The overall industry in fact continued to grow strongly in both the international and domestic markets, even though the government had seriously cracked down on illegal tourism practices and the management of a number of attractions, she said.
The sector is also expected to continue to expand in the final three months of the year.
Kobkarn said 8.2 million foreign visitors arrived from July to September, generating income of Bt410 billion.
China continued to be the main source market, with 2.4 million visitors during the three months, representing a rise of 14 per cent and generating 15 per cent more revenue than in the same period last year.
Arrivals from Europe came in at around 1.2 million, up 12 per cent from the third quarter last year, while there were 2.2 million visitors from Asean countries – up 14 per cent.
“With a wider network of budget airlines in the region and strong demand for inbound travel, Thai tourism will continue to grow,” she added.
However, tourism authorities and operators may need to create more strategies in order to strengthen key markets – and China in particular – because neighbouring countries such as Malaysia and Singapore have already made moves to attract more Chinese visitors by offering preferential visa schemes, she said.
Kobkarn said the domestic market had also expanded during the third quarter, with 36.4 million trips made, some 5.5 per cent higher than in the same period last year.
Domestic travellers pumped Bt216 billion into the economy during the quarter, up 7.6 per cent from last year.
Income from international and domestic tourists is expected to grow by about 1.2 per cent in the current quarter, coming in at about Bt609 billion, the minister said.
Tourism income for the entire year is projected at more than Bt2.4 trillion, with Bt1.6 trillion from the international market and Bt859 billion from the domestic market, she added.