Thailand’s Tourism Authority to focus on attracting potential tourists from European countries to Koh Samui after ‘Test&Go’ cancellation

[webfact]

 

By Nop Meechukhun

 

Koh Samui, Surat Thani – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is preparing to attract potential tourists from European countries after the Thai government has relaxed the arrival measures for international tourists in May.

 

More than 30 leading travel agencies in Europe and tourism associations in Koh Samui joined TAT’s “Agent Trade Meet” activity Monday, April 25th, to present and discuss their promotions at several tourist attractions, hotels, and activities, to prepare for and draw more tourists next month.

 

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Thitiporn Maneenet, TAT’s Director for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, said during the event that TAT believed that traveling to Thailand for international tourists would be significantly more convenient after the country would cancel its mandatory RT-PCR testing upon arrival in May for fully vaccinated visitors.

 

Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/04/27/thailands-tourism-authority-to-focus-on-attracting-potential-tourists-from-european-countries-to-koh-samui-after-testgo-cancellation/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-04-27

 

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[RandiRona]

 

7 minutes ago, webfact said:

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is preparing to attract potential tourists from European countries

Back to the future!!!

[mike1967]

Don't bother!!!!

[ezzra]

Overrated destination, pity because there dozen of other place in Thailand that are just as nice if not better with the hard sell, its only shows how much the TAT is tuned to Thailand is all about...

[blazes]

Would we have more than...er... one airline to choose from to get us to Samui?

[cheapcanuck]

I can fly from Bangkok to Surat Thani Airport and take a bus/ferry to Koh Samui for under 1300 baht. Which will take me approximately 3.5 hours. A direct flight from Bangkok to Koh Samui will cost me 3500-5500 baht, depending on season. 

Both flights take around an hour so they are the same distance in air miles.  The only reason for the difference in price is Koh Samui's airport is controlled by one single airline which gouges tourists on ticket prices and does not allow other airlines to use the airport.

Me being a tourist, I have time to burn, so I am happy to trade 3 hours for 2200-4200 baht everytime. It buy me a lot of the 60-80 baht beers I will be drinking the time I'm enjoying my vacation on the island.

[Jack West Jr]

When are these congenital idiots going to realise that they have to abolish Test and Go if they want tourists to come back ? 

And clean up their waste-ridden country : Thailand iis one huge rubbish tip. 

And do something about the packs of aggressive stray mutts everywhere .

And finally tackle road carnage start policing traffic. 

But foremost : clean up the country . A lot of visitors are put off by the filth everywhere .????????

[Tarteso]

What happens to the Indians? ????

[peter zwart]

succes

[jaiyen]

More talk for TAT !  It seems they must get paid by how much rubbish they talk ! Are there any planes flying from other countries into Thailand now ? Not much choice coming from Perth. No Thai Airways. No planes means no tourists.

[Bangkok Barry]

55 minutes ago, cheapcanuck said:

The only reason for the difference in price is Koh Samui's airport is controlled by one single airline which gouges tourists on ticket prices and does not allow other airlines to use the airport.

They built the airport so I guess as a company they have the right to decide who uses it. Having said that, a monopoly is rarely a good thing.

[Millcx]

About time after all the negative rubbish aimed at Europeans … We spend unlike the puppet Chinese and Indian masters 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, RandiRona said:

 

Back to the future!!!

Why does T.A.T have to "target" tourists.

Open the borders and let them come and do what they want.

[RandiRona]

6 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Why does T.A.T have to "target" tourists.

Open the borders and let them come and do what they want.

You are taking away their job from them. They work 194 days in a year. There are 194 countries in the world. A country a day keep TAT busy and in Play!!

[Sydebolle]

Dont forget the special offer for young backpackers - specially theblonde British females - if they are lucky, they qualify for a free oneway trip to Koh Tao's Sairee beach! 

[RandiRona]

1 hour ago, Tarteso said:

What happens to the Indians? ????

There was an Indian and his wife were drowned in 5 feet pool so Indians know where not to go. So it left only innocent Europeans who has dollas to be fleeced!! 

https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2021/06/06/thai-indian-tycoon-and-wife-die-on-ko-tao/

[Tropicalevo]

2 hours ago, blazes said:

Would we have more than...er... one airline to choose from to get us to Samui?

Pre Covid, there were at least six airlines flying to Samui.

Even Thai Airways used to fly to Samui until it decided that it could save money by co-sharing with Bangkok Airways.

Now, there are currently two airlines flying to Samui.

It all depends where you are flying from.

[Troy Tempest]

1 hour ago, cheapcanuck said:

I can fly from Bangkok to Surat Thani Airport and take a bus/ferry to Koh Samui for under 1300 baht. Which will take me approximately 3.5 hours. A direct flight from Bangkok to Koh Samui will cost me 3500-5500 baht, depending on season. 

Both flights take around an hour so they are the same distance in air miles.  The only reason for the difference in price is Koh Samui's airport is controlled by one single airline which gouges tourists on ticket prices and does not allow other airlines to use the airport.

Me being a tourist, I have time to burn, so I am happy to trade 3 hours for 2200-4200 baht everytime. It buy me a lot of the 60-80 baht beers I will be drinking the time I'm enjoying my vacation on the island.

Most tourists fly Long Haul and pay for decent hotels as part of the holiday.

 

The extra cost of flying with Bangkok Airways to Samui is a "Drop in The Ocean".....

 

Or is that "Free" with Malaysian Airways and Lion Air???

[thurien]

4 hours ago, RandiRona said:

 

Back to the future!!!

why not back to the past for T.A.T. and let them do would they can best: Lure in all those rich tourists from China, Russia, India and forget about the rest

[RandiRona]

2 hours ago, blazes said:

Would we have more than...er... one airline to choose from to get us to Samui?

That's why they are targeting Europeans as they are used to having one option to choose from...like European union...Euro...Ryan airways.....

[Tarteso]

28 minutes ago, RandiRona said:

There was an Indian and his wife were drowned in 5 feet pool so Indians know where not to go. So it left only foolish Europeans who has dollas to be fleeced!! 

https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2021/06/06/thai-indian-tycoon-and-wife-die-on-ko-tao/

Except that the deaths were not in Koh Samui but in Koh Tao, that they were not tourists but businessmen and owners of the Resort... and Europeans do not use "Dollas" but the decadent Euro... your reply is correct.

[RandiRona]

2 minutes ago, Tarteso said:

Except that the deaths were not in Koh Samui but in Koh Tao, that they were not tourists but businessmen and owners of the Resort... and Europeans do not use "Dollas" but the decadent Euro... your reply is correct.

Hahaha...that was tongue in cheek...no offence meant.

[MrJ2U]

Have a choice of airlines to compete with the ridiculously high air fares of Bangkok Airways.

 

The place will be packed.

 

Stop monopolies in Thailand for God sake!

[Tropicalevo]

38 minutes ago, RandiRona said:

There was an Indian and his wife were drowned in 5 feet pool so Indians know where not to go. So it left only innocent Europeans who has dollas to be fleeced!! 

https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2021/06/06/thai-indian-tycoon-and-wife-die-on-ko-tao/

 

8 minutes ago, Tarteso said:

Except that the deaths were not in Koh Samui but in Koh Tao, that they were not tourists but businessmen and owners of the Resort... and Europeans do not use "Dollas" but the decadent Euro... your reply is correct.

And the pool was more than 5 feet deep! (It was a practice pool for diving lessons.)

OK RR, you can remove your tongue - no offence taken.

7 minutes ago, RandiRona said:

Hahaha...that was tongue in cheek...no offence meant.

 

[shackleton]

Yes the wife and myself are thinking of going to Koh Samui 

Probably fly down from Bangkok 

See how the place has  changed must 10 years when we last there 

Flew Bangkok Airways one way then a  ferry to Surat Thani 

Overnight coach back  to Bangkok  

[bojo]

I'm not sure it's such a big deal that prices are proportionately more expensive to fly into and out of Koh Samui than other domestic routes in the Kingdom..............as one poster commented, they prefer to use Surat/Nakorn Si plus ferry and make a significant saving flying from BKK and there is also the Resident card that offers a significant 30% discount for residents, business and property owners, 

https://flyerbonus.bangkokair.com/flyerbonus/type-of-membership/414/

 

The island is relatively small and can't handle mass tourism, so there's really no need for bucket airline prices and there's also plenty of ferry, train and bus options offering pretty decent tansport network alternatives that has worked well for decades, not forgetting that travel for many tourists is all part of the fun of the holiday experience,  be it a 1 hour plus flight from BKK or an overnight train from the capital...................................................................

[spidermike007]

The reasonable questions to ask are:

What sacrifices are you willing to make to attract these tourists? Will you lower luxury and wine taxes, for instance?

What have you learned during the shutdown, that you can apply to tourism, and offer a better experience for the tourists?

What issues that were plaguing the industry long before covid have you guys addressed?

Why the insistence on keeping the Thailand pass system? 

Have any of you guys addressed the fact that tourists are the ones taking a chance by coming here, since the curve has not been flattened yet?

[RichardColeman]

For Europeans : 

Yes : Book, Taxi, Check in, fly, collect bags , hotel.

No : Insurance, Thai pass, nonsense arrival hotel desks, testing, everything closed, can't buy a beer, sup string baht

 

 

[Roger Ward]

On 4/9/2022 at 6:38 AM, malibukid said:

clueless idiots, everyday is dangerous in LOS.  no concern about the safety of people.

 

[Tropicalevo]

6 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

For Europeans : 

Yes : Book, Taxi, Check in, fly, collect bags , hotel.

No : Insurance, Thai pass, nonsense arrival hotel desks, testing, everything closed, can't buy a beer, sup string baht

 

 

Ah, but this is a Samui thread.

No problem buying a beer here - everywhere and anywhere.

The magic of Samui  ????