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Weerasak Kowsurat, chairman of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's board, agreed tourist arrivals should pick up following the end of emergency powers imposed on the greater Bangkok area by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on April 12.

Recovery can take place faster now, he said, adding that some foreign countries were expected to drop their travel warnings soon, which would encourage more foreign tourists to return to Thailand.

The Thai Hotels Association expressed optimism that business would pick up soon, as political instability appeared to have lessened.

Thai-Japan Tourism Association president Anake Srishevachart said the lifting of emergency rule would undoubtedly restore tourists' confidence in Thailand.

The Kingdom has lost a significant number of foreign tourists in recent weeks, due largely to enforcement of the emergency decree.

Nandor von der Luehe, president of the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand, said it would take more time to restore foreign investors' confidence.

However, he agreed lifting emergency rule was a step in the right direction, one that would send a positive signal to the international community.

"The government must also accelerate other measures to boost confidence, by conducting roadshows and providing more flexible regulations to attract investors to the country," said Von der Luehe.

Somkiat Anuras, vice chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC), said businessmen were delighted to learn the government was lifting emergency rule, as it had been detrimental to the country's image.

"Foreign tourists should regain their confidence and return to Thailand. However, the government must be careful about handling new protests, as well as underground activities that could hurt the country," he said.

Somkiat suggested the government also prepare other measures for dealing with protests and other untoward incidents, rather than imposing states of emergency.

TCC vice chairman Phongsak Assakul expressed concern about possible new rallies by the anti-government Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship.

Thai shares jumped 1.72 per cent yesterday as the stock market welcomed the government's lifting of the state of emergency.

The Stock Exchange of Thailand Index surged at the opening bell, heading north to peak at 476.32 points before retreating slightly to close at 474.07. Turnover was moderate at Bt18.58 billion.

Meanwhile, foreign investors told Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij during a two-day roadshow that he led in London starting on Thursday that Thailand had lost opportunities to recover from the global crisis faster than other countries.

Yet they agreed if political reforms and economic stimulus packages succeeded, the Kingdom would win back foreign investment.

They showed huge interest in the government's support of private participation in investment projects and the country's financing capability, said Korn, who is now on his way to Washington to attend a World Bank meeting and meet US investors.