BANGKOK, Mar 11 (TNA) – The number of foreign arrivals in Thailand will drop below what many expected if the anti-government Red Shirt protests during March 12-14 turn violent, according to a leading economist.

Siam Commercial Bank Executive Vice President Sethaput Suthiwart-naru said the SCB Economic Intelligence Center (EIC) earlier projected that the number of foreign tourists in Thailand would increase by some 8-10 per cent or 15 million from that of last year.

He said the number of tourists, particularly those from Korea, India, and China, would fall below what EIC projected because the Asian tourists give the tour security and safety as a top priority.

MCOT