News Asean

Thailand Tourism industry created jobs for 6.2 million people in 2013

BANGKOK - According to the latest annual report of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Thai tourism industry generated 6.2 million jobs in 2013.

The employment figures, covering the results of both domestic and international tourism, indicated a growth from 6.17 million jobs in 2012, the MoTS report shows.

The MoTS report for the fiscal year 2015, which ended in September 2015, has just been uploaded on the Ministry’s website.

The figures are based on the Tourism Satellite Accounting System, an internationally recognised method of measuring the total impact of travel and tourism on the national economy, including the value of the goods and services purchased by the industry.

They include both direct and indirect jobs. Direct jobs are those involving businesses; such as, hotels, airlines, tour operators, guides, airports, etc. while indirect jobs are those created by related businesses which supply products and services to the travel and tourism industry, e.g. laundry, restaurants, souvenir shops, etc.

Normally compiled by the National Statistical Office, the figures take more time to calculate than just tracking visitor arrivals and direct visitor expenditure.

The figures showed that overall, travel and tourism was responsible for 15.96% of employment in Thailand in 2013, up from 15.85% in 2012.

According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor, Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, “These figures are based on foreign visitor arrivals of 26.5 million and domestic tourists of 161 million per person per trip in 2013. The employment statistics for 2013 provide an excellent benchmark to indicate the strong job creation impact and value of what has become Thailand’s best performing economic sector.”

Mr. Yuthasak said, “Travel and tourism creates quality jobs nationwide. TAT respects and recognises the valuable contribution made by all those who choose to work in it. They are the true heroes of our industry. It is the quality of the service they provide that helps us better market Thailand as a Quality Leisure Destination.”