BANGKOK — Thailand’s economy grew faster than economists estimated last quarter, boosted by strong exports and rising tourist arrivals.

Gross domestic product (GDP)rose 4.3% from a year ago after expanding a revised 3.8% in the previous three months, the National Economic and Social Development Board said. The median estimate of 19 economists surveyed by Bloomberg was 3.9%. GDP rose a seasonally adjusted 1% in the third quarter from the previous three months, higher than the 0.7% median estimate in a Bloomberg survey.

After years of lagging its neighbors, Thailand is catching up as a global trade recovery boosts exports from the Southeast Asian nation. The end of a yearlong mourning period for King Bhumibol Adulyadej strengthens the outlook for consumption and both the finance ministry and the central bank predict growth of 3.8% in 2017, which would be the fastest pace in five years.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha has adopted measures to boost growth, including a 1.5-trillion baht ($46 billion) infrastructure spending plan and tax breaks for year-end shopping. The central bank has held its benchmark rate near a record low since 2015. — Bloomberg

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