Thailand hope 15m tourists in 2010

Thailand said Tuesday it expects a rise of up to ten percent in the number of tourists travelling to the kingdom next year, after political turmoil contributed to a drop in visitors in 2009. "There will be 15.0 to 15.5 million tourists," the tourism and sports ministry said in a statement on projections for 2010. It said the industry would campaign worldwide to promote Thailand as a holiday destination, with the priority of attracting more visitors from South and Southeast Asia, France and Britain. "The tourism industry will improve if there are no major political incidents or other kind of threats," the statement added.