The Phuket boat tragedy in July has begun to ripple through Thailand's tourism industry, with growth in arrivals from China virtually flat that month. A boat capsized in a storm off the resort island on July 5, claiming the lives of 47 Chinese nationals. China has become the largest source market for Thailand's tourism industry and is projected to contribute 200 billion baht in revenue this year. Mr Yuthasak expressed hope that Chinese tourist numbers would return to normal during the Golden Week period (Oct 1-7). He said he would push for the establishment of a national tourism safety centre to oversee and manage crises more efficiently.

Source: Bangkok Post July 31, 2018 21:22 UTC