Tourism chief appeals for patience, but admits things will “never be the same”

[rooster59]

Tourism chief appeals for patience, but admits things will “never be the same”

By The Thaiger

 

 

“The primary source markets would be Northeast Asia and the ASEAN countries, with a customer target of people in good health and high-purchasing power.”

 

Patience is not only a virtue, but a necessity, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Yuthasak Supasorn. The TAT chief is appealing to the Thai tourism industry to be “patient, united, and confident in weathering the current crisis”, which he predicts, under a best-case scenario, will almost certainly be over by 2021 (although he didn’t state ‘when’ in 2021).

 

Yuthasak was speaking to the Thai Hotels Association and said that, although this was the worst of the many crises that Thailand has experienced… “it will be overcome with the same spirit of solidarity and unity like in the past”.

 

He noted that tourism was Thailand’s “largest foreign exchange earner and job-creating industry” and would lead “into a new future that would see creative and innovative solutions being applied to building a more sustainable and resilient industry”.

 

The Governor said he did not want to focus on how much pain the industry had suffered, but rather on how to prepare positively for the time when a vaccine would be found and restrictions on international travel lifted (the “pain” has been significant with an estimated 2.5 million tourism and hospitality-related workers losing their jobs).

 

He speculated that, under a best-case scenario, if there are no more disruptions, TAT projects 20.8 million international visitors next year, about half the record arrivals of 39.8 million arrivals in 2019.

 

The TAT, working with Thailand’s public health department and CSSA, have come up with numerous pilot ‘plans’ to relaunch tourism, giving the industry’s player hope, only to have the plans scuttled in later announcements. The end result is that nearly six months after Thailand’s borders were closed to international tourists, the borders remain largely sealed except for returning Thais and a handful of international visitors and expats that fall into specific categories.

 

“The primary source markets would be Northeast Asia and the ASEAN countries, with a customer target of people in good health and high-purchasing power.”

 

The crisis had created an opportunity to deal with old problems; such as, illegal hotels, tour operators and guides, waste problem and tourist exploitation. “I would like to see these problems disappear along with COVID-19. Let’s rebuild the industry. How can we learn to play a new game? How do we create this new future together?”

 

Citing one positive outcome, he noted that national parks had now set strict limitations on the number of visitors in line with carrying capacity principles. He expressed hope this would remain in place after the Covid-19 crisis recedes.

 

“Another positive outcome is the new focus on improving the quality of hygiene and sanitation.”

 

“The TAT was working overtime to help hotel businesses tap the potential of domestic tourism and maintain an occupancy of at least 30%, not so much to enhance business profitability, but rather to help maintain employment levels.”

 

Yuthasak said he had formulated a “3D” strategy for the transition to a new era.

 

• Domestic tourism, which would now get more priority than previously.

 

“It is clear that we have to stimulate and open up more opportunities to help each other, especially to tap the potential of the 12 million Thais who travelled abroad in 2019.”

 

• Digitalisation of business processes would open up many new opportunities to find new customers, improve retention, cut costs, create value and grow revenue. TAT is very active on this front, and had many more projects in store for next year.

 

• Dynamics: the industry as a whole has to create new dynamics and seek a better balance between creating efficiency and managing risk. “We don’t know what kind of crisis will happen next, but we have to be better prepared to deal with it. If there is ever a situation where we have to work from home, we will need a proper instruction manual on how to do it.”

 

The TAT chief says that “nothing will be the same again”, but that TAT is ready to help the industry adapt to new challenges and to support, encourage, motivate, and lead it towards a more promising future.

 

“We are ready to be the wind beneath your wings. I believe we have to come back stronger. Never give up. You are not alone. TAT will help you all overcome the Covid- 19 crisis together.”

 

PHOTO: Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Yuthasak Supasorn

SOURCE: TAT

 

Source: https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/tourism/tourism-chief-appeals-for-patience-but-admits-things-will-never-be-the-same

 

-- © Copyright The Thaiger 2020-09-13

 

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[RotBenz8888]

7 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

with a customer target of people in good health

First "high quality tourists", and now this....

[Grumpy John]

I think I have worn out the word "delusional" when it comes to the government Muppets.  What's the next best word?  ????

[scammed]

i think he is right, westerners will over time decrease,

and newcomers will come, think russians a decade ago,

and now chinese/indians.

im guessing with the spending power he hopes it wont all be

zero baht tours, and in part he is right, i have come across

chinese that werent part of a tour

[Airalee]

Mexico

18 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

“We are ready to be the wind beneath your wings.

Did he read that on some sort of inspirational poster somewhere?

[ChipButty]

I think the locals are running out of patience 

[Matzzon]

28 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

TAT projects 20.8 million international visitors next year

BIG Dreams! Sleepwalking with the calculator again, one would presume. 

[ezzra]

Why is it that all those people in high places find themselves compelled to predict the future and talk rubbish? the Covid didn't change people's preferences as to where to travel, it only stopped it for a while, once a prepare vaccine will be found things will go back to normal, now, when is this going to happen? that question no one can answer not even the biggest and the most revered doctors and professors of the world...

[2 is 1]

28 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

The TAT was working overtime

29 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

TAT is very active on this front, and had many more projects in store for next year.

 

I have to chance shirt! Coffee all over, what coming my mouth!

[herfiehandbag]

Thank you for that, but I think that I will stick with Krungthai Bank's analysis all the same!

[2 is 1]

3 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Why is it that all those people in high places find themselves compelled to predict the future and talk rubbish? the Covid didn't change people's preferences as to where to travel, it only stopped it for a while, once a prepare vaccine will be found things will go back to normal, now, when is this going to happen? that question no one can answer not even the biggest and the most revered doctors and professors of the world...

Yeah human mind forget quikly! Going to forget also all bs what have experience here nowdays! Other hand, like you say nobody really know about vaccine situation and timeline. When it comes(if come) how effective it is and so on...

[Paiman]

27 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

it will be overcome with the same spirit of solidarity and unity like in the past

 

I think he is wrong there.

 

The closing down of hotels & other venues will increase.

 

Easy said , to create a new future together, when reality is that, new - to be implemented government policies make it almost impossible to stay motivated to keep any business going. 

[bodga]

55 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

people in good health

comical

[bodga]

44 minutes ago, Grumpy John said:

I think I have worn out the word "delusional" when it comes to the government Muppets.  What's the next best word?  ????

rhymes with spankers

[colinneil]

55 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

he TAT chief is appealing to the Thai tourism industry to be patient.

 

Patient !! Well at least he has a sense of humour, please be patient,  you are only going to lose your lively hood, but be patient..

[rumak]

59 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

 

“We are ready to be the wind beneath your wings.

oh,  how fast hot air rises........

[Rmac442]

35 minutes ago, Matzzon said:

BIG Dreams! Sleepwalking with the calculator again, one would presume. 

Not just 20 but 20.8 ..wow!!

[rumak]

On  more positive note:    wouldn't it be nice if anyone really had a "plan" that would be carried out even close to what the blah blah blahs say (every day , it seems)  

The one bid "D"  left out is diversity .   Not an easy thing to achieve,  as almost every country in the world has shown.   Talk the talk is one thing.... but walk the walk just never seems to follow.

 

Pristine beaches are ruined within a decade by greed and corruption.  Now who is going to change that ?

Lots of farangs are not really desirable characters,  but many are, and their financial status is not always the determining factor. 

 

With the large number of people involved in all these "schemes",   is a real balance even remotely possible ?   "In with the good,  out with the bad"  sounds like a good idea.   Which generals and ministers will volunteer to go first ?  

 

happy sunday

[jvs]

Only people in good health?

What happened to the special medical visa?You know the one for people who come for medical treatment to Thailand?

I guess Bumrungrad can also close now.

[FarFlungFalang]

18 minutes ago, Rmac442 said:

Not just 20 but 20.8 ..wow!!

 He thinks he .8 denotes he knows what he's talking about and has done the sums but I think it really denotes a foolish attempt to fool the foolish and easily fooled fools fooled by foolishly fooled fools,how foolish is that?

Edited September 13, 2020 by FarFlungFalang

[AussieBob18]

1 hour ago, Grumpy John said:

I think I have worn out the word "delusional" when it comes to the government Muppets.  What's the next best word?  ????

buffoon - clown - dope - moron ??

 

or some Aussie ones:  dipstick - fruit loop - galah - yobbo - bogan

 

or - as useless as an ashtray on a motorbike

 

or - has a kangaroo loose in the top paddock

 

[Enzian]

He's appealing for patience, because as everyone knows, the worse is surely yet to come and neither the general culture nor the government knows exactly what to do about it--tho I will go against the grain and say the government has done a few things that have helped a little here and there. Savings are being spent down and defaults continue to be an issue. 30% occupancy is just another term for Slow Death. Maybe they should at least look to improve the efficiency of small scale and truck farming, so the next time around everyone will be guaranteed enough to eat.

[FarFlungFalang]

11 minutes ago, rumak said:

On  more positive note:    wouldn't it be nice if anyone really had a "plan" that would be carried out even close to what the blah blah blahs say (every day , it seems)  

The one bid "D"  left out is diversity .   Not an easy thing to achieve,  as almost every country in the world has shown.   Talk the talk is one thing.... but walk the walk just never seems to follow.

 

Pristine beaches are ruined within a decade by greed and corruption.  Now who is going to change that ?

Lots of farangs are not really desirable characters,  but many are, and their financial status is not always the determining factor. 

 

With the large number of people involved in all these "schemes",   is a real balance even remotely possible ?   "In with the good,  out with the bad"  sounds like a good idea.   Which generals and ministers will volunteer to go first ?  

 

happy sunday

The only plan that will help the tourism industry is an "Open Plan".The closed for business plan doesn't seem to be working so well for most people.

[tomacht8]

Tourism chief appeals for patience ....
That is easy to say if you regularly get your salary from the state budget.

Say that to the tour guides, taxi drivers, restaurant owners, hoteliers, hotel staff, motorcycle rentals, bar owners, flight lines, minivans and bus drivers, souvenir shop owners, beach vendors, etc.
There is no longer any patience when you lack the money for food and rent and the installments for the car can no longer be paid.

[tonray]

1 hour ago, RotBenz8888 said:

First "high quality tourists", and now this....

First let's throw all the foreigners out before Spetember 27th and then we can offer them 9 months continous stay if they only could run the gauntlet, spend 14 days locked in a hotel room, and wear a mask and be temp checked every 50 meters. Oh yeah...don't forget 90 day reports...can't get too complacent with these foreigners...you never know what they're up to...you know fomenting revolution and campaiging against plastic bags and all that

[tonray]

First things first...if you really want foreigners in the country to spend money..here's a tip. Offer free annual extensions to all current foreigners in country who have not left in the past 6 months and who have tested negative. Then provide them with an array of discounts for travel fare and accomodation, giving greater discounts the more your travel. Suspend 90 day reports and TM30 nonsense. 

[redwood1]

Have not you people heard this is THE NEW NORMAL......

[KhunKenAP]

Glad to see TAT leadership is still on drugs. Please let us know what they are on so we can all be happy.

[yellowboat]

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

Tourism chief appeals for patience, but admits things will “never be the same”

Thailand lots its charm when the tanks rolled in in 2014.  It will be the same: boredom lack of hope courtesy of the pettiness of the army.  

 

Getting cha cha out of office and offer visas that are more in line with Vietnam and Malaysia will make things far better.  

[AgentSmith]

33 minutes ago, rumak said:

Pristine beaches are ruined within a decade by greed and corruption.  Now who is going to change that ?

Yes please tear down everything on Phi Phi and return the island to its former glory. That island is an abomination. They can start by removing that McDonalds and then that ugly ass promenade. Stop those monster ferries from going there and drop the average visitor on a beach in Phuket instead. Phi Phi deserves to be a nature reserve with limited tourism.