Domestic travel this year is expected to fall 1.65 per cent short of the official target of 79.3 million trips, although international arrivals are appear set to grow 20 per cent from last year, the caretaker tourism minister said yesterday.

Pracha Maleenont said that oil-price hikes and flooding in northern parts of the country, which has many attractions, as well as the political turmoil and economic slowdown, have forced the tourism industry to miss the domestic target.

With only 77.97 million trips this year, domestic tourism would contribute Bt356 billion to the economy, down 5.82 per cent from the forecast of Bt378 billion.

About 80 per cent of domestic trips are by car.

"In this quarter, the tourism sector needs to be closely monitored for how much effect rising oil prices and flooding will have," Pracha said.

The market is still concerned about the economic and political situation. Consumers prefer to save money rather than spend on travel. And the government's budget disbursements this quarter are uncertain.

But the last quarter should see a clearer picture after the general election, Pracha said.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has announced "Tourism has become a part of life" as its slogan to boost domestic tourism next year.

TAT has set next year's domestic tourism target at 82 million trips, an increase of 3.35 per cent from the estimated figure for this year.

As for the international market, inbound figures in the first half of this year are estimated at 6.53 million tourists, up 26 per cent from the first half of last year.

Pracha said that from this favourable trend, the country should hit the target of 13.8 million overseas tourists for the whole year, an increase of 20 per cent on last year, with revenue growing 32 per cent to Bt486 billion.

The tourism plan would not be affected by TAT's management rotations starting next month, he said.

TAT's deputy governor for the international market, Pornsiri Manoharn, will change places with Juthaporn Reungronasa, who has responsibility for the domestic market.

Santichai Eauchongprasit, deputy governor for tourism products, would switch with Pensuda Priaram, who is in charge of administration work.

TAT Governor Juthamas Siriwan's term ends on September 11, and the appointment of her replacement would take about three months, Pracha said, adding that a search committee had just been formed.

"The new governor could be from the selection process or head-hunting," he said, adding that he would choose an acting governor.

Talking about his performance, Pracha said one of his successes is the setting up of the One Stop Service Centre for Film Making.

Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop earlier claimed that the centre was his work and it would come under the PM's Office.

But Pracha said the centre would operate under the Office of Tourism Development, a department in his ministry, instead of Suwat's office.

Filmmakers must contact only the centre of the ministry, he insisted.

Suchat Sritama

The Nation