900 Million Baht For Added Tourism Promotion

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Cabinet approves 900 million baht for added tourism promotion

BANGKOK: --The Cabinet today approved providing an additional 900 million baht budget for the Tourism Authority of Thailand to revive the flagging tourism sector for the rest of this year.

TAT sought 2.5 billion baht for combined marketing campaigns and facilities improvement at major tourist destinations. However, the Cabinet approved part of the request -- 900 million baht -- for Thailand tourism promotion in key potential markets including China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

Regarding the 1.6 billion baht balance of the original request, the Cabinet instructed the tourism authority to consult with the National Economic and Social Development Board, TAT Governor Juthamas Siriwan said.

Mrs. Jutamas meanwhile expressed confidence that Thailand will achieve its goal of 12 million visitors for the entire 2005 calendar year as planned.

The 900 million baht promotion boost approved by the Cabinet will also subsidise charter flights to bring tourists directly to Phuket, where tourism is still suffering from the impact of last December's Indian Ocean tsunami.

Thailand received 5.2 million visitors in the first half of this year, an increase of 1.1 % as compared to arrival statistics last year. Nonetheless, tourist arrivals in the Andaman Sea region remains reduced at 24-30% of pre-tsunami arrivals in the comparable period last year.

Mrs. Jutamas said TAT plans to host a remembrance event of the tsunami and invite relatives of victims and other affected persons to attend.

--TNA 2005-07-26