PM expects 30 mn foreign tourists in next 10 years
BANGKOK, 2 March 2011 (NNT) – Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has expected that the number of foreign tourists coming to Thailand in the next ten years will be as high as 30 million a year.
Speaking at a seminar on Wednesday, the prime minister stated that tourism had been currently a major source of income generating 585 billion baht to the country last year, or 7% of the GDP. In 2010 up to 15.8 million foreign tourists visited Thailand despite the political crisis.
Prime Minister Abhisit projected that the tourism income would account for 11% of the GDP by the end of the decade while the number of foreign tourists would double to over 30 million people.
The prime minister suggested that in order to enhance the strong points and reduce weaknesses in the tourism sector, efforts should be made to promote tourists’ spending and preserve Thai culture, especially the Thai hospitality, which is the strong identity attracting tourists to travel to Thailand.
Prime Minister Abhisit elaborated that the government would help improve basic infrastructure by linking high-speed trains with China, Laos and Malaysia as well as rehabilitate existing tourist attractions while developing new ones.
The prime minister added that more vocational institutions would be established to produce and train personnel in accordance with the demand of tourism entrepreneurs. The government will also help raise people’s awareness in conserving natural resources and environment.
News ID: 255403020007
Reporter : Santibhap Ussavasodhi
News Date : 02 March 2011
Credit: NNT (thainews.prd.go.th)
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