Bangkok (VNA) - The Tourism Authority ofThailand (TAT) wants to establish Thailand as the first country to welcomecryptocurrency holders by targeting Japanese tourists in the initial phase.

Though the agency downgraded its target for foreign touristarrivals this year, it sees tourism during the post-pandemic era as emphasisingquality and creativity, leading to its plan to add new segments with highspending.

According to Dalia Research in 2018, 11 percent of Japaneseown cryptocurrencies, higher than the global average of 7 percent, followed byGermany and the US at 9 percent.

Earlier, the country's Tourism and Sports Ministry held that it is feasibleThailand could receive 5million international arrivals this year, half the original forecastof 10 million, as the pandemic continues to ravage the tourism industryworldwide.

"If we can attract 5 million tourists this year under the currentcircumstances, that would be a success," said Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn,the Tourism and Sports Minister.

To reach 10 million arrivals, a significant number of conditions would have tobe met in both Thailand and origin countries for tourists, he said.

As massvaccinations are being rolled out worldwide, including in Thailand, the Tourismand Sports Ministry plans to hold discussions with the prime ministerand the Public Health Ministry about the possibility of including tourismworkers in the early stages of the vaccination programme.

Thailand is scheduled to administer vaccines to high-risk members of thepopulation starting in February. Phiphat said people employed in the tourismindustry such as hotel staff, drivers and workers at restaurants and spas basedin major tourism destinations should be among the first groups to receivevaccinations.

✤ The Thai tourism was hit hard by COVID-19. The country welcomed only 6.7million foreign tourists in 2020 as compared to 39.9 million recorded in 2019,and the number of visitors is said to fall to 5 million in 2021, with tourists’spending decreasing to 260 billion THB (8.67 billion USD) in 2021 from 1.91trillion THB in 2019./.