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Thai tourism affected by protests

The number of tourists to Thailand has fallen by over 20 percent because of the country’s protests, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
The number of tourists to Thailand has fallen by over 20 percent becauseof the country’s protests, according to the Tourism Authority ofThailand (TAT).

In several last months, foreignersonly delayed their trips to Thailand. Recently about 400,000international tourists cancelled their trips to the counry due tolong-lasting protests and violence in some places, the agency said.

TheThai Ministry of Sports and Tourism forecast that the number ofvisitors to the country will continue falling in the time to come if theprotest movement against the government remains lasting.

Thailandexpects to welcome 26 million foreign tourists in 2013 and earned atotal turnover of between 1,150 -1,170 billion baht, against its targetof 28 million people and 1,300 billion baht in revenue.

Inthe first ten month of this year, the total number of foreignholiday-makers to Thailand increased by 21.2 percent to 24.14 million.

Duringthe Jan-November period, the industry’s turnover reached a year-on-yearincrease of 21.7 percent, raking in 1,050 billion baht.

TheThai Government has set to make the tourism become the country’sspearhead economic sector, thus contributing to its economic growth.-VNA
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