Thai Q3 GDP growth seen quickening on tourism: planning agency

[BANGKOK] Thailand's economy is expected to have grown faster in the July-September quarter than in the second quarter, helped by tourism and recent stimulus measures, the head of the national planning agency said on Thursday.

Full-year growth is still expected to be in a range of 2.7 per cent to 3.2 per cent, said Porametee Vimolsiri, head of the National Economic and Social Development Board, which compiles gross domestic product (GDP) data.

The economy grew 0.4 per cent in the April-June quarter from the previous quarter and 2.8 per cent from a year earlier.

The agency will release third-quarter GDP data and new projections on Nov. 16.

Thailand's military seized power in May 2014 to end months of political unrest but has been unable to get South-east Asia's second-largest economy back on track and exports and domestic demand have remained weak.

In a bid to revive growth, the junta recently approved stimulus packages aimed at helping rural areas, smaller firms and the property sector.

REUTERS