(dpa) - Tourist arrivals increased 4.6 per cent in Thailand during the first quarter of 2007, compared with the same period last year, while earnings rose 11 per cent to reach 150 billion baht ($4.3 billion), the tourism minister said Friday.
Sports and Tourism Minister Suvit Yodmanee said the markets that brought the strongest growth were Europe, Oceania, South Asia, and South Africa.
"The Middle East, in particular, brought an increased number of tourists, rising slightly over 30 per cent compared to the same period last year," he told the state-run Thai News Agency.
The ministry plans to hold a road-show in Dubai as it is considered a high-potential market, said the minister.
But visitors from some countries declined sharply, including Singapore, China, Japan and South Korea, from which arrivals fell 16, 24, 7.4 and 3 per cent, respectively.
Thailand has been experiencing political instability since the September 19, 2006 coup d'etat. At the same time, the baht currency appreciated 8 per cent against the dollar last year, making the kingdom a more expensive destination for other dollar-based currencies.
Meanwhile, the numbers of tourists from France, Germany, Russia, Sweden and Australia rose by 29, 5, 42, 14 and 13.5 per cent, respectively, the agency report said.
"The ministry will not focus on quantity but on the quality of visitors," said Savit.
Source : Bangkok Post
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