Thailand has no foreign tourists in April as borders closed

 

 

BANGKOK, May 29 (Reuters) - Thailand recorded zero foreign tourists in April after it closed borders and banned international passenger flights to try to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

 

In April last year, there were about 3.2 million foreign tourists who spent about 146 billion baht ($4.59 billion), according to a tourism ministry statement.

 

The tourism-reliant country has extended a ban on incoming passenger flights, imposed in April, to the end of June to limit the outbreak, which has infected 3,076 people in the country.

 

The state planning agency predicts the number of foreign arrivals will plunge to 12.7 million this year from a record 39.8 million last year.

 

In the January-March period, foreign tourist numbers in Thailand slumped 38% to 6.69 million, with the number of Chinese visitors, Thailand’s biggest source of tourists, tumbling 60% to 1.25 million.

 

Tourism is a key driver of Thai growth, with foreign tourist receipts accounting for 11% of gross domestic product last year.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-05-29

 

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Thailand recorded zero foreign tourists in April after it closed the borders... erm.. ok, Duh !!!

 

 

 

 

Wonder how the numbers will look for May?

12.7/39.8*11% = ~3.5% out of GDP. That's gotta hurt.

2 minutes ago, JCP108 said:

Wonder how the numbers will look for May?

May need a committee to work to out it for zero again.

I would never have guessed...????..........................????

Reuters‘ News cannot be trustworthy. Let‘s wait for TAT.

6 minutes ago, JCP108 said:

Wonder how the numbers will look for May?

They will probably count repatriated citizens as tourists and then make a statement of " Tourism for May is up 100% versus tourism in April".

6 minutes ago, DrTuner said:

12.7/39.8*11% = ~3.5% out of GDP. That's gotta hurt.

I would expect an increase in domestic tourism to compensate for some of that, as I recall that's valued at THB 260 bill. 

I had no idea.

Thanks for the update.

17 minutes ago, JCP108 said:

Wonder how the numbers will look for May?

Zero again. June ditto. July? Who knows. With normal flight resumption my guesstimate would be 300,000. With only certain groups of travelers allowed, 50,000-100,000 but none of these would be considered tourists.

Many people have explained 1000's of times over the years on this forum that tourism only accounts for a tiny fraction of the economy and is largely irrelevant.

 

We're about to see how that pans out.

1 minute ago, ukrules said:

Many people have explained 1000's of times over the years on this forum that tourism only accounts for a tiny fraction of the economy and is largely irrelevant.

 

We're about to see how that pans out.

I don't think 11% of GDP is a tiny fraction:

 

"Tourism is a key driver of Thai growth, with foreign tourist receipts accounting for 11% of gross domestic product last year".

1 minute ago, ukrules said:

Many people have explained 1000's of times over the years on this forum that tourism only accounts for a tiny fraction of the economy and is largely irrelevant.

 

We're about to see how that pans out.

It's not just tourism - it's the manufacturing sector, et all.  Thailand is getting hammered from all ends, but the worst is tourism, which is 11 percent but experts have said it's 15 percent GDP not including 5 percent GDP spinoff.  

 

They are really trying to spin this story and get people not too worried.  There will be no tourism this year.  

31 minutes ago, JCP108 said:

Wonder how the numbers will look for May?

Minus

36 minutes ago, tribalfusion001 said:

May need a committee to work to out it for zero again.

I hope it's not the same committee they sent to Pattaya to look for prostitution. 

31 minutes ago, Trillian said:

I would expect an increase in domestic tourism to compensate for some of that, as I recall that's valued at THB 260 bill. 

Yes, Hence the government funding 50% discount on hotel rooms.

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

Thailand recorded zero foreign tourists in April after it closed the borders... erm.. ok, Duh !!!

 

Took then until the end of may to work out why 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, ChipButty said:

Minus

That may actually happen, when the tourists trapped in Thailand make their exit ????

I've heard about schemes being launched by countries like Japan and Australia which will partially fund (50%) tourists flights to help them travel there.

 

It's going to be interesting so see if Thailand continues to throw up many roadblocks in order to keep the hated foreigners out.

 

They must be delighted over at immigration now, their dream has come true ????

Edited May 29, 20206 yr by ukrules

I wonder who they were addressing then when they put up these signs today in Big C

 

12.7 mil estimation, 39.8 last year. Its not 3.5%, its 7.5% loss of income.
(39.8-12.7)/39.8*11%

Brutal
 

44 minutes ago, dblh said:

12.7 mil estimation, 39.8 last year. Its not 3.5%, its 7.5% loss of income.
(39.8-12.7)/39.8*11%

Brutal
 

Ah yes you're correct, I didn't pay attention when I whipped up my calc. That is really brutal.

1 hour ago, ukrules said:

I've heard about schemes being launched by countries like Japan and Australia which will partially fund (50%) tourists flights to help them travel there.

Cyprus went even further: https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-pandemic-05-28-20-intl/h_4b8ffd5ca6f918fcf2ddef6c2c80c88d

Quote

Cyprus has offered to cover the cost of accommodation, food, drink and medication for tourists who test positive for Covid-19 during a stay on the popular Mediterranean island.

“The traveler will only need to bear the cost of their airport transfer and repatriation flight, in collaboration with their agent and/or airline," the Cypriot government announced earlier this week in a letter made public to media, tour operators and airlines.

 

At least Thailand offers VAT refund on Dettol ????

3 hours ago, ukrules said:

Many people have explained 1000's of times over the years on this forum that tourism only accounts for a tiny fraction of the economy and is largely irrelevant.

 

We're about to see how that pans out.

Even the 11% quoted is way too low. Take into account the hundreds of thousands if not millions of freelancers and non tax payers into the equation it's a lot higher. Then it's all the cottage Industries affected and the money sent back to the boonies...An example, Nissan has announced 3,000 redundancies in Barcelona, the effect of this is reported to be a total loss of 22,000 jobs due to the trickle down....Thailand, just like any other country so heavily reliant on tourism is gonna be in recession for years. 

2 hours ago, Susco said:

I wonder who they were addressing then when they put up these signs today in Big C

 

Have to be clean as a foreign tourist or else you will be called a dirty foreigner.  Maybe they should double the VAT refund, but then would it really frickings matter...

So the leading indicator after they open the borders to foreigners, is whats happening in those countries domestic air travel.

I work in the airline business, and currently I see maybe (at best) 5% of passengers we would normally see this time of year, and we're not an international station so it's all domestic.

So how quick people feel comfortable with air travel remains to be seen

 

But until I see an uptick in folks wanting to spend 50 mins on a plane to Denver, I wouldn't be holding my breath on how many want to spend hours on a plane to BKK.

6 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The state planning agency predicts the number of foreign arrivals will plunge to 12.7 million this year from a record 39.8 million last year.

 

Even Mallorca Island in Spain has 14 million arrivals every year....This isn't good for Thailand at all.

11% of GDP?

 

I think it's more likely to be 40% of GDP judging by the long line of people waiting for their free food everyday.

 

I think the statistics department is getting the wrong figures because most Thai in the tourism industry don't report their full income to the government.

 

Taxis who don't use the meters, 'tips' for massage places etc.

 

 

Edited May 29, 20206 yr by EricTh

If I understand it correctly, 11% GDP is what the government cares about because here taxes are being paid.

 

The freelancers, people who do not pay taxes: I do not think the government has any interest in them so the official GDP sounds what is realistic and they care about. I know you will say people starve and have no livelihood - but still, the government has different priorities I think.