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Thailand is aiming to attract 1 million Chinese visitors next year to recover some of the ground lost in the last three years in its tourism industry.

The goal is more likely to be achieved now that the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the China National Tourism Administration signed an agreement recently in Beijing to enhance tourism co-operation between the two countries, according to a TAT news release.

"Although China is a market with huge potential for the Thai tourism sector, its people do not know much about us, so we need to work closely with our Chinese colleagues to change that," said Somsak Thepsuting, Thai minister to the prime minister's office. He is in charge of the kingdom's tourism industry.

Last year, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand dropped to 700,000 after peaking at 1 million three years ago, due to problems with the "zero tour package."

Under the package, Thai inbound operators received no money from Chinese tour organizers even though they looked after the Chinese tour groups. As a result, Thai tour guides turned to persuading or even forcing Chinese tourists to buy local products or services so as to make money.

Tourists complained, and the entire business was hurt.

Somsak said the new agreement between the two countries will help reduce such problems by arranging a training course for tour organizers on proper job etiquette.

Tourism revenue accounts for 5.8 per cent of the Thai economy, a figure TAT wants to double by 2005.

East Asian countries, such as Japan and China, are major tourist sources for the kingdom.

A total of 12.12 million Chinese citizens journeyed abroad in 2001, compared with 5.32 million in 1997.