Foreign tourist arrivals in Thailand fall to decade low

By Megha Paul

 

 

Foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) into Thailand plunged to the lowest level in at least 12 years after the country closed its borders to contain the coronavirus outbreak, with resurgence in infections now undermining efforts to reopen the industry.

 

Tourist arrivals slumped to 6.7 million in 2020 from 39.9 million a year earlier, data from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports showed. This is the lowest number of visitors since at least 2008, according to the ministry data. Arrivals in December totalled 6,556, compared with 3.95 million during the same period a year earlier.

 

A new wave of Covid-19 infections and mandatory two-week quarantine are discouraging visitors, threatening a recovery in Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy that’s already devastated by the pandemic hit to its exports and tourism earnings. Even though the country reopened its borders to some visitors in October, only 10,822 tourists arrived in the final quarter, and a return to pre-pandemic levels is likely only in 2024, according to Knight Frank Thailand.

 

Full story: https://www.traveldailymedia.com/foreign-tourist-arrivals-in-thailand-fall-to-decade-low/

 

 

-- © Copyright Travel Daily 2021-02-02

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

5 minutes ago, webfact said:

Foreign tourist arrivals in Thailand fall to decade low

 

It's ok. Foreign tourism makes up only a small 9% of Thai GDP. ????

 

29 minutes ago, webfact said:

Foreign tourist arrivals in Thailand fall to decade low

Think it should read 'Foreign tourist arrivals in Thailand fall to decade 21st century low'

42 minutes ago, webfact said:

Tourist arrivals slumped to 6.7 million in 2020 from 39.9 million a year earlier, data from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports showed. This is the lowest number of visitors since at least 2008, according to the ministry data. Arrivals in December totalled 6,556, compared with 3.95 million during the same period a year earlier.

Wow, who could have seen this coming?  I can't believe that no one is traveling, I mean it is only Covid.  Thai's have found a way to get back in with the borders closed, why not the tourists.  TAT could have a new slogan and base their new plan on "Escape from Ney York".  Just need Snake Pliskin to assist as the Coyote to bring them in and all will be good.

 

6.7 million arrivals arrived prior to the Covid Closures and we all know that Tourism is dead on arrival until Covid goes away.  To continue haring on this Monthly, Daily and weekly is just giving some TAT mouthpiece 5 more minutes to spout off and keep his paycheck.

Like Duh, any more news stating the the very obvious? how about ' today the sun will rise and than set' statement? helloooo, Covid/Corona is everywhere news people....

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Arrivals in December totalled 6,556, compared with 3.95 million during the same period a year earlier.

  

Down 99.8%.  That's the real number.

 

They're coming into 2021 with int'l tourism down by 99.8%.  Unless they do something meaningful, that amounts to about 78,000 for all of 2021. 

 

Probably even fewer, because most of the foreigners with enough motivation to come through ASQ will have arrived by early 2021.  That's the ones with Thai families and/or investments.

 

 

 

I am SO SHOCKED by this revelation. 

 

 

Jet ski tours, Pipat, jet ski tours! Give it a try, you've tried every other hair brained idea! 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

a return to pre-pandemic levels is likely only in 2024, according to Knight Frank Thailand.

Just to be clear, Knight Frank is an Indian-owned real estate company who have learnt how to issue clueless press releases to gain mentions in clueless articles.

It is pretty obvious that Thai tourism will snap back to full capacity for the second half of this year if, as expected, they swap the quarantine and testing requirements for a vaccination requirement.

There is huge pent up demand for escape and, after a year of no going out, many people have vacation money burning a hole in their pockets. They will be able to afford more exotic vacations than usual and Thailand is going to be one of the main beneficiaries.

Most advanced countries should reach general availability of vaccination, for all those who actually want it, by April or May. The current spats are about getting the first few million shots to the most vulnerable, and the EU messed up badly by wasting three months negotiating a few euros discount on each shot (I have no idea what they were thinking).

We are, however, going to see the supply increase significantly as more vaccines come online, including the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccination, and as the production capacity for the already authorized vaccines is ramped up. The US has already vaccinated 32m, China 25m, and the UK 10m. Even less advanced countries, such as France or Russia, have managed to get over a million done. The next few months will be grim but April will be a very different story. Those eager to travel should be easily able to arrange vaccination in time for the summer, and the airlines will eager to reinstate their capacity as that demand emerges.

In short, Thailand will have a record high season this year.

 

1 hour ago, Fex Bluse said:

 

It's ok. Foreign tourism makes up only a small 9% of Thai GDP. ????

 

Thats on paper,how much goes into the black economy? Saps sending their teeracks sponsorship every week,barfines,lady drinks,fees for services rendered etc etc,although untaxed it is still a hell of a lot of money in for ex going ( or was going ) into the thai economy,no wonder the baht is so high with the amount of for ex held.

7 minutes ago, Poet said:

Just to be clear, Knight Frank is an Indian-owned real estate company who have learnt how to issue clueless press releases to gain mentions in clueless articles.

It is pretty obvious that Thai tourism will snap back to full capacity for the second half of this year if, as expected, they swap the quarantine and testing requirements for a vaccination requirement.

There is huge pent up demand for exotic vacations and, after a year of no going out, many people have vacation money burning a hole in their pockets.

Most advanced countries should reach general availability of vaccination, for all those who actually want it, by April or May. The current spats are about getting the first few million shots to the most vulnerable, and the EU messed up badly by wasting three months negotiating a few euros discount on each shot. We are, however, going to see the supply increase significantly as more vaccines come online, and as the production capacity is ramped up.

The US has already vaccinated 32m, China 25m, and the UK 10m. Even less advanced countries, such as France or Russia, have managed to get over a million done. The next few months will be grim but we can already see the path out of this. April will be a very different story.

 

They,re just doing the over 70 s now in the uk,saw a mate he had his saturday and his appointment for his second jab april 12 th so it would appear the advance force will consist of a dads army of mongers.

3 minutes ago, kingdong said:

They,re just doing the over 70 s now in the uk,saw a mate he had his saturday and his appointment for his second jab april 12 th so it would appear the advance force will consist of a dads army of mongers.

Yeah. Those lucky bastards will have at least a few months of enjoying Thailand as relatively empty as it was in the 1970's.

Almost no Chinese. Imagine it!

 

2 minutes ago, Poet said:

Yeah. Those lucky bastards will have at least a few months of enjoying Thailand as relatively empty as it was in the 1970's.

Almost no Chinese. Imagine it!

 

This enforced layoff might be the kick up the khyber a lot of bargirls need,they were getting right lairy before corona.

Just now, kingdong said:

This enforced layoff might be the kick up the khyber a lot of bargirls need,they were getting right lairy before corona.

Sadly, I suspect that attitude shift is irreversible. The Thais lost pretty much all respect they had for Westerners a long time ago. At best, they tolerate us, I would be amazed if that changes.

As I said above, they will soon be back to full capacity tourism and will completely forget about 2020.

 

21 minutes ago, Poet said:

Just to be clear, Knight Frank is an Indian-owned real estate company who have learnt how to issue clueless press releases to gain mentions in clueless articles.

It is pretty obvious that Thai tourism will snap back to full capacity for the second half of this year if, as expected, they swap the quarantine and testing requirements for a vaccination requirement.

There is huge pent up demand for escape and, after a year of no going out, many people have vacation money burning a hole in their pockets. They will be able to afford more exotic vacations than usual and Thailand is going to be one of the main beneficiaries.

Most advanced countries should reach general availability of vaccination, for all those who actually want it, by April or May. The current spats are about getting the first few million shots to the most vulnerable, and the EU messed up badly by wasting three months negotiating a few euros discount on each shot (I have no idea what they were thinking).

We are, however, going to see the supply increase significantly as more vaccines come online, including the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccination, and as the production capacity for the already authorized vaccines is ramped up. The US has already vaccinated 32m, China 25m, and the UK 10m. Even less advanced countries, such as France or Russia, have managed to get over a million done. The next few months will be grim but April will be a very different story. Those eager to travel should be easily able to arrange vaccination in time for the summer, and the airlines will eager to reinstate their capacity as that demand emerges.

In short, Thailand will have a record high season this year.

 

This  rates at about the same as Knight Frank. 

1 minute ago, Artisi said:

This  rates at about the same as Knight Frank.

No idea what you mean. Would you care to elaborate?

39 minutes ago, Poet said:

hose eager to travel should be easily able to arrange vaccination in time for the summer, and the airlines will eager to reinstate their capacity as that demand emerges.

In short, Thailand will have a record high season this year.

With quarantine still a part of the package deal as Thailand will not yet be vaccinated to keep those arriving safe, or....So tell me again how many people can afford to spend 16 days in quarantine in order to enjoy a vacation and then possibly be quarantined upon returning home as the country they would be returning from was considered not safely vaccinated.  Add in the requirements for the Airlines, as of now, to mandate a 72 hour pre-flight Covid negative test to fly back westward.  Any concrete evidence this will not be needed, if not then Tourism as I see it will be on hold until late 2022 at the earliest.

12 minutes ago, Poet said:

Sadly, I suspect that attitude shift is irreversible. The Thais lost pretty much all respect they had for Westerners a long time ago. At best, they tolerate us, I would be amazed if that changes.

As I said above, they will soon be back to full capacity tourism and will completely forget about 2020.

 

The only respect a thai ho has is for a pound note.full capacity tourism returning? I doubt it the depression thats in the post is going to be worldwide,jobs are being lost in the uk at a frightening rate even with the financial fools paradise of " furlough " a lot of visitors under retirement age to pattaya were self employed,the building trade,property market will be next to go for a burton,so all the builders who wouldn,t formerly get up for less than 200 sobs a day are going to get a rude awakening.so let see what occurs,( and by the way i hope i,m 100% wrong on this,was never too good at prophesies but can do simple arithmetic.)

1 minute ago, ThailandRyan said:

So tell me again how many people can afford to spend 16 days in quarantine in order to enjoy a vacation and then possibly be quarantined upon returning home as the country they would be returning from was considered not safely vaccinated.

It was explained, right there, in the same comment you quoted from:
 

Quote

Thai tourism will snap back to full capacity for the second half of this year if, as expected, they swap the quarantine and testing requirements for a vaccination requirement.

Mass tourism is not returning for any country with a quarantine. We are talking about the second half of the year when Thailand will have followed the lead of the Seychelles and other tourism-dependent countries and dropped the quarintine in favor of a vaccination requirement.
 

6 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Add in the requirements for the Airlines, as of now, to mandate a 72 hour pre-flight Covid negative test to fly back westward.  Any concrete evidence this will not be needed

The major airlines have made it clear that, once a sufficient number of people are vaccinated, they will no longer carry any unvaccinated passengers.
 

 

8 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Tourism as I see it will be on hold until late 2022 at the earliest.

Tourism will be back, at full capacity, shortly after vaccines reach general availability in advanced countries in April or May (meaning anyone who wants a vaccine can get one).

A record number of people want to visit Thailand, a record number of people now have the money to do so. The Thai government, under pressure from the Thai elites who own Thailand, are anxious to get their tourism industry rolling again. They are not going to wait any longer than they absolutely have to. By this summer they will have vaccinated their own most vulnerable and will be open for business again, and the population will be satisfied that requiring all visitors to be vaccinated is good enough.

This isn't rocket science. Remember, always in Thailand, Money Number One.

 

14 minutes ago, kingdong said:

full capacity tourism returning? I doubt it the depression thats in the post is going to be worldwide,jobs are being lost in the uk at a frightening rate even with the financial fools paradise of " furlough " a lot of visitors under retirement age to pattaya were self employed,the building trade,property market will be next to go for a burton,so all the builders who wouldn,t formerly get up for less than 200 sobs a day are going to get a rude awakening.so let see what occurs,( and by the way i hope i,m 100% wrong on this,was never too good at prophesies but can do simple arithmetic.)

And, yet, everyone seems to have earned and saved a lot of money over the past year.

I'm not saying that all the money printing is not going to have consequences at some point but we are almost certainly looking at a boom this summer as the broader effects of mass vaccination kick in. At the very least, you are going to see hundreds of millions of couples grabbing the opportunity to jet off for the dream vacation they've been promising themselves to get through these dark times.

I am amazed this is not obvious to everyone. I suspect some people on this forum simply feel that Thailand deserves economic collapse. Unfortunately, reality doesn't care about the chips on their shoulders. Mass vaccination is already happening in every advanced country, people are desperate to travel again, the airlines are raring to go, and it is blindingly obvious that Thailand will be open for business again as soon as they possibly can.

 

1 minute ago, Poet said:

It was explained, right there, in the same comment you quoted from:
 

Mass tourism is not returning for any country with a quarantine. We are talking about the second half of the year when Thailand will have followed the lead of the Seychelles and other tourism-dependent countries and dropped the quarintine in favor of a vaccination requirement.
 

The major airlines have made it clear that, once a sufficient number of people are vaccinated, they will no longer carry any unvaccinated passengers.
 

 

Tourism will be back, at full capacity, shortly after vaccines reach general availability in advanced countries in April or May (meaning anyone who wants a vaccine can get one).

A record number of people want to visit Thailand, a record number of people now have the money to do so. The Thai government, under pressure from the Thai elites who own Thailand, are anxious to get their tourism industry rolling again. They are not going to wait any longer than they absolutely have to. By this summer they will have vaccinated their own most vulnerable and will be open for business again, and the population will be satisfied that requiring all visitors to be vaccinated is good enough.

This isn't rocket science. Remember, always in Thailand, Money Number One.

 

i think you are dreaming, how will the vaccine passports work, no-one knows if the vaccines are effective, then what are the effective against, stopping the spread of the virus or just alleviating the symptoms, and even if some are effective, there are too many brands of vaccine for any country dependant on visitors to know which ones are, and to trust in the  information shown to them, be it a certificate or something else.

 

lots of people in lots of countries are feeling the pinch of the economic downturn, i would think the last thoughts on their minds would be a long distance holiday, if anything it would be a slow increase of travellers, coupled with a slow increase in the number of flights, available, i think some airlines will still fold. air travel will not recover to its previous levels, not for many many years. If at all

3 hours ago, Fex Bluse said:

 

It's ok. Foreign tourism makes up only a small 9% of Thai GDP. ????

 

I don't know where you get 9% from. Pre-Covid net contribution to GDP was 16%.

you guys thinking there will be even 20% of Europe and USA and Australia vaccinated by July 1 are Wrong!  Is USA its only over 70 now and they are slammed and over 70 are waiting to hear when they can get a shot.  Let us hope Biden hits his 100 million by April 6... that is not the 2nd dose. so maybe 50 million People.  No way are people going to start traveling from USA unless they have a SO to travel to... even if quarantine was lifted.... People are going to want to wait and see how much protection the vaccine provides... plus people will be looking at the vaccination rate of the destination country and Thailand will be so far behind and looking like a 3d World country.  I say 100k tourists tops in 2021.

They are saying after the over 70 are finished they will just open it up to everyone so  how good will I be to grab a slot?  will they be reserving a 2nd dose for me or will it be like now where they sacrifice 2nd doses at the suggested interval so the numbers look better? rrtdinin8

 

Currently there is no way  I will visit my Fiancée unless I get the vaccine because it could quickly become needed for travel at a few days notice.  

29 minutes ago, Poet said:

And, yet, everyone seems to have earned and saved a lot of money over the past year.

I'm not saying that all the money printing is not going to have consequences at some point but we are almost certainly looking at a boom this summer as the broader effects of mass vaccination kick in. At the very least, you are going to see hundreds of millions of couples grabbing the opportunity to jet off for the dream vacation they've been promising themselves to get through these dark times.

I am amazed this is not obvious to everyone. I suspect some people on this forum simply feel that Thailand deserves economic collapse. Unfortunately, reality doesn't care about the chips on their shoulders. Mass vaccination is already happening in every advanced country, people are desperate to travel again, the airlines are raring to go, and it is blindingly obvious that Thailand will be open for business again as soon as they possibly can.

 

You must work in the tourism industry.  My sister in the US works for a major tourism company with contracts in Europe and Asia.  She says very few have the time and coin to go on a long extended vacation and many are looking for those 2 week trips closer to home. Many are very tight on income, at least in the US.

2 minutes ago, steve187 said:

how will the vaccine passports work

That is surely a matter for the dozens of major corporations, including IBM, who are currently creating them. All we need to know is that we will have a way, confirmable online, to verify that we have been vaccinated.

 

4 minutes ago, steve187 said:

no-one knows if the vaccines are effective, then what are the effective against, stopping the spread of the virus or just alleviating the symptoms

Members of this forum keep bringing these points as if they matter. All the governments of the world are waiting for is a credible narrative for returning to normal economic activity. There is zero question of continuing on as we have been. The vaccines were always going to be their escape hatch, even if the effectiveness had been 50%. We just happen to have been lucky that they are generally around 90%.

Technically, all the governments need is sufficient immunity to slow down the R0 and to protect enough to the most vulnerable to take the sting out of the news reports.

The reason why we don't yet officially know if the vaccine will also slow down transmission is because that was not the focus of the testing phases required to receive authorization. Practically every medical expert involved agrees that it is almost certain that transmission will be reduced. The closest thing we have to post-vaccinations studies, the early results from Israel's closely monitored programme, suggest that yes, transmission is massively reduced.

All the members running around this forum, chanting the mantra that the vaccinated can still be spreaders, have no grasp of the biological mechanisms of transmission.
 

 

15 minutes ago, steve187 said:

there are too many brands of vaccine for any country dependant on visitors to know which ones are, and to trust in the  information shown to them, be it a certificate or something else

All the vaccines will be accepted as "good enough" because what is the alternative? If you want Chinese or Russian tourists, you must accepts the legitimacy of Chinese and Russian vaccines.

Whatever certification system is adopted will be trusted in the same way that passportare. Checking each cert online will be as simple as scanning a barcode.

 

 

21 minutes ago, steve187 said:

lots of people in lots of countries are feeling the pinch of the economic downturn, i would think the last thoughts on their minds would be a long distance holiday, if anything it would be a slow increase of travellers, coupled with a slow increase in the number of flights, available, i think some airlines will still fold. air travel will not recover to its previous levels, not for many many years. If at all

No, that simply does not reflect reality. Every couple I know has socked away the money for a decent vaccination, mainly as a shared dream to prevent their marriages falling apart during the lockdown. The mental toll of 2020 was huge and travel, as soon as possible, is a priority for most people.

People have money. Most people have continued earning while spending very little. Online businesses have boomed. Property price, stocks, and crypto have all done well. The parts of society that have been adversely affected, such as low-skilled workers with few assets, do not travel much anyway.

 

1 minute ago, Poet said:

 The parts of society that have been adversely affected, such as low-skilled workers with few assets, do not travel much anyway.

 

Wow, so only those with money travel.  I think you need a reality check.  Many folks travel using credit, return to work afterwards, pay off the debt over time and then go again. Rinse and repeat.

1 minute ago, ThailandRyan said:

You must work in the tourism industry.

Did you mean "You must not work in the tourism industry"?
 

2 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

My sister in the US works for a major tourism company with contracts in Europe and Asia.  She says very few have the time and coin to go on a long extended vacation and many are looking for those 2 week trips closer to home. Many are very tight on income, at least in the US.

Bear in mind, I am talking about the summer onwards. I am extrapolating forward to the point at which Thailand has vaccinated its most vulnerable and the advanced countries have reached the point of general availability, when anyone who wants to get vaccinated can. You may have to pay but it will be available.

Your sister is wrong. People have more "coin" because the governments have been printing money like crazy. There is plenty of money about. It may not be evenly distributed but a significant portion of society have more money now than they did before 2020.

Thailand will also want to make money. With their own most vulnerable protected, there is no reason for them not to accept as many vaccinated visitors as they can get.

 

30 minutes ago, condobrit001 said:

I don't know where you get 9% from. Pre-Covid net contribution to GDP was 16%.

 

He was being sarcastic.

 

The Thais, especially at the start of the pandemic quoted tourism at 9%, which we all know is ridiculous.

 

Now, any tourism article is quoting 20%...and flow on tourism would have GDP much higher.

 

The trip to downplay the risk and damage to Thailand's GDP...but the reality has hit them square in the head.

2 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Wow, so only those with money travel.  I think you need a reality check.  Many folks travel using credit, return to work afterwards, pay off the debt over time and then go again. Rinse and repeat.

Well, you are now arguing against your previous premise, that people do not have enough "coin" to travel.

I don't think we have an actual disagreement here, just a miscommunication. We agree that there is a desire to travel. We agree that people find a way to take a vacation when they feel they really need it, even if that means taking on some debt. We probably agree that the past year has made most people feel trapped and down.

An expensive 15-night quarantine, along with risk of catching covid, was obviously a deal-breaker for many. The vaccine will remove both those barriers. We can see the number of potential vaccinated travellers increasing by the millions every day. The airlines are desperate to get their expensive planes back in the air. By summer they will once again be flying full planes along most of the routes they have currently suspended. Once you have hundreds of millions of vaccinated people, most of whom are eager to vacation, you once again have mass tourism.

 

A post critical of grammar has been reported and removed.