Thailand targets 80m foreign tourist arrival sper year by 2027 (Photo: AFP/VNA) Bangkok (VNA) - Thailand is eyeing up to 80 million foreign tourist arrivals per year by 2027, twice the number in 2019 and far exceeding the Thai population of 70 million. Tourism Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said the tourism development plan during 2023-2027 aims to generate 5 trillion baht (about 152 billion USD) in annual revenue by 2027 – almost tripling the 1.93 trillion baht generated by foreign arrivals in 2019. This year, the ministry expects to see at least 25 million foreign tourist s land in Thailand, helping the sector recover to 60% of the pre-pandemic level. Total revenue from domestic and foreign tourists in 2023 is forecast at 2.4 trillion baht, or 80% of the level before the COVID-19 pandemic, driven by Chinese arrivals after the country scrapped travel restrictions on January 8. The minister acknowledged that the country has to prepare personnel and resources … [Read more...] about Thailand targets 80m foreign tourist arrivals per year by 2027
Vietnam laos cambodia thailand
Thailand’s trade with RCEP members increases last year
Illustrative image (Photo: AFP/VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Thailand recorded 300 billion USD in trade with other member countries of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in 2022, up 7.11% year on year, official data showed. Thai Deputy Minister of Commerce Sinit Lertkrai said since taking effect in January 2022, the RCEP has yielded positive results for the country's trade with other members. Thailand 's exports to RCEP members amounted to 140 billion USD last year while its imports from the countries totalled 160 billion USD, according to the Commerce Ministry. The official said the pact has not only provided additional tariff reduction or elimination for Thai businesses but also offered trade facilitation measures to speed up customs clearance procedures, which is especially beneficial for the trade of perishable products. It has also provided more options for Thai firms in exporting goods to and importing goods from RCEP member countries, he added. … [Read more...] about Thailand’s trade with RCEP members increases last year
RCEP boosting like-minded vision among bloc members
The RCEP accounts for over a quarter of global exports, photo Le Toan On January 2, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) took effect for Indonesia. The preferential tariffs under the deal can now be used by the private sector who are exporting to and/or importing from Indonesia, according to the ASEAN Secretariat. In a release issued by the Indonesian Ministry of Trade, Minister Zulkifli Hasan said that the RCEP is expected to increase competitiveness and strengthen global production network, promote regional supply chain through better market access for exports of goods and services, reduce or eliminate trade barriers, and enhance transfer of technology. “The entry into force of the RCEP is timely to mark the beginning of Indonesia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2023. Indonesia has been the driving force in the deal since the conceptualisation phase, and we hope more milestones, such as the establishment of the RCEP Support Unit, can be achieved during Indonesia’s … [Read more...] about RCEP boosting like-minded vision among bloc members
Vietnamese embark on global living journies
The Vietnamese diaspora has spread across world, except maybe Antarctica. Over the past 50 years, Vietnamese people have left their motherland to plant new roots in Europe, the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Aside from western countries, thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands, of Vietnamese people live across Asian countries and territories such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and the Philippines. Current estimates put the number of people in the Vietnamese diaspora at about four million. Not only do Vietnamese people live in these countries, but they have certainly made their mark. On a recent visit to Vietnam, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak said, “I know that Vietnamese people in Israel are good at cuisine and enduring in the military.” Au Co, considered the mother of Vietnamese civilization, when taking her fifty children to settle in the snow covered mountains of northern Vietnam, could never have … [Read more...] about Vietnamese embark on global living journies
External defense relations work must be implemented creatively and flexibly
Reporter: Could you elaborate on Vietnam’s international integration and external defense relations work in 2022? Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien: Under the leadership and direction of the Party, the State, and the Government, directly the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense, the international integration and external defense relations work in 2022 was implemented with important achievements, contributing to protecting national independence, sovereignty, and national interests; preserving a peaceful and stable environment for building the Fatherland and raising the prestige and position of the country and the Vietnam People’s Army in the international arena. Closely following international and regional developments, we accurately advised the Party and the State on the level and contents of defense cooperation with partners; contributed opinions on important and oriented projects and documents on the external affairs of the Party and the … [Read more...] about External defense relations work must be implemented creatively and flexibly