Le tourisme en Thaïlande

Abstract

The Tourist Trade in Thailand. Beginning towards the end of the 1950's, Thailand experienced remarkable growth in its tourist trade. The increasingly important role of the airport at Bangkok and the American military intervention in Vietnam are the main reasons for the increase in tourist travel to the country. But the tourist trade developped in a non-planned and, so to speak, spontaneous manner, so that for the 1974-1975 tourist season, the growth in the number of visitors slowed, and in 1976 the rate of growth even became negative. This slowdown had the effect of putting the tourist industry on a sounder basis, thanks, especially, to the creation of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. By the end of the 1970's, recovery and the increase in the number of tourists didn't cease to improve, and the number of five million tourists has now been exceeded. T.A.T. has, indeed, greatly expanded its advertising activities. Income brought in by tourism has largely compensated for the petroleum expenditures of the Realm. The hotel industry, after having experienced difficulties in filling the rooms available, has been able, since the 1985-1986 season, to dictate its prices to the tour operators. Negative effects of the growth of tourism are above all noticeable in Pattaya (pollution and prostitution), and among certain of the mountain tribes in the north of the country. Overall, however, international tourism in Thailand appears to be a success. Its contribution to the economic development of the country is indisputable.