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The number of Chinese tourist arrivals in Thailand is expected to be as high as one million in the second half of this year, as tourism businesses of the two countries are returning to normal, Thai Tourism and Sports Minister Sontaya Kunplome has said in Bangkok.
Sontaya said he expected the Thai tourism would begin to return on track from the third quarter (July-September) onwards, with the number of tourist arrivals from China alone likely to increase to one million in the second half of this year, according to a report of Thai News Agency Monday.
"This is because the Chinese government will lift its ban on outbound tours and traveling to Thailand as of July 1 after the SARS outbreak in the country has eased and is now under well-control," he was quoted as saying on Sunday.
The Chinese tourists are expected to stay in Thailand about one week, and will each spend about 28,000 baht (US$666) during their visits here.
If the targets were met, the country's tourism revenue would reach about 350 billion baht (US$8.33 billion), making the tourism industry grow around 6 percent this year, the minister projected.
(Xinhua News Agency June 30, 2003)
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