During this period, the number of annual tourist arrivals increased from 485,366 in 1970 to 850,459 in 1975. Also, organized labor exports increased, although remittances during the Third Plan were still small (Dixon 1999, 108).
The Third Plan period suffered many political troubles. During the period 1972-1976 alone, there were six governments, a student uprising, three elections, and one coup. In addition, the American withdrawal from Vietnam and subsequent reduction in American expenditures tremendously affected the Thai economy. Furthermore, in 1975 the Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia, and after 1976 there was an escalation of rural insurgency in Thailand, as well as the threat posed by Vietnam, especially after its invasion of Cambodia in 1979. These troubles had an immediate impact not only on the Thai economy but also on the budget for development and economic management, which was reduced in order to increase the defence budget.