MORE TOURISTS ARRIVE

Despite the problems and uncertainly at the start of the year, figures for tourist arrivals for the first quarter of 2007 show an increase of 4.6 per cent over the same period last year, according to a story issued by the state-run News Agency.
There were fewer arrivals from China (16 per cent down), Singapore (24 per cent down) and Hong Kong (7.6 per cent down), which was probably down to political instability and an 8 per cent rise in the Thai baht against the US dollar.
The biggest increase came in visitors from France (29 per cent up), Russia (42 per cent up) and Australia (13.5 per cent up). The Tourism Ministry added that their focus this year is on quality tourists and not quantity.