Bangkok International Airport saw 1,734,508 arrivals in the two months - a 33.97 per cent increase. This increase is also higher than for the same period in 2004, a sign the travel industry is returning to normal after the tsunami and other adverse circumstances.

Japanese tourists accounted for

the most arrivals in the first two months of the year, followed by those from South Korea, China, the United Kingdom and

the United States. It is estimated that about 2.34 million visitors entered Thailand in January and February through all air, sea and land entry points.

TAT expects good tourism growth from China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Russia, the UK, Sweden, and India this year.

But the ongoing political demonstrations in the country are beginning to affect travel from certain markets, particularly China and Singapore where travel cancellations have been reported by airlines and tour operators.

Singapore appears to be the most susceptible to the charged political climate as protests in front of the Singapore Embassy have contributed to the cancellations. Some travel companies have reported cancellations by Chinese travellers coming in April, while travel by Japanese tourists appears to be slowing down as they wait for the political standoff to end.

Meanwhile, travel from Europe and the US has not been affected.