Thailand to stimulate domestic tourism

BANGKOK, May 28 (TNA) - Thailand is working out a national plan to stimulate local tourism in the second half of this year, as the overall domestic situation is returning to normal after a six-month political protests. Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Sports Suwat Sitthilo told journalists on Wednesday afternoon that he discussed the national tourism stimulus plan with tourism authorities at a meeting held in Bangkok earlier in the day. Suwat said that the proposed national tourism stimulus plan will be submitted to Thai Navy Chief Admiral Narong Pipatanasai, in his capacity as a deputy chief of the army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), at a meeting to be held at his ministry on May 29. According to the senior official, the proposed national tourism stimulus include inviting foreign journalists to observe the improving situation in Thailand and addressing tourism-related problems. The senior official acknowledged, however, that an official target of international visitors to Thailand will be revised to 26.3 million this year, from earlier estimated at 28.01 million. The senior official revealed that local operators of tourism-related businesses have responded positively to the coup council's shortened curfew period, from 10pm-5am to from midnight-4am, effective from May 27. (TNA)