Tourism Growth Expected to Reach Target in 2nd Half of 2019

BANGKOK, June 8 (TNA) – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is optimistic that the number of tourists will reach 40 – 41 million in 2019, an increase of 10 per cent from last year, said TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn. The TAT has maintained its projection that the country would earn approximately 3.4 trillion baht this year, said Yuthasak. Foreign visitors to the kingdom from the beginning of this year until now rose continuously as targeted. Chinese tourists during the period increased about 10 per cent year-on-year, or from 10.5 million to about 11 – 12 million, generating tourism income of 500- 600 billion baht, he said. These Chinese visitors had high purchase power and switched their destination to Thailand instead of the United States. The TAT, however, has issued measures to boost visitor number and to increase visitor spend after it noticed that the current global economy, the strong baht and several internal factors have caused tourists to be more cautious with their spending, he added. (TNA)