1.7 Million Thais To Travel Overseas In First Half Of 2006

[george]

1.7 million Thais to travel overseas in first half of 2006

BANGKOK: -- Some 1.7 million Thais are expected to travel overseas, mainly to countries in Asia, during the first half of 2006, according to a report issued by the KASIKORN Research Center (KRC), while Thailand will lose foreign exchanges worth about Bt55 billion (US$1.375 billion).

The report says the number of Thai tourists visiting overseas has continued to grow in 2006 from last year.

About 750,000 Thai tourists are expected to have traveled abroad during the first quarter of 2006 (January-March), an increase of 8 per cent from the corresponding period of 2005. and the number of outbound Thai tourists are anticipated to further rise in the second quarter of this year due to an ease in the domestic political tension and a stronger baht.

It says that about 950,000 Thais are projected to travel overseas during the second quarter of 2006, up 12 per cent from the same period of 2005.

About 1.7 million Thais are anticipated to tour overseas during the first half of 2006, up 10 per cent from the same period in 2005, while the country will lose some Bt55 billion in foreign exchanges.

Favoured destinations for Thai tourists remain in Asian countries, including China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Laos, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea, says the report, adding that Thai tourists visiting these countries account for more than half of Thais travelling abroad.

South Korea has attracted the increasing number of Thai tourists due to its popular TV dramatisations. while China and Hong Kong remain favourite destimations following expanded direct flights from Thailand and low cost travel, the report says.

Laos, situated next door to Thailand, with which it shares similar languages and cultures, is gaining popularity among Thai tourists, while the number of Thais travelling to Malaysia declines steadily due to unrest in the three Thai southernmost provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani.

The report also noted that most Thai tourists now prefer to travel overseas by just buying plane tickets with accommodation and transportation services to and from airports, instead of purchasing a full package tour service, as they could save between 30-40 per cent in expenses.

--TNA 2006-04-22