BANGKOK, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's largest airport Suvanarbhumi Airport is expected to welcome more than 66 million passengers in the whole year, a two to three percent increase from last year amid gloomy forecasts for the country's tourist industry.

Airport director Sutheerawat Suwannawat said on Tuesday that more arrivals are expected during the winter travel season, which will raise Suvarnabhumi's arrivals to between 66 million and 68 million this year.

The number of passengers arriving at the Bangkok's major airport is rising to 200,000 a day during the winter season that starts in October, compared to the last year's figure of about 180,000 a day, said Sutheerawat.

Wing Commander Sutheerawat noted that Chinese tourists have also started returning to Thailand and several Chinese airlines have requested new landing slots.

"A few have been rejected due to too tight schedules," said the commander.

He said 80 percent of the passengers at the airport are foreign visitors. "The number of foreign arrivals is growing but the facilities of the airport should be upgraded to accommodate more planes and passengers."

The director said a project to build a satellite terminal is progressing, which will increase the airport's handling capacity by 15 million passengers a year.