The Coronavirus Effect – Phuket by numbers

[webfact]

The Coronavirus Effect – Phuket by numbers

By Bill Barnett

 

PHOTO: A quiet Phuket International Airport - patstravelreviews.com

 

by Bill Barnett of c9hotelworks.com

 

The impact of the current outbreak of the novel coronavirus in China, and a limited spread to 18 other countries, will be felt in the months ahead. Whilst the headlines loom large at the moment with statistics and stories of the spread, the downstream effects on Thai tourism, and particularly the areas favoured by Chinese tourists, are going to hit hard. Bill Barnett from c9hotelworks.com reports…

 

Taking lead in the news today has the World Health Organisation declaring the coronavirus a global health emergency. For hotels and tourism the best metric to understand the impact of the virus on the island’s tourism market is airport arrivals.

 

Looking at data from Wednesday, January 29, international passenger arrivals at Phuket airport dropped 32.95% compared to the same date in 2019. For the previous day, Tuesday the 28th, the shortfall was 29.80%.

 

Viewing the month of January, overseas visitor arrivals on a daily basis were achieving positive growth. This changed on Sunday, January 26 which saw numbers retract. It’s important to note in far as trends go the January month-to-date remains positive with a 7.92% increase, which gives readers an indication that the months had been showing strong arrivals versus last year.

 

Taking a broader look at Bangkok’s numbers for Suvarnabhumi Airport on January 29, overseas arrivals declined by 14.92%. Don Mueang, which is more regional focused, stepped back a whopping 32.63%.

 

Statistically, the hardest hit Thai airport is Chiang Mai, which experienced 48.89% loss of international arrivals on Wednesday (year-on-year) and is indicative of the destination’s reliance on inbound Chinese.

 

Back to Phuket, it’s important to know the year-on-year comparison actually does not tell the full story. In 2019 Chinese New Year was in February so last year’s numbers when compared to 2020 are not apple to apple given the annual holiday turbocharger occurred in January this year. Hence the CNY impact in January in the data above, if we consider the absence of the holiday boost, is even more profound than the percentages shown here.

 

Currently there are 33 cities in Mainland China that have flights to Phuket.

 

Where does the hotel industry go from here? Phuket is not alone in its strong dependence on Mainland China, and what is likely is, once this situation turns the corner will be rate focused strategies which means bad news for hotel owners who were looking for higher-yield in 2020.

 

Source: https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/coronavirus/the-coronavirus-effect-phuket-by-numbers

 

 

-- © Copyright The Thaiger 2020-01-31

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[AlexRich]

Come back "hansum man" ... China man "no good"!

[Deli]

Maybe now Immigration finally will be able to handle the cues ?

Hope they can handle the virus in brief time but also hope the Chinese won't come back at all.

Much nicer here without them allover the place.

[RichardColeman]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

Statistically, the hardest hit Thai airport is Chiang Mai, which experienced 48.89% loss of international arrivals

So, expect a TAT agent stating a 15% CM rise in the coming days

[legend49]

Statistically, the hardest hit Thai airport is Chiang Mai, which experienced 48.89% loss of international arrivals on Wednesday (year-on-year) and is indicative of the destination’s reliance on inbound Chinese.

 

Best news of the year so far. AOT has done very little to improve the infrastructure since many aircraft from China arrive daily. Just reduced 5 lines at Immigration departure to 3 dedicated for Chinese/Asian travelers. Body scanners were put into place middle of last year still not working. Parking is hopeless, takes ages to drive to the front of the airport, departure lounge for International flights is dirty , overcrowded; just look at the state of the carpets there tells you about how good they clean the place.

[Isaan sailor]

Less is more, Thailand.

[Sametboy2019]

I went into 711 yesterday and no Chinese were there.....bliss!

[canuckamuck]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

Statistically, the hardest hit Thai airport is Chiang Mai, which experienced 48.89% loss of international arrivals on Wednesday (year-on-year) and is indicative of the destination’s reliance on inbound Chinese.

Breaking news, there are unconfirmed reports that two drivers have found a place to park in the airport parking lot. 

[Ventenio]

Let's be honest for a second.  If no kids, we worry about ourselves first and foremost.  There is a CHANCE someone from China could kill us by getting too close to us.  We don't have to let them know we think that, they likely already don't know this and whatever...So I'm surprised anyone would even think about going to an area with more Chinese than were they are currently at.  

 

Nobody in my city in Thailand will go to CM, yet they all want to go.  I saw a guy eating basically right off his plate and coughing the other night, speaking some Chinese.  Yeah, I went the other way with a smile like I was looking for UFO's. lol

[sammieuk1]

Suggest a 32.95% lowering of the Baht and import taxes job done next case????

[Caldera]

Now, if only they could fix the air pollution after they've fixed the overcrowding.

[bbi1]

Taking a broader look at Bangkok’s numbers for Suvarnabhumi Airport on January 29, overseas arrivals declined by 14.92%. Don Mueang, which is more regional focused, stepped back a whopping 32.63%.

That's great news!! Hopefully they can get the numbers down to 50% less than last year for both airports then the immigration queues won't be so ridiculously long.

[canuckamuck]

3 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

Suggest a 32.95% lowering of the Baht and import taxes job done next case????

If they can go 40% I am sure the virus will be wiped out entirely.

[Somtamnication]

Oh goody. The sharks are safe for a few months!