15% of Phuket’s advanced bookings cancelled

By Kritsada Mueanhawong

 

 

About 15% of advance bookings have been cancelled in the past week in the wake of the boat capsize 8 days ago.  Chinese tourists are voting with their bookings citing a loss of confidence in Phuket marine safety, and safety generally.

 

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Pongpanu Svetarundra says, “Chinese tourists are Thailand’s most important market at the moment.  The Phuket boat tragedy has already affected not only Phuket’s tourism but also mental and economic confidence. We are seeing clear signs of a back-lash.”

 

“There are more than 10 million Chinese tourists visiting Thailand each year which has already generated more than 500,000 million baht. More than 3 million of them are travelling to Phuket each year which has generated at least 150,000 million baht.”

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/15-of-phukets-advanced-bookings-cancelled

 

-- © Copyright The Thaiger 2018-07-13

50% would be better.

So, are they 50,000 Baht tourists or zero baht tourists?

 

They can’t be both!

If they are claiming 15%, you can bet it's a hell of a lot higher.  Saving "face" is a national disease. 

 

If the total number is 15% and these are mainly Chinese tourists, who account about 33% of visitors in Phuket, then the percentage of Chinese cancelling advanced bookings is 45%.

 

I suppose it was not a good idea to blame Chinese for the incident.

 

Damn Chinese, who needs them, they are rude and selfish, the sooner the Thai's learn that money doesn't control everything, the sooner they learn that they would be no worse off...lol

 

But they said it wouldn't hamper tourism!

 

Time for some falang to the rescue again I think.

Fantastic.  Keep the cancellations coming!

This expression often doesn't apply here, but to the outside world it does - 'Your reputation precedes you'. 

 

Never a good idea to blame tourists for your own incompetence. 

I was taught in school that 15% of nothing is nothing

“Chinese tourists are Thailand’s most important market at the moment." - should read, "Chinese tourists are Thailand's only market at the moment."  ?

Chinese tourists are the largest tourist group coming to Thailand.

Now many are canceling and there are 2 reasons for that, first reason is the stupidity involved regarding the sinking of the dive boat, the second reason is ole fatty opening his stupid mouth blaming the Chinese.

I have said many times it is past time the old fool; was put out to grass.

Guess it's time to double that submarine order, just for appeasement.

According to TAT,I thought NOTHING would effect Thai tourism,

Teflon Thailand, slowly losing its finish,maybe.

regards Worgeordie

Don't be too enthusiastic

That will only be a short lived reaction to the current news.

Tourists quickly forget.

Bomb at the Erevan shrine: and is Bangkok emptied out?

This is not the first boat disaster. People drown on the short route from Pattaya to Ko Lan.

How many Chinese died in the past in vans and buses?

I even doubt that the average Chinese tourist is much informed about the destinations he travels to.

 

14 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Don't be too enthusiastic

That will only be a short lived reaction to the current news.

Tourists quickly forget.

Bomb at the Erevan shrine: and is Bangkok emptied out?

This is not the first boat disaster. People drown on the short route from Pattaya to Ko Lan.

How many Chinese died in the past in vans and buses?

I even doubt that the average Chinese tourist is much informed about the destinations he travels to.

 

 

I tend to agree.

 

I think the Chinese will keep coming, whether they include marine activities, particularly those involving boats / diving, that is a different question. 

 

It may be the case they still travel to Thailand in big numbers, but exclude marine activities from their holiday package, and why shouldn't they, safety is clearly an issue here. 

 

This is music to my ears. Chalong was a ghost town for nearly a week after this accident and i realised how much has changed since the chinese invasion.

i am expecting a very short respit ,unless we get more storms like these.

the biggest difference was bus traffic,pier congestion and speedboat wakes. Other than that its the same old filthy dirty stinky chalong its always been. 

If anyone is SERIOUSLY dischuffed with the Thai government's cavalier regard for the health and safety of the nation's biggest meal ticket and any subsequent loss if income, they can take it up with the DPM.

Thank you oh Lord, my wish has come true...

5 hours ago, oilinki said:

If the total number is 15% and these are mainly Chinese tourists, who account about 33% of visitors in Phuket, then the percentage of Chinese cancelling advanced bookings is 45%.

 

I suppose it was not a good idea to blame Chinese for the incident.

 

Prawit: 1) open mouth; 2) put foot in; 3) put brain into gear. 

It might be time for TAT to require in addition to travel healthcare insurance that tourists get funeral insurance.

1 hour ago, Jonmarleesco said:

Prawit: 1) open mouth; 2) put foot in; 3) put brain into gear. 

Are you sure about number 3? 

at 80%, I will look at rooms on Agoda.

10 hours ago, webfact said:

About 15% of advance bookings have been cancelled in the past week in the wake of the boat capsize 8 days ago.  Chinese tourists are voting with their bookings citing a loss of confidence in Phuket marine safety, and safety generally.

The perils of putting all eggs into only one basket... ?

Chinese tour cancellations for Phuket ’worse than estimated’

 

Chinese family members of tourists killed or otherwise directly affected by the Phoenix tour boat disaster seek assistance at Vachira Phuket Hospital. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

 

PHUKET:-- A leading figure in Phuket’s tourism industry has warned that the current state of advance booking cancellations of Chinese tourists could be worse than first reported in the aftermath of the Phoenix boat disaster, which killed 47 tourists.

 

Tourism and Sports Permanent Secretary Pongpanu Svetarundra in Phuket yesterday revealed that Chinese tourist advance bookings in Phuket have been slammed with 10-15% cancellations.

 

In response, Kongsak Koopongsakorn, Vice President of the Thai Hotels Association, told The Phuket News today (July 13), “Ten to 15% is a rough estimate. It is likely to be more than this, but still have to wait for the exact figures.

 

Full Story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/chinese-tour-cancellations-for-phuket-worse-than-estimated-67863.php#lDQRAwhrZGq4QSu5.97

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2018-7-13

12 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

Damn Chinese, who needs them, they are rude and selfish, the sooner the Thai's learn that money doesn't control everything, the sooner they learn that they would be no worse off...lol

 

 Oh the irony!! 

Phuket hotel bookings cancellation causes concern

 

 

Phuket hotel bookings cancellation by Chinese tourists have unnerved Thai authorities and tourism-related business

 

The Transport Ministry and governmental agencies concerned have been working frantically to plug public safety loopholes to restore the confidence of Chinese tourists in wake of the cancellation of hotel bookings in Phuket by Chinese tourists following the July 5 sinking of Phoenix boat which left 47 Chinese dead and 46 survived the accident.

Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisit ordered a revamp of safety traveling measures with tougher penalties against tour operators and boat skippers that defy safety measures.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/phuket-hotel-bookings-cancellation-causes-concern/

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-07-14

They are in a panic which, to me, means a hell of a lot more than just 15%. 

21 hours ago, Darcula said:

Guess it's time to double that submarine order, just for appeasement.

 

So they can use the subs to recover the bodies -- next time??? 

 

Great news. Hope this continues through to October when I'm taking my family there.