Tourism business confidence index drops to 96 in quarter 1

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Tourism business confidence index drops to 96 in quarter 1

BANGKOK, 27 March 2014 (NNT) – The tourism business confidence index has dropped to 96 in quarter 1 of 2014, reflecting an increase in concerns by business operators.

Piyaman Techaphaibun, chairperson of the Tourism Council of Thailand, said the index was lower than normal level, and the council expected that the index to continue to decline in the second quarter of the year, to a level lowest since 2013.

Ms. Piyaman explained that the political situation and the imposition of the Emergency Executive Decree would cause tourism revenue to fall by 82.725 billion baht in the first half of the year. She added that any escalation of violence would have effects on tourism in the long run.

According to Ms. Piyaman, the confidence index should improve to 98 and around 6 million tourists will visit Thailand in quarter 2 if the political problem ceases within the quarter. If the situation escalates or prolongs, the number of tourists will drop to 5 million and the total loss of tourism income will increase to 116 billion baht.


-- NNT 2014-03-27