Hoping for better days

Many say the complicated tourist visa application process, criminal activities and delays in the formation of the next government have discouraged tourists. ATTA forecast the number of Chinese tourists might not reach the target of 5 million set for the year but rather reach 4.2-4.5 million Chinese visitors instead. "The exhausting process of establishing a new government might be followed by protests. Plus, tourism agencies will have to rely on the next government to finalise the annual budget," Mr Chaiyapruk said. Targeting short-haul tourists The caretaker government has tried to attract long-haul tourists from Europe, the United States and the Middle East as they tend to stay longer and have more spending power. One notable issue is that Chinese tourists find it hard to apply for Thai tourist visas. Ensuring tourist safety Pol Lt Gen Sukhun Prommayon, commissioner of the Tourist Police Bureau, admitted that murders among foreign tourists in Thailand are difficult to prevent for they tend to be personal matters. While street crimes still concern locals and tourists, the crime rate has dropped as police regularly patrol around popular tourist areas. Pol Lt Gen Sukhun said the declining number of Chinese tourists coming to Thailand might also be because of the Chinese economy and false information released to make tourists nervous.