Bangkok (VNA) – TheTourism Authority of Thailand has forecast that the industry would grow 11percent this year with 33.8 million international tourists.
Chinese arrivals are predicted toaccount for nearly 30 percent of the total.
Over the past time, the Thaigovernment’s crackdown on “zero dollar tours” has resulted in a strongreduction of the number of Chinese arrivals.
Among 100 million Chinese who travelworldwide each year, only 9 percent come to Thailand now.
The Thai Ministry of Tourism andSports has recently waived visa fees and reduced visa-on-arrival costs fortourists from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan (China) in an effort to increasearrivals by 10 percent.
The Thai government also decidedto loosen visa regulations targeting 19 countries from December 1, 2016 –February 28, 2017.
According to the NationalEconomic and Social Development Board of Thailand, the Thai economy grew 3.2percent in July-September compared to the same period last year, down from the 3.5percent growth rate recorded in the previous quarter./.
The Thailand Tourism Festival 2015 has been launched in Lumpini Park , Bangkok to kick off the Discover Thainess campaign, which is aimed at stimulating travel around the country this year.
Thailand’s tourism sector aims to receive 27.8 million tourists in 2015, up 12.2 percent against last year, as the political instability in Bangkok has been solved.
Thai Minister of Tourism and Sports Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul has expressed his belief that the tourism sector will soon recover from the August 17 bombing in Erawan temple, central Bangkok.
Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports, Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, believes that there is still room for Vietnam and Thailand to grow and attract tourists with different tourism purposes.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
Hua Hin night market in Thailand (Source: VNA) 
