Thai government to boost tourism revenues

BANGKOK, June 4 (TNA) - In attempts to boost national tourism-related revenues to two trillion baht in 2015, when the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is scheduled to be established, the Thai government is improving infrastructure and connecting transportation routes with neighbouring countries. Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa told reporters on Monday that the government is putting efforts to develop Thailand as a goods transportation hub in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to facilitate trade and increased travelling by international tourists. Chumpol said that the government is also trying to solve the problem of traffic congestion at Thailand's main Suvarnabhumi International Airport in a bid to improve its efficiency and increased travelling within the 10-member ASEAN bloc and non-ASEAN countries. According to the minister, although the Thai government achieved its target of international tourist arrivals in the country last year at 19.1 million, up 20.76 per cent year-on-year, earning the Kingdom some 730 billion baht tourism-related revenues, the government wants to see the country's tourism-related revenues reach two trillion baht in 2015, the year when the AEC is formed. The minister said that several strategic measures have been worked out to help achieve the target, including organising the ‘Miracle of Thailand’ fair this year and promoting international visitors to undertake health services in the Kingdom. (TNA)