The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) projects international tourist arrivals via its member tour companies to reach 6.5 million this year, growing 30% from last year.

President Charoen Wangananont said the positive tourism trend in the first quarter would continue throughout the year.

"This year will be a very good year for inbound tourism, thanks to the strong tourism recovery," he said.

As of March 20, international tourist arrivals through its members rose 17.6% to 1.39 million visitors, led by a 59% growth in Chinese tourists to 869,909.

The European market, in an interesting trend, saw 13% growth to 77,785 visitors. Russia, however, ATTA's second largest market, continued its downward trend, dropping by 41% to 79,719 visitors.

Mr Charoen said arrivals via ATTA members should grow 30% this year to 6.5 million visitors.

China remains a key driver, with growth of at least 21% to 4.5 million visitors expected this year. The association will further use some strategies to tap potential markets such as South Korea, Japan and Asean particularly in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

The association plans to conduct roadshows in the neighbouring market throughout the year to introduce various Thai tourist destinations, hoping to welcome 500,000 Asean tourists this year, up from around 290,000 last year.

It will work harder to reverse the 10% drop year-on-year of Japanese visitors in the first quarter, eyeing a 10% growth by year-end. The ATTA expects arrivals from Japan via its members to reach 165,000 visitors this year.

It will also promote Thailand's tourism products, especially food, at the Thai Festival which is organised every year in many Japanese provinces including Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya. The association further seeks to penetrate the youth market in secondary provinces such as Sendai.

Mr Charoen said the full liberalisation of the Asean Economic Community will benefit inbound tourism, although Thai tour operators may face disadvantages in expanding in Asean countries due to a lack of government support.

The Singaporean government fully backs its tour operators in setting up operations abroad to woo visitors to its country, he said. The Malaysian government for its part offers tax privileges to tour operators that can attract 6,000 tourists to the country a year.

Source:
courtesy of BANGKOK POST

by Chadamas Chinmaneevong

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