Thailand confident to meet two trillion baht tourism revenue target in 2015

BANGKOK, July 14 (TNA) - Thailand will definitely achieve target on tourism revenue amounting two trillion baht in 2015, said Minister of Tourism and Sports Chumpol Silapa-archa on Saturday. Speaking during the weekly television programme of the prime minister, Chumpol also said prevailing financial crisis in euro zone should not impact Thailand’s tourism business. Surprisingly, the number of tourists from Europe, Russia and China visiting Thailand has increased, he said. Chumpol said the government has set target that more than 20 million foreign tourists would visit the country this year while about 10 million visited the kingdom during the first six months, enabling the country to earn more than 400 billion baht. It is projected that tourism revenue would exceed 800 billion baht during the last six months of 2012, he said. Meanwhile, Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan said Thailand could utilise abundant natural resources and fine culture to attract tourists. Cooperation by concerned government ministries would help the country to meet the target in earning two trillion baht by 2015 from tourism industry while the number of tourists would soar to 26 million in that year from 19.1 million now, Niwattumrong added. (TNA)