Int'l tourist arrivals in Thailand not affected by northern haze

BANGKOK, March 9 (TNA) - The Association of Domestic Travel (ADT) says that the ongoing haze problem in Thailand's northern region has not heavily affected the number of international tourist arrivals in the Kingdom, as a large number of international travellers choose to visit southern Thailand for their vacations during the summer. ADT President Maiyarat Pirayakoses insisted on Friday that the haze problem in eight northern Thai provinces has not seriously affected the number of international tourist arrivals in Thailand, pointing out that during annual summer months, global tourists normally prefer to travel to the country's southern Andaman coastline. The ADT chief acknowledged, however, that Thailand's previous political turmoil and floods have deferred some international tourist arrivals in the country. According to the ADT, the number of international tourist arrivals in Thailand has remained good since the beginning of this year, around 70 per cent of the targeted number. The ADT chief projected that the number of tourist arrivals in Thailand should further increase during the annual Songkran or traditional Thai New year holiday next month, when a number of Thai nationals overseas also return home for a reunion with their families. (TNA)