Thai tourist arrivals to plunge 80% this year - industry body

[webfact]

Thai tourist arrivals to plunge 80% this year - industry body

 

FILE PHOTO: Empty chairs are seen on a beach which is usually full of tourists, amid fear of coronavirus in Phuket, Thailand March 11, 2020. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand is expected to see at most 8 million foreign tourists this year, down 80% from a year earlier, as the coronavirus pandemic cuts global travel, a tourism body said on Tuesday.

 

The tourist sector, a key driver of Thai growth, is expected to recover in 2021, Chairat Triratanajaraspon, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, told reporters.

 

Last year, Thailand had a record 39.8 million foreign tourists, whose spending accounted for about 11% of Thai GDP.

 

(Reporting by Satawasin Staporncharnchai; Writing by Orathai Sriring; Editing by Ed Davies)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-06-30

 

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[Grumpy John]

So now Thailand can be called a broken hub of tourism as the only place a tourist can visit is the islands on the new government list. 

[kotsak]

[steven100]

down 80%  .......  well i'll be a donkeys a_ss   !

[ThailandRyan]

How can it only be down 80%, oh wait they still are trying to count the bodies in January and February and the partial month of March.  How do they come up with a figure of 8 million for the year as expected, is that being a little optimistic on their part.  I understand Approx 40 mil last year and then only 8 mill this year is 80% less, but lets be realistic, There will be no influx of Tourists for the remainder of this year the way things are going.

[spiekerjozef]

Perfect, nice and quiet.

[Emdog]

Where the heck are the foreign tourists coming from, how the heck is that 20% getting in? 8 million? Yet a foreigner on marriage visa living here for years can't get back in?

[richard_smith237]

5 minutes ago, Emdog said:

Where the heck are the foreign tourists coming from, how the heck is that 20% getting in? 8 million? Yet a foreigner on marriage visa living here for years can't get back in?

 

Tourism ‘expected’ to be 80% down this year... 

 

Thus, by the end of 2020 Thailand expects at most 8 million tourists in total. 

Many of whom arrived before lockdown, and more expected after ease of lockdown in the following 6 months. 

 

Married foreigners can get back in...  they have to apply for a Certificate of Entry, not as simple as just jumping on a flight, but still possible nonetheless.

 

[SoilSpoil]

15 hours ago, spiekerjozef said:

Perfect, nice and quiet.

With millions of lower income Thai,who depend on tourism, loosing their incomes, dont expect it to stay quiet. 

[BritManToo]

16 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

How can it only be down 80%, oh wait they still are trying to count the bodies in January and February and the partial month of March.  How do they come up with a figure of 8 million for the year as expected, is that being a little optimistic on their part.  I understand Approx 40 mil last year and then only 8 mill this year is 80% less, but lets be realistic, There will be no influx of Tourists for the remainder of this year the way things are going.

Jan/Feb/March = normal high season = 20%,

other 9 months = no tourists = 80%

[ThailandRyan]

How do they come up with a figure of 8 million for the year as expected was my question.  If they are at 6 million now where will the other 2 million come from. Surely not from business men, Visa Holders returning to family, and of course as I said they are being very optimistic in my view.

24 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Jan/Feb/March = normal high season = 20%,

other 9 months = no tourists = 80%

 

[ChakaKhan]

Gonna need to give out free Grandpa Visas Soon.....Come back Teeklak....We need you take care--joop joop!

[charmonman]

It will not recover at all in 2021 unless they come up with some sensible rules for letting people back in without quarantines that consume the better part of their trip, or confining them to some island somewhere, or turning themselves into a vassal state of China.

[hotchilli]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand is expected to see at most 8 million foreign tourists this year, down 80% from a year earlier, as the coronavirus pandemic cuts global travel, a tourism body said on Tuesday.

And for many tourist resorts that are geared up for mass tourism that is a fatal blow, place like Phuket, Samui etc etc are going to be in for rough ride this year... hope the financial backers have deep pockets or many are going to close up shop.

[Jimbo2014]

One thing that living here a long time has taught me, never rule our the Thai economy from performing Houdini like escapes.  Theres still time to form a bubble with the Chinese (who presently dislike all other countries in the bubble other than complacent and obsequious THailand).  Get ready for hoards of Chinese to flood the country again come August, waving flags and grabbing all the prawns at your buffets.    

[AndrewMciver]

They're lucky they got 3 months of peak season in this year to massage the figures. 

[RichardColeman]

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

they have to apply for a Certificate of Entry, not as simple as just jumping on a flight, but still possible nonetheless.

[Caldera]

The year 2020, when a 80% downturn looked like it might be too optimistic.

 

[n00dle]

to plunge?

Plunged more like it.

[DrTuner]

4 hours ago, Jimbo2014 said:

One thing that living here a long time has taught me, never rule our the Thai economy from performing Houdini like escapes.  Theres still time to form a bubble with the Chinese (who presently dislike all other countries in the bubble other than complacent and obsequious THailand).  Get ready for hoards of Chinese to flood the country again come August, waving flags and grabbing all the prawns at your buffets.    

This will also mean every single surviving tourist trap and restaurant will convert to catering for Chinese exclusively. 

 

If that is not a deterrent for westeners, I don't know what is. Welcome to New Wuhan.

[mancub]

I believe, from a previous report, that the "touristic" year  was counted from Sep-Sep, which would encompass much of the high season from 2019. 

[Nice Boyd]

We know no tourists why keto

posting this , Geezus 

[Blumpie]

Well at least people are finally wrapping their heads around the "there will be no tourism this year" scenario.  

In order to get tourism you must 1)  Open.  2)  Have people willing to come for a vacation.  

1 or 2 is not happening.  2 does not count for a few hundred old men coming to find their "lover".  

[elliss]

 

 I have no sympathy for Thailand , it deserves too fail ..

   

[richard_smith237]

11 minutes ago, elliss said:

 

 I have no sympathy for Thailand , it deserves too fail ..

   

A rather odd statement -  You believe the people of Thailand deserve to fail go hungry?

 

What exactly is it that you don’t have any sympathy for? the country itself is a piece of rock, earth and coastline. 

 

 

 

 

 

[elliss]

14 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

A rather odd statement -  You believe the people of Thailand deserve to fail go hungry?

 

What exactly is it that you don’t have any sympathy for? the country itself is a piece of rock, earth and coastline. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Thais voted for this Goverments , so they deserve the consequences ..

 

[Dumbastheycome]

Why  oh  why is there  this imperative  need  to keep announcing the obvious?

Is there an internal competition for a proposed  portfolio  for  "Non Existing  Tourist " Minister?

[Meat Pie 47]

13 minutes ago, elliss said:

 

     Thais voted for this Goverments , so they deserve the consequences ..

 

Not many Thais I know voted for this, what you call government

that government was self elected and all opposing parties banned.

Get your facts right.

[ThailandRyan]

1 hour ago, Blumpie said:

Well at least people are finally wrapping their heads around the "there will be no tourism this year" scenario.  

In order to get tourism you must 1)  Open.  2)  Have people willing to come for a vacation.  

1 or 2 is not happening.  2 does not count for a few hundred old men coming to find their "lover".  

Why so negative with the old man rant?

[Starmocihc]

Well, yeah, the full economic effect has yet to even be realized in Thailand. Unfortunately for the working class, their well being is of little concern. The months leading up to "high season" will emphasize on arrivals paying up at the gate, directly to the coffers.