Junta to receive TCT's Thailand tourism plans

THAILAND: -The Tourism Council of Thailand will propose three plans to the ruling junta next Wednesday to revive tourism, said TCT vice president Thanate Vorasaran. China and Taiwan are among the biggest sources for Thai tourism, while spending per head by Chinese last year was Bt43,000 per trip, close to that of Japanese," he added. The Association of Thai Travel Agents, 4.7 million Chinese tourists visited Thailand last year, one of the biggest sources, while Taiwan has been a high-potential market for years. The ATTA had expected more than 5 million Chinese visitors this year. However, arrivals from China through ATTA members dropped by 50 per cent during first six months, while the Taiwan market plunged 60 per cent compared with the same period last year. Secondly, the TCT plans to propose to the junta is to re-establish the National Tourism Development Committee. If the committee is reinstated, it could work with other organisations on tourism development, especially in the areas of funding and budgeting. For years, the tourism sector pushed to work with other bodies but always failed to get anywhere. Many cross-projects were not achieved. The last proposal is designating seven provinces that counted more than a million international visitors a year as special administration zones. This designation would allow the provinces to determine their own tourism direction. Provinces in the proposal are Phuket, Surat Thani, Songkhla, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai, Prachuap Khiri Khan, and Bangkok.