Thailand expects record tourist arrivals this year, thanks to China

Bangkok

THAILAND expects a record 29.5 million tourists this year, up 19 per cent from 2014, with almost a quarter of the visitors coming from China following a surge in bookings, the country's tourism council said on Tuesday.

Accounting for 10 per cent of the economy, tourism had suffered in 2014 as some foreign governments issued warnings against non-essential travel to Thailand due to political unrest and military coup.