The Tourism Authority of Thailand revealed that tourism revenue in 2012 nearly touched 1 trillion baht, while the number of tourists rose about 15 percent. According to TAT Governor Surapol Svetasreni, 22 million tourists visited the country in 2012, a 15-percent rise year-on-year; meanwhile, the Thai tourism industry raked in around 965 billion baht in revenues during the period, an increase of 24 percent compared to 2011’s figure.
The majority of the travellers visiting Thailand last year were Chinese, South Korean, and Japanese, in particular, whose number topped one million. The governor also expected the number of local tourists to rise 3% percent and 8 percent for foreigners this year. Revenues generated from local tourists would increase by 6 percent, and by 13 percent from the foreigners.
He further disclosed that the tourism sector still had concerns over the country’s political conflicts that would likely resurface in the future, as well as the Thai currency’s tendency to appreciate on the back of US economic problems, but, most importantly, the sector’s was worried about the safety of travelers as it could ruin the country’s image. สำนักข่่าวแห่งชาติ : TAT: 2012 tourism revenue nearly touches 1 trillion baht
Thailand’s international tourist arrivals reached the 21-million mark yesterday and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) now aims to achieve 24.5 million next year.
The 21-millionth international tourist this year was on Thai Airways International’s flight TG 551 from Ho Chi Minh City, which landed at Suvarnabhumi Airport in the afternoon, according to the TAT, which described the achievement as promising for the country’s tourism industry.
“We’re confident that the number will increase a little more to 22 million by the year-end,” said TAT Governor Suraphon Svetasreni, who presided over the ceremony at the airport’s arrival terminal to welcome the 21-millionth international tourist.
International tourist arrivals, according to TAT, have increased 15 per cent from last year and earned the country more than 965 billion baht (US$31.5 billion), a 24-per-cent rise from last year.
