TAT sees more Asian tourists visiting Thailand in 4th quarter

BANGKOK, June 19 (TNA) – Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Suraphon Svetasreni on Saturday said that more foreign tourists, particularly Asians, will gradually return to the country in the fourth quarter this year.

Mr Suraphon reasoned many tourist destinations were unaffected by the anti-government protest by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) also known as the Red Shirts.

Tourists, particularly those from Hong Kong, Japan, India and China, are expected to return soon as most countries, except for the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, lifted their travel warning for Thailand.

The TAT chief meanwhile admitted that the European visitors may not visit the kingdom soon as many European nations are now facing economic slowdown which may result in their spending and travel.

Moreover, the number of foreign travellers at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand’s major international airport, has currently increased by 22,000 a day, compared to 12,000 foreign passengers daily during the political heat.

Currently the number of foreign tourists is not far different from the number during the low season which is generally about 25,000 per day. (TNA)