Thailand's tourist arrivals may grow less than 5% this year - industry body

By Satawasin Staporncharnchai

 

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand is expected to see a less than 5% increase in overall foreign tourist arrivals this year due to a global economic slowdown, intensifying competition and a strong currency baht <THB=TH>, a tourism body said on Wednesday.

 

The country welcomed a record 39.7 million foreign visitors last year, but missed a target of 40 million - partly due to the very strong baht, Chairat Triratanajaraspon, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, told Reuters.

 

"The number of tourists is still rising but not much. We used to see more than 10% growth earlier, but this year we expect less than 5%," he said.

 

Tourism is a key driver of Thailand's economy, but the strength of its currency has cut tourists' purchasing power, particularly of those from China, Thailand's biggest source of visitors, Chairat said.

 

The council predicts the number of Chinese visitors this year to be around last year's 11 million, as more Chinese holidaymakers are travelling to other countries in Asia, he said.

 

Another reason that Chinese tourist numbers are not seen growing much is the baht, which rose 10.7% against the Chinese yuan last year, and "that has had quite a big impact", he said.

 

The baht was also Asia's best performing currency with a nearly 9% rise against the dollar in 2019.

 

The council expects about 800,000 Chinese tourists to visit Thailand during the Lunar New Year later this month, close to last year's numbers, Chairat said.

 

However, the number of India tourists are expected to jump more than 30% this year from more than 2 million in 2019, as the base is still small, he said.

 

"They mainly come here to hold weddings and for honeymoon," he said. "So we should target this market with higher purchasing power."

 

India is Thailand's third biggest source of tourists after China and Malaysia.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-01-15

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I don't believe it,just waiting for TAT to say there will be a 10 %

surge in tourists  this year,as everyone wants to come to the

Land of Smiles ????

regards worgeordie

6 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand is expected to see a less than 5% increase

I know whats gonna increase, thatll be empty hotels.

One thing for sure, there will be a decrease of expats (according to TVF experts). 

If by less than 5% you mean zero or less growth, I'd believe that. Business owners and support people I talk with all say the same - the worst high season ever, and a bleak forecast. Those millionaires from various countries that were supposed to save the economy apparently never got the memo.

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

a less than 5% increase in overall foreign tourist arrivals this year due to a global economic slowdown

Excuse du jour.

Could be no increase at all in reality but TAT will tell us different as always !

Just an extra 2m then. On top of the 39.7m that came this year

 

Woe is them, tragic. If it wasn't for the expats..........

nothing to worry about, tomorrow tat will announce a big increase in tourist numbers expected for the year, they hate to lose face when the truth comes out like this, have to show more tourists to maintain their snouts in the trough

 

Thai tourism cruising despite obstacles, official says

 

Chairat Trirattanajarasporn

 

Thai tourism is still a booming business, even amid continued political instability, the baht’s strength against other currencies and the unresolved trade war between the United States and China, the president of the Tourism Council of Thailand said this week.

 

Conditions are tough, Chairat Trirattanajarasporn said on Wednesday (January 15) at the Economic Reporters Association’s annual seminar, but traveller interest in Thailand has never stopped building.

 

To make the association’s task easier, he recommended free visas on arrival for all visitors and more sweeping economic stimulus measures.

 

New markets must be opened in Asia while the European market is incapable of expanding, Chairat said.

 

Tourism entrepreneurs should meanwhile embrace the growing “free independent traveller” (FIT) trend.

 

Chairat noted that the Ministry of Tourism and Sports is expecting 41 million foreign visitors this year, up from 39.7 million in 2019.

 

It’s estimated they will collectively spend Bt2.1 trillion, up from Bt1.96 trillion.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30380614

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-01-16

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Almost weekly we read conflicting news that tourism numbers and spending is down, its up. As a long term expat my eyes say for almost ten years tourism has been going down every year. Maybe more tourists, definitely more supply...hotels, restaurants, etc, and tourists spending less when you take in inflation. This years looks to be even worse. The trend continues. When will it stop? Maybe stops when the Baht weakens?

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Thai tourism is still a booming business, even amid continued political instability, the baht’s strength against other currencies and the unresolved trade war between the United States and China, the president of the Tourism Council of Thailand said this week.

what a load of old ....

12 hours ago, neeray said:

Excuse du jour.

Yes always some one else they blame, never look in the mirror.

17 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

what a load of old ....

the HUB of LIars

Where do these numbers come from ? Do a visa run and you are another tourist when you come back. Can't get a retirement visa so you make two or three trips instead. Are things getting better I fear not !

Can confirm 5m of the 11m Chinese tourists were in McDonalds Kad Farang CM last night very pleasant it was????

This is TOTAL BS. 

Here on Samui, hotel occupancy ( from some of my GM friends ) has been down at around 40% to 50% for the main peak weeks over Xmas / New Year. The restaurants are mostly empty, many have given up and closed. There are many shops that have disappeared and "for rent" notices that have appeared in the windows. The roads have been suspiciously quiet when normally there is chaos at this time of year.

 

Why do these officials still make this BS up, why not face the reality and do something about it ?

Tourists from Europe "incapable of expanding"? Has everyone come here and been ripped off & swore "never again"?

"Free independent traveler" (FIT) now "targeted". Isn't this the group that is so often maligned, "Backpackers"?

What have they missed? ET's? "Exiled Thais", people like Ying Luck, Son of Red Bull?

The way the government treat tourists they don't deserve to have a high number of visitors

 

Tourism entrepreneurs should meanwhile embrace the growing “free independent traveller” (FIT) trend. What is this BS mean, I bet his spin doctor cant explain that.

1 minute ago, Geoffggi said:

The way the government treat tourists they don't deserve to have a high number of visitors

What treatment is that?

Oh for Christ sakes...here we go again with more numbers with no substance

4 hours ago, webfact said:

the European market is incapable of expanding, Chairat said.

Proof, if it's ever needed, that the tourism authorities don't have a clue what they are talking about.

Some European countries have hardly been touched by tourism yet.

Hey, under 5% growth ain't bad.  As long as you don't have greedy builders throwing up shacks left and right, resulting in an oversupply.

 

Wait.  Nevermind. ????

The real reason is we feedup of Thailand. Better elsewhere....  

32 minutes ago, Tidybeard said:

This is TOTAL BS. 

Here on Samui, hotel occupancy ( from some of my GM friends ) has been down at around 40% to 50% for the main peak weeks over Xmas / New Year. The restaurants are mostly empty, many have given up and closed. There are many shops that have disappeared and "for rent" notices that have appeared in the windows. The roads have been suspiciously quiet when normally there is chaos at this time of year.

 

Why do these officials still make this BS up, why not face the reality and do something about it ?

that place is screwed imo

Instead of simply focusing on internal issues for the lag in Thai tourism, we should give credit to other countires in Asia who have improved infrastructure and now offer vacation alternatives to Thailand, a choice is nice. This competition will no doubt prompt Thailand to become creative and compete for the tourist trade. That is good; Thailand will respond.

 

Immigration Officers and their interrogation policies should be re-examined.

These people at the borders they gave grief to, just for being loyal customers for years, aren't coming back.

 

I'm willing to bet the farm that 99% of genuine once or twice a year tourists who show up with visa's and stay for a few weeks, and have money in their pocket, have zero problems with Immigration.

2 minutes ago, Pdavies99 said:

Wait until the Chinese Swine Flu hits and starts killing, then we will see what happens!

 

Not a great picture  but the truth!

If you mean African Swine Fever (?) that is not a threat to humans.