Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand will focus on developing responsible tourismwith the aim of fulfilling the target of a 10 percent growth rate and 3.71trillion baht (120 billion USD) in revenue in 2020, Tourism Authority ofThailand (TAT) Governor Yuthasak Supasorn has said.

Yuthasak had a meetingwith chief representatives of overseas TAT offices on July 8 to discussstrategic plans for each market to ensure the total revenue from foreigntourists to reach 2.43 trillion baht next year. In the first six months of thisyear, the country welcomed 19.6 million international tourist arrivals andearned 1.01 trillion baht from tourism services.

China is the largestmarket of the Thai tourism sector, contributing nearly 10 million among over 38million foreign tourists to the country in 2018.

However, the number ofChinese tourists to Thailand reported a year-on-year decrease of 4.3 percent to4.8 million arrivals in the first half of 2019.

Most recently, TAT loweredthe forecast number of international tourists for 2019 from 41.1-41.3 millionarrivals to 40.2 million arrivals, and the forecast revenue growth rate from 10percent to 9.5 percent.

The sector’s revenueis estimated to reach 3.38 trillion baht this year, of which 2.21 trillion bahtwas earned from foreign visitors.

According to the TATGovernor, in the foreign markets, TAT will focus on specific quality marketsand middle-upper income groups, and will seek first-time visitors in newmarkets and in the long-standing source markets. It will also attempt tobalance out the seasonality factor and generate more demand in the “GreenSeason” (rainy season).

Alongside efforts tobuild a strong image of Thailand in order to maintain its competitiveadvantages, other products will be developed and marketed such as homestays,walking streets and local cuisine. Meanwhile, digital technology will bedevised to reach the customers.-VNA