Ожидается 14,9 миллиона туристов в этом году

[voyager1970]

14.9 million tourist arrivals expected in 2007

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is repositioning the country's image from cheap to high-end and expects to reach a target of 14.8 million arrivals this year.

Tourist arrivals are being boosted by 691 charter flights booked from this month until next April.

Governor Phornsiri Manoharn said the TAT had been repositioning Thailand from a low-price destination to the upper level. It is not concerned about the growth in numbers and is focusing on the quality of visitors to the Kingdom. The TAT and the private sector have created strategies to tap international high-end tourists by increasing the number of roadshows and trade shows from five last year to 12 this year and 15 in 2008.

"We're moving our strategy from general tourists to focus more on quality travellers, because more than 200 countries are promoting tourism, so we have more competitors," said Phornsiri.

The TAT is also trying to promote travel during the low season from May to October. It will work with alliances in emerging countries, particularly Commonwealth of Independent States nations, to attract low-season tourists.

Juthaporn Rerngronasa, deputy governor for international marketing, said the agency was focusing on the upper market because these travellers were not affected by high oil prices and could still afford to travel.

"This year's high season will be more crowded than last year. Many resorts along beaches in Khao Lak, hit by the 2004 tsunami, are fully booked," said Phornsiri.

The TAT said the number of arrivals from January to August totalled 9.3 million, up 2.5 per cent year on year.

TheTAT has set this year's target at 14.8 million international visitors.

The Nation

[DASM]

не очень силен в английском, я правильно понял, что в первой части речь о перенацеливании рынка на богатых туристов и представлении имиджа страна не как дешевой для туристов, а наоборот, как hi - end ?

[voyager1970]

уже пару лет на это целятся,но не слишком преуспели.туристы тратят менше,чем в былые годы-