Statistical Yearbook Thailand 2012

Tourism Statistics Tourism statistics presented in this chapter have been derived from the Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports and National Statistical Office. H.R.H. Krompra Kampaengpet Akkarayothin, commissioner of the former State Railways Department, initially promoted tourism by setting up a Public Relations Section in 1924 to provide facilities and services to tourists visiting Thailand and also to publicize Thailand to foreigners . Tourism statistics presented in this chapter have been derived from immigration cards collected by Immigration Bureau, Royal Thai Police. Tourist refers to any persons who have no permanent residence in Thailand, but make a visit to Thailand at least one night but not more than 90 days. The purpose of visiting Thailand would be for leisure, business, visiting family/relatives, mission and meeting but not for remunerated activity purposes. Statistics on travel behavior of the Thais; the National statistical Office and Tourism Authority of Thailand jointly conducted a survey on travel behavior of the Thais for the first time in 2009. The 2011 survey was the third one, its objectives were to collect data of the Thais traveling in previous year, concerning activities during travel, travel management, expenditure spent, travelling abroad, including opinion and ideas regarding travelling. Travelling behavior to a journey of household members from their permanent residence in a province to another place in another province or oversea. Purposes of travelling may be as tourist, leisure, family/relative visit, meeting/seminar, playing/watching sports, joining religious activities, including, travel for health care or the others, not related to permanent work or study. Excluding is travelling for merchandise trade purposes. Tourist: any person who travelled to other provinces and staying overnight. Excursionist: any person who travelled to other provinces in one-day trip without staying overnight. Statistics of hotel and guesthouse operation, National Statistical Office had published statistics on hotel operations, the first time in 1979 and in 1992 the survey on hotel operation expanded to cover also guesthouse operations. This 2010 survey covered hotel registered under Hotel Act B.E. 2547 and all guesthouses currently in operation throughout the country. Objective of the survey was to collect data concerning the operation and characteristic such as income, expense, number of rooms, number of guests, number of employees, etc. Hotel and guesthouse mean all types of place established for doing business from travelers or persons who want to live or stay temporarily .