Council sees Q1 tourism growth of 2.1%Tourists visit Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram in Bangkok on Jan 1. (Photo by Pornprom Sattrabhaya)The Tourism Council of Thailand forecasts 11.02 million international arrivals in the first quarter of 2020, up 2.1% year-on-year. Chairat Trirattanajarasporn, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), said the tourism sector will benefit from the high season, the government's visa-on-arrival fee waivers through April 31 and several holidays and celebrations, including New Year, Chinese New Year, Valentine's Day and Makha Bucha Day. During the last quarter of 2019, Thailand welcomed 10.3 million international tourists, up 6.1% year-on-year, according to the TCT. The council said tourism operators could enhance their competitiveness by providing up-to-date management in the hospitality business and more effective cooperation between tourism operators and government agencies to stimulate both domestic and international markets.

Source: Bangkok Post January 14, 2020 12:56 UTC