Thailand promotes tourism in Vietnam

Thailand will continue its focus on developing strategic tourism areas, especially in labouring countries like Vietnam, a Thai official said. Thai Deputy Minister of Tourism and Sports Vichai Srikwan made the remark at a press briefing in Ho Chi Minh City on September 30.
As many as 16 tourism agencies from Thailand are taking part in the International Travel Expo (ITE HCMC 2010) in HCM City, Vichai Srikwan said, expressing his hope that the Thai participants would be satisfied when meeting with partners from different tourism markets across the world, including Vietnam. He considered the Expo as an opportunity to expand tourism cooperation between Thailand and other nations.
Vichai also took the occasion to report on his country’s tourism development as well as marketing strategies carried out by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Thailand plans to welcome 15.5 million foreign arrivals next year, reaching revenue of about 18.5 billion USD.
The number of Vietnamese tourists to Thailand each year stands at 370,000 while the number of Thai arrivals to Vietnam is 100,000.
In the first seven months of this year, Thailand welcomed 240,000 Vietnamese arrivals.