BANGKOK, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Thailand is stepping up measures to ensure tourist safety and ease of travel in response to the expected tourism surge during the year-end high season, government spokesman Chai Wacharonke said on Friday.
Through collaborative efforts between 12 state agencies, the Southeast Asian country will focus on enhancing security measures, transportation services and safety awareness, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
The efforts are in line with the Thai government's goal of making the kingdom a safe and welcoming destination in support of its recovering tourism-dependent economy, which is built on tourist confidence, the ministry said in a statement.
According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the nation is expected to see a 56 percent increase in foreign tourists, totaling 1.18 million arrivals during the 11-day period from Friday until Jan. 1, 2024.
The year-end surge is estimated to generate 41.7 billion baht (about 1.20 billion U.S. dollars) in foreign tourism receipts, a 60 percent jump from a year earlier.
Chinese tourists are expected to make up a significant portion of the international arrivals, with 3.4-3.5 million projected to visit Thailand by the end of this year, the spokesman said in a separate statement.
He also noted that the TAT has set a target of attracting 8.2 million Chinese tourists to Thailand in 2024.
In pre-COVID 2019, Chinese tourists accounted for about 28 percent of the nearly 40 million foreign tourists to Thailand. Tourism, the key driver of the country's economic growth, contributes about 12 percent of its gross domestic product. ■