors and 154 million domestic trips.
The tourism-receipts target represents a 10% increase from last year’s revenue, TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said. The forecast of 34.3 million international visitors represents a 5.5% rise year-on-year.
Reasons for the predicted growth in international arrivals and spending are a recovery in the Russian economy, the waiving of visa fees for tourists sanctioned until the end of February, and brighter economic prospects in Asian source markets, the TAT governor explained.
Yuthasak, quoted by The Nation, said despite many negative factors, including a crackdown on zero-dollar tours that affected the mainland China market, Thailand welcomed 32.6 million international tourists last year, nine percent higher than in 2015.
TAT has several major events lined up to attract visitors, including the World Travel and Tourism and Council Congress, Thailand Festival Experience, TAT at World Expo Astana, Ekiden in Ayuthaya, New Thailand grand sales, The World Comes to Thailand (Asia’s 50 best restaurants and more), film tourism, and Thailand at its Best aimed specifically at the Chinese market.