Bangkok - Violent street protests that had to be quelled by the army last week are expected to cost Thailand 1.4 to 2.8 billion dollars in lost tourism revenues, a Thai think tank said Thursday.

Thailand was rocked by anti-government street protests earlier this month, culminating with a crackdown on April 13 to 14 by army troops. Two were killed and 123 injured in the violence.

If the protests end quickly, Thailand is likely to lose 50 billion baht (1.4 billion dollars) in forfeited tourism revenues, but if they continue the losses could double this year, predicted the Kasikorn Research Centre (KRC), a think tank.

The research outfit predicted that tourist arrivals to Thailand this year will be 11.7 million people, down 20 per cent from last year's figures.

Before the recent riots, Thailand's tourism sector was already reeling from the global recession and negative images from similar protests last year that shut down Bangkok's two international airports from November 26 to December 3, leaving thousands of tourists stranded. (dpa)