ID :
131129
Sat, 07/03/2010 - 13:00
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/131129
The shortlink copeid
UNWTO pledges support for Thailand’s tourism
BANGKOK, July 3 -- The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has pledged to continue supporting Thailand’s tourism industry which has been affected by anti-government protests and the clashes between the protesters and security forces in the Thai capital on May 19.
The pledge was made by UNWTO secretary-general Taleb Rifai during a meeting with Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports Chumpol Silapa-archa on Friday.
Representatives of several agencies as well as the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), from public and private sectors, also attended the meeting.
Mr Rifai reportedly told Mr Chumpol that UNWTO with its 155 country membership is ready to assist Thailand in crossing over the current tourism business crisis and that it is confident that it could do so.
However, Thailand must look toward the future and not the past and prepare to adapt its economy to green by taking responsibility on environmental issues on a sustainable basis as well as improving tourism measures such as exempting visa fee for tourists travelling to Thailand, which is now extended until next March 31, and halve the aircraft landing fee.
Mr Chumpol said Thailand still prioritises the tourism business sector as its most important industry and the government has urgently allocated budget to stimulate tourism in the country and to assist tourism operators, especially small and medium tourism enterprises.
Mr Chumpol cited a World Bank report which forecast that the Thai economy would grow 6.1 per cent in 2010 which shows that there are no negative factors slowing down Thailand's economy even though there was a military crackdown. (MCOT online news)
The pledge was made by UNWTO secretary-general Taleb Rifai during a meeting with Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports Chumpol Silapa-archa on Friday.
Representatives of several agencies as well as the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), from public and private sectors, also attended the meeting.
Mr Rifai reportedly told Mr Chumpol that UNWTO with its 155 country membership is ready to assist Thailand in crossing over the current tourism business crisis and that it is confident that it could do so.
However, Thailand must look toward the future and not the past and prepare to adapt its economy to green by taking responsibility on environmental issues on a sustainable basis as well as improving tourism measures such as exempting visa fee for tourists travelling to Thailand, which is now extended until next March 31, and halve the aircraft landing fee.
Mr Chumpol said Thailand still prioritises the tourism business sector as its most important industry and the government has urgently allocated budget to stimulate tourism in the country and to assist tourism operators, especially small and medium tourism enterprises.
Mr Chumpol cited a World Bank report which forecast that the Thai economy would grow 6.1 per cent in 2010 which shows that there are no negative factors slowing down Thailand's economy even though there was a military crackdown. (MCOT online news)
