Thai tourism continues to grow in 2016

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BANGKOK – The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has reported that the number of Thai and international tourists in Thailand in the second quarter this year will likely increase by 9.2% following continuous tourism growth.

Minister of Tourism and Sports Kobkarn Wattanavarangkul on Monday said in the first quarter Thailand’s tourism revenue was 680 billion baht, increasing by 16% compared to the same period last year. The second quarter revenue was expected to stand at 560 billion baht—355 billion baht of which from foreign tourists. Most of the international tourists visiting Thailand this year were Chinese people, followed by those from Europe and ASEAN, said the minister.

The ministry has estimated that the combined tourism revenue of the first and second quarter will stand at 2.4 trillion baht. It has set plans to promote tourism in seven major and 12 minor cities with the objective to distribute tourists and tourism revenue to communities.

Furthermore, the ministry is preparing to promote health and wellness tourism in line with the government’s Thai tourism strategy for the years 2015 – 2017.