Thailand expects 3m Chinese tourists in 2013  

泰国预计今年赴泰旅游中国游客将超过300万人次

据泰国《世界日报》报道，泰国旅游公会主席徐纳麟1日表示，今年上半年入境游客较去年同期增加了19%-20%，估计今年全年到泰国旅游的中国游客将突破300万人次。

(ECNS) -- The number of overseas tourist arrivals in Thailand registered a year-on-year growth of 19-20 percent in the first half of 2013, and Chinese arrivals are expected to exceed 3 million in 2013, according to Xu Nalin, president of a Thai tourism association, the Thailand-based Universal Daily News reported Monday.

The number of Chinese tourist arrivals has already reached 1.5 million in the first quarter of 2013, according to Xu.

The rise of overseas tourist arrivals is mainly a result of relatively stable government in the country, which has seen less political strife this year. Moreover, the tension between China and Japan has prompted tourists from these two countries to travel to Thailand, Xu said.

Large cities in China and Japan taking chartered flights directly to Bangkok or Phuket Island have also helped bring more tourists to Thailand, Xu added.