BANGKOK, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Thailand on Friday welcomed the number 39 million tourist arriving at Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
The campaign "Thailand's Luckiest Visitor, the Amazing Smashing Success" was launched by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), and targets the number 39 million tourist to arrive in Thailand.
Awaiting for the winning tourist at the airport, Pipat Ratchakitprakan, the minister of tourism and sports and his team, surprised the lucky winner Anna Pavlovskaya from Russia with free gifts and traveling vouchers.
Anna told the minister that she is traveling with her family in Thailand for the third time.
The Thai tourism minister handed Anna with a certificate for being the luckiest visitor, five-night accommodation in Thailand, round tickets for two to travel from her home country to Thailand and free limousine services.
The number of foreign tourists this year has reached 39.77 people as targeted, up 4 percent, generating income of 1.96 trillion baht (65 billion U.S. dollars) for Thailand, Pipat told the press at the airport.
The minister also said that domestic tourism market recorded 167 million travelers, generating income of 1.1 trillion baht (36.4 billion U.S. dollars).
The total tourism income for the whole year accounted for 3.06 trillion baht (101.4 billion U.S. dollars), up 4 percent, he said.
