BANGKOK: The Kasikorn Research Centre (KRC) has said that Thailand is anticipated to earn more than 772 billion baht (US$23.68 billion) from tourism in 2015, up from 705 billion baht (US$21.62 billion) last year.
Thailand’s leading private think tank said this is thanks to tax incentives to stimulate domestic tourism and the government’s “12 Cities You Cant’s Say NO To” programme forming part of its Discover Thainess 2015 campaign.
Provinces in the 12 cities programme include Nan, Lampang, Phetchabun, Loei, Samut Songkram, Ratchaburi, Trat, Chanthaburi, Chumpon, Trang and Nakhon Si Thammarat. Revenues from tourism in these provinces are expected to reach 3.5 billion baht (US$107.35 million) this year.
KRC said the highest growth in local tourism will be seen in northern, northeastern and southern regions which account for almost half of the overall tourism market. The Finance Ministry forecasts Thailand’s economic growth in 2015 will reach 4 percent year-on-year on average boosted by tax incentives for business operators in new border economic zones and restructuring of tax systems.
