The number of foreigners visiting Thailand is continuing to grow despite the negative publicity given to the kingdom over the violence in the country`s southern border region…
The number of foreigners visiting Thailand is continuing to grow despite the negative publicity given to the kingdom over the violence in the country`s southern border region, Tourism and Sports Minister Sontaya Kunplome revealed yesterday.
Figures from the Immigration Office released by Mr. Sontaya reveal that throughout the month of October, 897,837 foreigners arrived in Thailand via Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport, up 14.45 percent from the same period of the previous year.
What is particularly noticeable is that last week, in the immediate aftermath of the Tak Bai disturbances when 85 Muslim protestors died, the daily average arrival figure stood at 23,740, up from an average of 22,000 during the first three weeks of the month.
Praising the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and other government agencies for their publicity campaigns, Mr. Sontaya said that the situation had been successfully resolved.
October’s figures put the total number of tourist arrivals for January-October at around 6.64 million, up 22.2 percent from the same period in 2003.
In November, international tourism experts are to visit Thailand at the request of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to help draw up a master plan to develop tourism in the three southern border provinces.
Mr. Sontaya said that the three provinces were likely to be promoted as regional eco-tourism centres, with a second focus on local cultures and activities appropriate for Muslim visitors.
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