Less Europeans coming to Thailand than expected in July admit AOT

[webfact]

Less Europeans coming to Thailand than expected in July admit AOT

 

FILE photo

 

The Airports Authority of Thailand announced figures that showed less tourists using Thai airports than expected in July.

 

While there was still an increase of 4% on the previous year it was a blip in the trend that has seen an average 9% extra usage per month since the start of the year.

 

Nitinai Sirisamatkarn, a senior manager at Airports of Thailand Public Co Ltd, was quick to say that the downturn had nothing to do with Chinese people cancelling their holidays.

 

Many in the tourism sector fear the boat accident in Phuket was affecting tourism.

 

Nitinai said that the reason was less arrivals of European visitors on long haul routes into Suvarabhumi.

 

The AOT would discuss the reasons behind this in August, he said.

 

He was still upbeat saying that it would still be a record breaking year with the October to December high season expected to boost figures.

 

There are expected to be 135 million users of Thai airports this year.

 

Since the start of the year there have been 71 million airport users with Suvarnabhumi accounting for 31 million, Don Muang 20 million and Phuket 9 million.

 

In the last nine months there have been 61.2 million foreigners using Thai airports - a rise of 25.11 per cent Thai TV CHannel 7 quoted Nitinai as saying.

 

Source: Channel 7

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-07-31

[bristolgeoff]

it may have something to do with the warmer weather this july in europe and uk

[worgeordie]

I don't think for one moment T.A.T ,would admit that.

regards worgeordie

[Get Real]

There must be a simple explaination for this, right? I just had it on my tounge, but it seems like it slipped away like the tourists.

[madmitch]

42 minutes ago, webfact said:

Nitinai said that the reason was less arrivals of European visitors on long haul routes into Suvarabhumi.

 

The AOT would discuss the reasons behind this in August, he said.

 

It's pretty bloody obvious really.

 

Thailand:

Weather - unpredictable. 

Sea - polluted and dangerous

Flight price - Expensive

 

Europe (talking about Mediterranean resorts here):

Weather - hot and sunny

Sea - warm and swimmable

Flight - cheap

 

They're the basics. The only advantage Thailand has at this time of the year is on price of accommodation and food. And it has nothing to do with the Chinese boat disaster!

[LomSak27]

A local GH operator I have know for years says matter of fact'lly; euro tourist numbers have dropped for the last 6 years.  And that was after another drop back in 02/05

This for CM 

If TAT is actually admitting it, likely it is so visible the usual window dressing and eyewash are not working.

 

[Bluespunk]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

 

Nitinai Sirisamatkarn, a senior manager at Airports of Thailand Public Co Ltd, was quick to say that the downturn had nothing to do with Chinese people cancelling their holidays.

Deny, deny, deny...

[PatOngo]

Are the International World Class resorts losing their family charm?

[Lodestone]

Grammar error: It should be *fewer* rather than *less* Europeans. Few/fewer for countable nouns, less for uncountables.

[Mickmouse1]

Thai expectation of foreigners is always HIGH???

Tourism might suffer if other countries near by develop fast. Therefore ,Thailand must have a back up plan?

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

Quote

In the last nine months there have been 61.2 million foreigners using Thai airports

And 61.2 million arrival/departure cards. What a monumental waste. 

[BigBadGeordie]

21 minutes ago, Kaoboi Bebobp said:

And 61.2 million arrival/departure cards. What a monumental waste. 

Not if you have the printing contract.

[hansnl]

1 hour ago, Mickmouse1 said:

Thai expectation of foreigners is always HIGH???

Tourism might suffer if other countries near by develop fast. Therefore ,Thailand must have a back up plan?

A what?

[Oziex1]

2 hours ago, PatOngo said:

Are the International World Class resorts losing their family charm?

You mean like the family friendly "Pattaya"

[Oziex1]

"Less Europeans coming to Thailand than expected in July admit AOT"

 

"Nitinai said that the reason was less arrivals of European visitors on long haul routes into Suvarabhumi."

 

So am I understanding this, the reason for less European tourists is that less of them are arriving.

[cmsally]

For a number of reasons, World Cup, very good weather in Europe and also because Thailand has lost a lot of its exotic appeal. I know a number of people that in the past probably would have come to Thailand but chose Eastern Europe instead.

[Redline]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

There are expected to be 135 million users of Thai airports this year.

Airport “users”

[sammieuk1]

It should be ok the shortfall in revenue can easily be recouped  from the existing arrivals under the daily crackdown scheme ?

[Sir Dude]

Might also have something to do with the word being out about drowning in a tsunami of ghastly Chinese tourists everywhere.

[Megasin1]

Isn't it fairly obvious. If Europeans wanted to see hordes of Chinese following a flag around and spitting everywhere then they would go to China, how are the Chinese figures?

A lot of the kids that I know are now long haul travelling to places like Japan, Mexico and also Australia is coming back into favour. Unfortunately Thailand is no longer high on their list. Nice clean, beautiful beaches and islands can be found in many countries and the whole world is a much more accessible place. If you wind that forward a few years the European figures will only gradually diminish.

It's not good for business if you keep murdering your guests by one means or another.

[Lingba]

Europeans stopped coming here years ago because they became aware of the ripoffs and scams..this isn't news

[BEngBKK]

My head line world be:

Less Europeans coming to Thailand as expected...
(I know thal "less" is grammatically incorrect)

And I do not thing a fine colorfull tracking bracelet will help....

Edited July 31, 2018 by BEngBKK
extension

[dave moir]

5 hours ago, worgeordie said:

I don't think for one moment T.A.T ,would admit that.

regards worgeordie

Not T.A.T it's A.O.T that says there's less European tourists! What do they expect when bars have to close between 2-5pm and close at 12 midnight then close on buddha days and any other days the junta feels like!!! Over the last 3 years I've seen a big decline in European tourists around Chiang Mai.

[BEngBKK]

I many times tease Thais with:

1. First the Europeans stopped comming to Thailand
2. Soon the Chineese will stop comming to Thailand 
3. Then the Africans will start to come to Thailand.....

Then they look scared ....

 

[ravip]

This could be a blessing in disguise, on the long run.

[Mattd]

35 minutes ago, dave moir said:

What do they expect when bars have to close between 2-5pm and close at 12 midnight

Really, where are they doing this?

[mok199]

show me the Yen..

[Geoffggi]

5 hours ago, madmitch said:

It's pretty bloody obvious really.

 

Thailand:

Weather - unpredictable. 

Sea - polluted and dangerous

Flight price - Expensive

 

Europe (talking about Mediterranean resorts here):

Weather - hot and sunny

Sea - warm and swimmable

Flight - cheap

 

They're the basics. The only advantage Thailand has at this time of the year is on price of accommodation and food. And it has nothing to do with the Chinese boat disaster!

Not just the price of flights, the overall cost of living in Thailand has risen dramatically over the past few years resulting in Thailand not being such an attractive place to visit in relation to other more attractive & safer neighbouring countries.

[Paul944]

Plane tickets are not that expensive these days, there are just a lot of destinations to choose from for a real tourist. Thailand has become expensive, hotel prices are up, food prices are up, beer price is is on the same level as expensive European countries. So the alternatives are getting more favorite. Croatia, Vietnam as new places and the old favorites France and Spain.

 

Also the conservative junta is spoiling all the fun, no beer bar pretties for dad and no happy pills for the kids on koh Phangan anymore.

[Small Joke]

6 hours ago, LomSak27 said:

A local GH operator I have know for years says matter of fact'lly; euro tourist numbers have dropped for the last 6 years.  And that was after another drop back in 02/05

This for CM 

If TAT is actually admitting it, likely it is so visible the usual window dressing and eyewash are not working.

 

Chiang Mai is getting quieter and quieter every year.  Well, the westerner night haunts are. I read the media and yet my own eyes don't back up their claims, at least up north.