Thai tourism remains strong in first 10 months of 2013

Foreign visitors to Thailand reached 21.7 million person-times in the first 10 months of 2013, an increase of 22.3 percent year-on-year, according to a report released on Monday. The report, submitted to the Cabinet by the Tourism and Sports Ministry, showed that arrivals to the kingdom from East Asia, Europe and the U.S. registered the highest increase in the period. China represented the largest source of foreign visitors to Thailand, followed by Malaysia, Russia, Japan, Korea, Laos, India, Australia, the UK and Singapore. In October alone, Thailand received 2.07 million tourists, an increase of 14.68 percent from the same period last year. The Tourism Council of Thailand forecasted that the country would receive 26.6 million foreign visitors this year and the number could reach 28 million in 2014. Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Monday voiced concern over the ongoing anti-government rallies which might adversely affect tourism and investor's confidence in the country. At least nine countries and regions have issued travel warnings for citizens planning trips to Thailand for fear of the pro-longed street protests.