Government push ahead with Thailand Riviera project

BANGKOK, March 12 (TNA) -- The committee in charge of tourism policy approved of plans to establish Thailand's western seaboard as Thailand Riviera to promote tourism which will further propel the government's plans to develop secondary tourist destinations. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak who stated that the government wanted tourism in the western seaboard to be rapidly developed. The aptly named Royal Coast or Thailand Riviera will include Petchaburi, Prachuab Khiri Khan, Chumpohn and Ranong provinces. Government departments will be tasked with assisting the private sector and local communities in setting up a 5 year development plan. In today's meeting tourist numbers for the first two months of the year were revealed which recorded a visit of 7.11 million tourists. This is a 14.94% increase over the same period last year. February's figure were singularly outstanding with an increase of 19.29% recorded as many tourists chose to celebrate 2018 Chinese New Year in Thailand. The majority of these being Chinese, Malaysian and Russian tourists. As such, 382 billion Baht in tourist revenues were generated which in itself also grew by 16.38% over the same period last previous year. Projections for 2018 are that the tourist sector will be able to generate no less than 3 trillion baht in tourist revenues. Of these, two trillion baht will come form foreign tourists while the remaining one trillion from locals. (TNA)