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Despite the strong baht, high fuel prices and political uncertainty, the government remains confident that tourism will generate up to 600 billion baht from an estimated 15.5 million tourists next year. The revenue figure represents a 10% rise over the Tourism Authority of Thailand's 2007 projection of 547 billion baht from 14.8 million foreign tourist arrivals. The 2008 forecast was included in the TAT reports presented at a meeting yesterday.

At the meeting, Tourism and Sports Minister Suvit Yodmani said that policies next year would focus on quality tourism and on environmental concerns. He has urged the TAT to encourage local communities to increase their participation in helping develop local tourism.

To overcome the impact of the strong local currency, the TAT is stimulating tourism among Thais and looking at niche markets rather than general visitors.

He asked the TAT to tighten co-operation with airlines to ensure tourists have enough flights and seats. Phornsiri Manoharn, the TAT governor, said TAT overseas offices had been ordered to launch more proactive marketing and promotions to ensure the number of foreign tourists this year remains intact despite political instability, which has reduced the growth in arrivals from many Asian countries.

The TAT plans to use a total of 1.2 billion baht to finance next year's marketing programme, compared with 1.07 billion baht this year.

The marketing activities would target visitors from 21 countries including Japan, China, India, and European countries. It is also appealing to an additional 14 countries in Eastern Europe and South Africa.

The TAT would also pursue certain specialised groups such as wedding couples from India.

There are about 1.6 million new marriages each year [in India] and they might use Thailand as their wedding place, said Juthaporn Rerngronasa, the TAT's deputy governor for foreign marketing.

The TAT also plans to improve its database and online marketing to allow foreign visitors to make direct contact with the agency as many foreign tourists prefer arranging trips themselves instead of buying tours.

This article was first published in The Bangkok Post 10th July 2007