Thailand records 19.6 million foreign arrivals so far this year

BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand recorded 19.6 million foreign tourist arrivals from January to July 21 period, the Tourism Ministry said Tuesday, up 34% from the same period a year earlier.

The government is targeting 40 million foreign arrivals for the whole of this year. Tourism is a major employer and driver of Thai growth.

(Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by Martin Petty)