Prime Minister Abhisit Expects Thai Tourism To Grow To 11% Of GDP

[webfact]

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 at the end of the next 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.

-- NNT 2011-03-02

[yellow1red1]

linking with China

< mark those words

[slapout]

I give the present PM credit for more intelligence than to have made the statements in this article. This sounds like the TAT numbers as well as their latest wish list to justify a current budget request and their 10 year dream for further budget.

[Robby nz]

linking with China

< mark those words

Looks like this could well be on the way to happening,

I read in a Laos newspaper they the Laos Govt is planning to stockpile rice to feed the workers who will be building this rail link from China through Laos and into Thailand with eventual plans to go all the way to Singapore.

For those who dont know this is nothing new and was first proposed back in the 1880's by A R Calquhoun who wrote a book "Amongst the Shans" he called it the 'Golden Railway' and proposed that it follow the route of the then Golden Road from Burma to China.

Calquhoun's dream looks like comeing true but by a different route.

[stepenwolf1958]

Well, it is nice but someone should to wake up PM or to stop lying him. At least, to tell him there is another side of medal.

[Beechboy]

Of course the leaders of Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos could easily say the same nowadays. Maybe Burma too now that the lady has relinquished her anti- tourism stance. China is getting popular too.

Where are they all coming from? Long hauls get more expensive by the day, as does Singha beer..

I hope it does pick up a lot as I seriously felt sorry for all the fringe workers who became unemployed as a result of the riots, but Abhist is a bit pie-in-the-sky over this.

As he is apparently English perhaps he could get a job working for the English Tourist Board after the next election.

Edited March 2, 2011 by Beechboy

[stepenwolf1958]

Of course the leaders of Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos could easily say the same nowadays. Maybe Burma too now that the lady has relinquished her anti- tourism stance. China is getting popular too.

Where are they all coming from? Long hauls get more expensive by the day, as does Singha beer..

I hope it does pick up a lot as I seriously felt sorry for all the fringe workers who became unemployed as a result of the riots, but Abhist is a bit pie-in-the-sky over this.

As he is apparently English perhaps he could get a job working for the English Tourist Board after the next election.

Riots is not the main reason for what you said. At least it's not the ONLY ONE reason.

That matter, if we would agree that it is truth, is much more complex. Procedure and regulations, requirements for getting working&living visas is frustrating. Administration is rigid, procedure is expensive and long, complicated and frustrating. But not for tourists. So, having seminars with considering ONE type of income in tourism but to ignore expats is wrong.

I wonde PM dare(or TAT) to organize seminar:"Income from expats". That would be surprise for many of them.

[DP25]

Good grief, 30 million, what a disaster that would be. Entire seaboard turned in to a dump like Pattaya. Could easily happen too with China's rapidly expanding middle class eager to travel abroad but not able to afford Europe.

[Beechboy]

Good grief, 30 million, what a disaster that would be. Entire seaboard turned in to a dump like Pattaya. Could easily happen too with China's rapidly expanding middle class eager to travel abroad but not able to afford Europe.

Why should the Chinese millions want to come to Thailand. They see the country as a "bit of a joke with nice beaches" (from a friend in HK.)

The chinks are more deliberate in their choice of holidayimg. They more seek a cultural alternative rather than bars and beaches.

[DP25]

Millions of Chinese already DO come to Thailand, they are the biggest group now. As more get the money to come they will in even larger numbers. Euros and Americans only make up 1/3 these days and that percent will only get smaller

[Beechboy]

OK then, so we become a bit anonymous. Better really. Less scammable.<BR><BR>Beer sales wiull decrease.

[AZBill]

Having a farang as PM has to help tourism

[webfact]

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Focus on quality tourists, not quantity, urges PM Abhisit

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