Flight bookings are increasing despite MERS case in Thailand, Kobkarn confirms

Tourism and Sport Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul confirmed MERS outbreak has no stern impacts on tourism. No flight booking was cancelled and the advance booking is even increasing.

Mrs.Kobkarn revealed after a meeting with the ministry’s executives on Monday that flight bookings from May to July grew between 21% – 28%.

This year’s income from the tourism industry has also exceeded the ministry’s target. From Jan 1 – Jun 20, 2015 around fourteen million tourists have brought THB660,000m. of income to the country with THB20,000m., higher than the existing goal.

From 1-20 June alone, the number of tourists has risen to 1,500,000, an increase of 54.3%. Meanwhile, tourism earnings during the period grew 57.4% to THB67,062m.

Mrs.Kobkarn has assigned the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to closely monitor a change to the tourism sector due to MERS outbreak. Meanwhile other movements happening in sensitive market where number of tourists is falling should be followed continuously.

“I am confident that the number of tourists to Thailand in 2015 will reach our goal of 28.8 million people and bring in THB2.2 billion in foreign exchange,” emphasized Mrs.Kobkarn.

NNT

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