Thai agents: Half-year travel dips

By Don Ross

 

 

BANGKOK, 5 July 2019: A business disaster looms for Thailand’s travel agents as the latest data shows travel bookings were down by 11.46% during the first six months of the year.

 

During the first six months of the year Association of Travel Agents’ member companies handled 2,786,204 clients.

 

It translates into a real loss of 360,470 clients, January to June, for inbound travel agents based on the turnover of guests at Bangkok’s two gateway airports.

 

The Association of Thai Travel Agents bases its data on fees paid to the Airports of Thailand for clients offered meet-and-greet services by member companies.

 

Month-by-month, the data illustrated declines ranging from 9% in January and February to a massive drop of 20% in May. June closed with a decline of 12%.

 

Just two of the top five source markets, Vietnam and India, recorded improvements during the first six months.

 

While China remains the biggest source of clients for travel agents with a market share of 58.29%, 2019 so far has shown a steady decline of 14.90%. The six months closed with a tally of 1,623,892 Chinese clients. 

 

Second-placed, Vietnam, with 162,160 clients improved by 1.85%. Third-placed India generated 140,885 clients an increase of 5.72%.

 

Full Story: https://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2019/07/thai-agents-half-year-travel-dips/

 

 

-- © Copyright TTR Weekly 2019-07-07

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Tourism down, exports down, gdp growth down, debt up

 

But but but... THB the strongest currency in Asia, if not the world

Perhaps if interest rates had been lowered some time back to weaken the baht, tourism up, exports up, gdp I havent a clue, debt less expensive for Thais. Better informed views from members please.

Let them get on with it

Turnover, or turning away of guests?

Well, you could say they have weaponized the baht. A high baht does two obvious things that they want atm, firstly it gets rid of many westerners that are living full time here that they seem uninterested in now, and secondly they can strip the tourists that do come for their foreign currency and there are still plenty even if numbers are down. There are still loads of Chinese and Indians coming so it's good for them to have a strong currency. The Euro, and especially the pound, are doing badly because of uncertainty and not because their economies are bad ... markets hate uncertainty. Once the direction of the UK is decided (in or out deal/WTO) and the EU's path can be seen for the next 5 years then these two currencies will bounce back. I'm unsure why the Thai government is happy to let their exporters/farmers feel the pain with falling exports, but I guess the elite is ambivalent on this and has plans that are more important, like procurement power of certain foreign goods for import or investment for a select few overseas.      

Edited July 5, 20197 yr by Brigand

34 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

While China remains the biggest source of clients for travel agents with a market share of 58.29%, 2019 so far has shown a steady decline of 14.90%. The six months closed with a tally of 1,623,892 Chinese clients. 

 

Now this does not look good anyway you spin it. 

Don't forget that the insanely strong Thai baht is very good news for the powerful people in Thailand who buy foreign investments. Then when the baht is devalued they sell the investments and can start building sky scrapers in Bangkok on the proceeds.

Only one reason.

 

Thai baht too strong

 

It's not rocket science General - - - - - The tourists are getting better value in your cheaper neighbour's holiday spots.

Lot more representative of what seeing on ground than TaTs arrival numbers but still under stating the drop by large margin but guessing thats because repeat tourists far less likely to use agent services but will feel the pain of the baht far more.

 

If your regular trip is 20-30% more expensive  than 2 to 3 years ago with no spending changes you take notice and start evaluating your holiday choices

People are tired of Thailand’s crap. It’s endless nonsense here. It takes a lot but you can actually kill the Goose that lays the golden egg. I don’t think that’s the case yet but it’s not far away. Especially when Thailand’s neighbors are more welcoming and easier than ever to get around in.

 

Thailand had an advantage for decades because of the infrastructure and ease of getting around inside the country. Thailand was cheap and easy. Well, it’s not that cheap anymore and all the other dirt holes in the area have come up and are now easy. 

 

The Thais will have to learn the hard way that they are not now and never were special. They just had a jump on the competition. And honestly, what’s left to see here that hasn’t been ruined by mass tourism? If you’ve been here twice, you’ve seen enough unless you’re a sex tourist.

5 minutes ago, LomSak27 said:

 

Now this does not look good anyway you spin it. 

The Chinese are internationally known as "Zero Dollar Tourists"  They are worthless if a country is looking for tourist money - -

51 minutes ago, HeyHeyHey said:

Tourism down, exports down, gdp growth down, debt up

 

But but but... THB the strongest currency in Asia, if not the world

This is nothing. Just wait till the new "elected:" breed of Prayut's hand picked trough feeding turnips get into parliament.

It is almost time to ring the bell. TKO!

Goodnight Thailand; pull down the shutters.

4 minutes ago, dcnx said:

People are tired of Thailand’s crap. It’s endless nonsense here. It takes a lot but you can actually kill the Goose that lays the golden egg. I don’t think that’s the case yet but it’s not far away. Especially when Thailand’s neighbors are more welcoming and easier than ever to get around in.

 

Thailand had an advantage for decades because of the infrastructure and ease of getting around inside the country. Thailand was cheap and easy. Well, it’s not that cheap anymore and all the other dirt holes in the area have come up and are now easy. 

 

The Thais will have to learn the hard way that they are not now and never were special. They just had a jump on the competition. And honestly, what’s left to see here that hasn’t been ruined by mass tourism? If you’ve been here twice, you’ve seen enough unless you’re a sex tourist.

So true!

Thailand's "magic" has been been uncovered by the real magic of internet.  The ability to scam and strip one-off tourists is finished.  New tourists are savvy and the old-style rip-off businesses are dying.

 

The government - in it's ineptitude - thought that making the baht stronger would cure the financial ills.

 

Wrong

 

It killed it's two biggest exports - rice and tourism.  The countries surrounding Thailand are making a killing in these two areas now and the ONLY things Thailand can do is:

 

Devalue the baht

Price its exports to compete

TEACH its tourist providers to consider running their business with repeat visitors in mind.  The one-off sting is a thing of the past.

wish I had 10 baht for every 'the sky is falling in Thailand' story I've read in the last 17 yrs...

Just now, from the home of CC said:

wish I had 10 baht for every 'the sky is falling in Thailand' story I've read in the last 17 yrs...

You might have had enough for a short time experience.

1 minute ago, SteveK said:

You might have had enough for a short time experience.

Although I'm not considered tall by any stretch this is not the place to become personal..

But, who would have thought that could possibly happen?

55 minutes ago, from the home of CC said:

Although I'm not considered tall by any stretch this is not the place to become personal..

You do know what "short time" means, right?

Nothing will fix a high Baht Like a high Baht,now if I could only just get legally high as the Baht is I wouldn't really care about it so much.

Edited July 5, 20197 yr by FarFlungFalang

37 minutes ago, Matzzon said:

You do know what "short time" means, right?

yes, I'm not short sighted..

1 hour ago, Lenny Jones said:

The Chinese are internationally known as "Zero Dollar Tourists"  They are worthless if a country is looking for tourist money - -

Actually in the west they are know as good spenders, not only as tourists but investing in property. The zero dollar  chinese package tourist is  mainly a SEA thing, especially Thailand as they have been mainly getting the bottom end of the Chinese market.

1 hour ago, from the home of CC said:

yes, I'm not short sighted..

You just think that a short time experience has something to do with your height.

 

Gotta admit, I just cracked up quite a bit because of this guy. Maybe internet sarcasm has gotten the better of me, and he found his response to be humorous?

Edited July 5, 20197 yr by SteveK

2 hours ago, from the home of CC said:

wish I had 10 baht for every 'the sky is falling in Thailand' story I've read in the last 17 yrs...

Wish I had shares in a nail and/or coffin factory too.

4 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

During the first six months of the year Association of Travel Agents’ member companies handled 2,786,204 clients.

 

It translates into a real loss of 360,470 clients, January to June, for inbound travel agents based on the turnover of guests at Bangkok’s two gateway airports.

 

The Association of Thai Travel Agents bases its data on fees paid to the Airports of Thailand for clients offered meet-and-greet services by member companies.

Seems to me that this is an article about travel agents losing customers.

I guess that travel agents are losing business all over the world as it becomes so easy for travellers to organise their own flights and accommodation, using the internet.

 

3 hours ago, Cadbury said:

This is nothing. Just wait till the new "elected:" breed of Prayut's hand picked trough feeding turnips get into parliament.

It is almost time to ring the bell. TKO!

Goodnight Thailand; pull down the shutters.

Say goodnight Irene. 

2 hours ago, Matzzon said:

You do know what "short time" means, right?

what?

30 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

Wish I had shares in a nail and/or coffin factory too.

or a crematorium..

2 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

what?

sex with the vertically challenged.

27 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

Seems to me that this is an article about travel agents losing customers.

I guess that travel agents are losing business all over the world as it becomes so easy for travellers to organise their own flights and accommodation, using the internet.

 

Bingo.

 

Its about a drop in arriving tourists using 'meet and greet' services. I'd suggest that returning visitors dont need them, particularly with the extortionate prices they charge.

 

It doesn't mean tourists aren't coming, it means they dont need shepherding around any more by travel agents. Just three days ago the much derided TAT (howls of derision) said tourism was up.

 

At some stage, TVFers will learn TAT dont care what they think while the money keeps rolling in.

 

I'm not holding my breath though.