Government urged to promote Thai tourism in AEC

BANGKOK, July 20 (TNA) - Private tour operators have urged the government to do more in promoting Thailand as one of a regional tourism havens, after the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015. The call was made on Thursday at a seminar in Bangkok on how to prepare local tour operators for the Single Economic Community of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). President of the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA) Su-thi-pong Pheun-phi-phop said despite having reached a target of 11 million inbound tourists annually, Thailand has lost its title as the top tourism destination to some regional countries, like Singapore and Indonesia. Although Thailand is likely to see around 20 million inbound tourists by the end of this year,Suthipong proposed more efforts by the government to further boost the national tourism, in preparation for the AEC. (TNA)