Thailand remained the top destination for Chinese travelling abroad in the first half of the year, reported the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

Chinese tourists enjoy the sand and surf on Koh Lan (Source: www.bangkokpost.com)

In the January-June period, 19.4 million foreigners travelled to Thailand, up 12 percent from the same period last year. Of the total, China topped the list with 5.9 million visitors, up 26 percent year-on-year.

TAT forecast that Thailand would welcome 37.5 million foreign visitors this year, including 10 million Chinese tourists.

The tourism sector is likely to maintain an 11 percent contribution to the Southeast Asian country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2018.

According to TAT, Thailand is projected to serve 40 million international holidaymakers in 2019 and earn 3.4 trillion baht (105 billion USD) from tourism revenue, up 10 percent year on year.

Of the total revenue, international and domestic tourists will contribute 2.28 trillion baht and 1.12 trillion baht, respectively.

Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak recently asked the Board of Investment (BoI) to work out measures to attract more foreign direct investment (FDI) into the tourism and related sectors.

(Source: VNA/ DA NANG Today)