Govt counting on tourism rebound to keep growth forecasts from falling

Anucha said both Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Minister of Tourism and Sports Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn had thanked all tourism-related state agencies, tourism-business operators and the public for accelerating the recovery of Thai tourism. Supportive government policies also contributed to the rebound, Anucha said.

The Bank of Thailand lowered its economic growth forecast for this year from 3.7% to 3.6% on Friday due to sluggish exports. It also cut next year’s growth forecast from 3.9% to 3.8%. The central bank said the rising number of inbound tourists is a key driver of growth. The influx of tourists creates jobs for Thais and this increases domestic spending, it said.

Government policies supporting tourism showcase Thailand’s diversity, unique locations and customs in provinces, the preservation of ancient sites, and the development of new attractions to ensure sustainable growth, Anucha said.

An island off the coast of Trang province. Koh Kradan, was recently listed as having the best beaches in the world by the United Kingdom-based website World Beach Guide.

This has resulted in a near 700% increase in visitors to the about 2.5 square kilometre island. It had averaged about 300 tourists per day, but the number shot up to 2,000 per day.
During the Songkran festival, accommodations on Koh Kradan were fully booked, while the surge in visitors expanded to islands nearby, including Koh Mook and Koh Libong, Anucha said.

The Bank of Thailand lowered its economic growth forecast for this year from 3.7% to 3.6% on Friday due to sluggish exports. It also cut next year’s growth forecast from 3.9% to 3.8%. The central bank said the rising number of inbound tourists is a key driver of growth. The influx of tourists creates jobs for Thais and this increases domestic spending, it said.

Government policies supporting tourism showcase Thailand’s diversity, unique locations and customs in provinces, the preservation of ancient sites, and the development of new attractions to ensure sustainable growth, Anucha said.

An island off the coast of Trang province. Koh Kradan, was recently listed as having the best beaches in the world by the United Kingdom-based website World Beach Guide.

This has resulted in a near 700% increase in visitors to the about 2.5 square kilometre island. It had averaged about 300 tourists per day, but the number shot up to 2,000 per day.

During the Songkran festival, accommodations on Koh Kradan were fully booked, while the surge in visitors expanded to islands nearby, including Koh Mook and Koh Libong, Anucha said.

An island off the coast of Trang province. Koh Kradan, was recently listed as having the best beaches in the world by the United Kingdom-based website World Beach Guide.

This has resulted in a near 700% increase in visitors to the about 2.5 square kilometre island. It had averaged about 300 tourists per day, but the number shot up to 2,000 per day. During the Songkran festival, accommodations on Koh Kradan were fully booked, while the surge in visitors expanded to islands nearby, including Koh Mook and Koh Libong, Anucha said.

The government is urging members of the public, tourists, and business operators to do everything they can to preserve the environment. This includes refraining from littering and proper disposal of waste. Moreover, local officials are tasked with environmental protection as well as ensuring the safety of visitors, Anucha said.