18 March 1960

New organisation to protect tourists Government sets goal of 1 billion baht for tourism industry

Prime Minister Sarit Thanarat opened the new Tourist Organisation of Thailand (TOT) at its office on Sri Ayutthaya Road, with a mission of improving facilities for tourists and protecting them from overcharging, swindlers and thieves.

He said the ‘unity and cooperation of all sections of the population’, from owners of hotels and restaurants to taxi drivers and students, were vital to elevate the industry.

Foreign minister and chairman of the Tourist Promotion Board, Thanat Khoman, said tourism was becoming increasingly important to the economy.

‘Experts forecast that if the tourist trade is handled properly, the earnings to the country will be sufficient to offset the unfavourable balance of trade, which is in the neighbourhood of 1 billion baht per year,’ he said.

Chalermchai Charuvastr, director-general of the TOT, said the sector would not require a large number of big first-class hotels, because many tourists preferred to stay in modest accommodation alongside Thai families.

18 March 1960

New organisation to protect tourists Government sets goal of 1 billion baht for tourism industry

Prime Minister Sarit Thanarat opened the new Tourist Organisation of Thailand (TOT) at its office on Sri Ayutthaya Road, with a mission of improving facilities for tourists and protecting them from overcharging, swindlers and thieves.

He said the ‘unity and cooperation of all sections of the population’, from owners of hotels and restaurants to taxi drivers and students, were vital to elevate the industry.

Foreign minister and chairman of the Tourist Promotion Board, Thanat Khoman, said tourism was becoming increasingly important to the economy.

‘Experts forecast that if the tourist trade is handled properly, the earnings to the country will be sufficient to offset the unfavourable balance of trade, which is in the neighbourhood of 1 billion baht per year,’ he said.

Chalermchai Charuvastr, director-general of the TOT, said the sector would not require a large number of big first-class hotels, because many tourists preferred to stay in modest accommodation alongside Thai families.