BANGKOK, Sept 11 (TNA) — The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society is gathering and analysing big data on tourism for effective plans to promote Thailand’s tourist attractions.
Buddhipongse Punnakanta, Minister of Digital Economy and Society, said the government’s efforts to gather big data for economic development started with the tourism industry because it was a main source of national income.
Thailand earned 3.08 trillion baht from tourism last year, posting the world’s 4th biggest tourism-related income, he said.
According to him, the ministry is seeking tourism-related data from relevant organizations including the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Airports of Thailand Plc and Thai Airways International.
The big data will allow the government to efficiently plan tourism promotion for provinces. Relevant operators such as hotels and restaurants can use the data to plan their businesses and tourists can plan their trips and spending well based on the data.
The collection of tourism big data would take a few weeks and about five data analysts would handle the data. The big data project would later expand to health, exports and imports, Mr Buddhipongse said. (TNA)