PM confident Thailand has tourism potential

BANGKOK, April 27 (TNA) -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha presided over the opening ceremony of the World Travel and Tourism Council Global Summit 2017 (WTTC 2017), aiming to provide a stage for all sectors to help develop sustainable tourism, while also create confidence on Thailand's tourism capabilities. The premier, during his opening speech, said he was honoured that Thailand has been selected as the host of the summit this year, as it is one of the most important events for the tourism industry which could help emphasised Thailand's potential to hold globally recognised summits, as well as to reflect Thailand's readiness in becoming a tourism hub in Asia and the world. He said that high level business executives and organisations for travels and tourism worldwide have arrived in the country to participate in a seminar, where the main theme this year is,"Transforming Our World", focusing on the discussion of the future of the tourism sector, the largest business sector the world had ever seen, creating 292 million jobs for people across the globe, accounting for 10.2 per cent of the world GDP. Moreover, the premier said dangers from terrorism and transnational crimes must also be addressed properly, where new measures and technology must be implemented to strictly screen tourists, where a security balance must be created to ensure acceptance from all countries. Gen Prayut noted that the tourism industry has been expanding more every year, with growth in 2015 at 16.7 per cent, generating an income of 1.45 trillion baht for the country, while 2016 saw an expansion of 11 per cent with revenue of 2.52 trillion baht, the highest income for Thailand that year, despite the sluggish world economy. He then stressed that Thailand also has a modern transportation network on land, water, and by air, which is also constantly being developed, and Thailand has planned to provide more ease in traveling from Thailand to neighbouring countries, as well as on trade, logistics, transportation, labour movements and tourism. He said both Thailand and ASEAN member states have given great importance to the development of the tourism industry, particularly on reducing travel obstacles to turn the region into a Single Tourist Destination for world visitors. (TNA)