Thailand turns to Russia as foreign tourist revenue is projected to be only 21% of 2019 record figures

[webfact]

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Director-general Yuthasak Supasorn (left) told a seminar on Tuesday that the kingdom may reach 50% of the flight connectivity it enjoyed before the pandemic in the last months of 2022

 

by James Morris and Son Nguyen

 

Plans to fly in Russian tourists via charter flights come as European countries have begun to block citizens of the Russian Federation due to the country’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine which has so far caused the death of 5,827 Ukrainian citizens since the war began on February 24th up to September 11th. This week, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) told reporters that, in the coming months, airline connectivity between Thailand and the rest of the world will be at 50% of that seen in 2019 as figures reveal a sharp fall off in long haul flights and spending per capita. 

Thailand is likely to end the year with just over a fifth of foreign tourism revenue seen in 2019 despite reaching over 10 million visitors due to lower spending tourists. It comes as the kingdom’s tourist chiefs focus on improving flight connectivity to the country which has caused the loss of long-haul visitors from western countries this year with high fares putting off potential travellers. The kingdom is expected to welcome 6 million visitors by the end of this month with plans during the winter months to welcome regular charter flights from Russia.

 

Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn on Tuesday appeared to throw in the towel on this year’s tourism season when the government forecast somewhere between ฿430 billion to ฿440 billion in foreign tourism earnings for 2022 despite the country being on target to welcome over 10 million visitors by the end of the year.

 

This is only 21% of the level the kingdom saw in 2019 and suggests that it will take some time for the industry to make a full recovery.

 

Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2022/09/20/thailand-tat-seeks-russian-tourists-as-income-drops/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2022-09-21

 

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[soi3eddie]

Desperate statements from TAT and Ministry of Tourism and Sports to save face. Visitor numbers will remain down due to high airfares and once in Thailand they will likely spend less. There will be the best high season since 2019 but nothing like it once was. Globally people are suffering from huge increases in the cost of living. 

 

[KIngsofisaan]

Anything for the almighty baht!

[blazes]

So Eva Air will be bringing the Russians in via Taipei?  Did Xi Xi suggest to Vlad that this would be an excellent way to irritate the Taiwanese?

[Fairynuff]

Thailand, this isn’t a great look for you, but I doubt anyone is surprised.

[Gknrd]

And I will be spending my money elsewhere!   From LOS's to POS's Thailand

Edited September 20, 2022 by Gknrd

[Martyjustice]

No honor. No shame. Thainess at its best. 

[terryofcrete]

If Putin decides to conscript no male between 18 and 65 will be allowed to travel outside Russia. 

[RichardColeman]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

caused the death of 5,827 Ukrainian citizens since the war began on February 24th

Yes, Thailand shame on you importing this nations tourists. Elite showing their true faces again to the world.  Still I guess they look at it as 'its only a 5th of our road deaths, so whats the problem ? ' 

[RandiRona]

May I suggest adding 3000 baht of tourist tax to overcome this shortfall? Desperate, old and pissy chasers Falangs will still come.... common a little more push and you can still make your numbers...logic and morality has never stopped you before so why stop now. 

[Swampy999]

Showing their true colours, money number one.

[KhaoYai]

Have they no shame?

[2baht]

2 hours ago, KIngsofisaan said:

Anything for the almighty baht!

Lord Baht please, have respect for their religion!

 

 

Edited September 20, 2022 by 2baht

[wombat]

11 minutes ago, KhaoYai said:

Have they no shame?

Shame over what?

Business is business....when has something as insignificant as another war on the planet got in the way of business?

According to the Council on Foreign Relations's Global Conflict Tracker, there are currently 27 ongoing conflicts worldwide.1 Apr 2022

Edited September 20, 2022 by wombat

[Nigeone]

10 minutes ago, KhaoYai said:

Have they no shame?

Clearly not . But sadly is anone suprised by this. I'm not as the only thing that matters to them is money. If word gets out about this any that might come in from Russia will be negated by others not coming because of them bending over for the Russians. Disgraceful decision.  

Edited September 20, 2022 by Nigeone

[heybruce]

I wonder how many of these Russian tourists will find a way to never return to Russia.

 

Minutes after posting the above I came across this:  https://www.yahoo.com/news/russians-google-leave-country-while-193742609.html

Edited September 20, 2022 by heybruce

[Bkk Brian]

ooops from 2 weeks ago

 

Any hopes of a Russian tourism revival in Phuket are dashed

 

Don’t count on Russian tourists saving Phuket’s fragile tourism recovery any time soon, in fact it’s going to become increasingly difficult for Russians to travel as the war-related economic sanctions continue to bite and the battles in Ukraine drag on.

 

But it’s not just Phuket. Tourism destinations globally are seeing a significant drop in Russian tourists as the Russians end up staying at home with possible long-term effects on international tourism.

 

Part of the problem is the Russian fleet of planes are now suffering from lack of maintenance and parts – an effect of the ongoing sanctions.

 

https://phuket-go.com/phuket-news/featured/any-hopes-of-a-russian-tourism-revival-in-phuket-are-dashed/

Edited September 20, 2022 by Bkk Brian

[Robert Tyrrell]

Good Morning,

 

AN ABSOLUTE SHAME THAILAND !!
 

meanwhile people are being oppressed and killed and tortured in Ukraine and your supporting Russia inviting tourist.

not to mention chartering planes to circumvent what the major airlines are NOT !! DOING !! SHAMEFUL !! 

it’s very true what they say it’s all about Baht !! SAD !!  

[Robert Tyrrell]

12 minutes ago, wombat said:

Shame over what?

Business is business....when has something as insignificant as another war on the planet got in the way of business?

According to the Council on Foreign Relations's Global Conflict Tracker, there are currently 27 ongoing conflicts worldwide.1 Apr 2022

Tell me it’s business as usual when your family and friends are being tortured and killed, Oh well that’s business !! PATHETIC !!  

[Kenny Boy]

Utterly shameless

[Hamus Yaigh]

TAT deserves this to turn and bite them where it hurts. Shameful. Russians should stay in Russia until they learn how to behave.

 

[stoner]

15 minutes ago, Robert Tyrrell said:

Tell me it’s business as usual when your family and friends are being tortured and killed, Oh well that’s business !! PATHETIC !!  

the wholier than tho western attitude is pathetic. willing to bet your own nation is as guilty if not more of the same things. 

 

but keep barking on dont let me stop you. 

[Iamfalang]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Plans to fly in Russian tourists via charter flights come as European countries have begun to block citizens of the Russian Federation

Once you choose sides, the world will never forget.

 

Italy and Germany..................oh, you might try to change again.........you made your bed, and now you will have to sleep in it.

 

how easy it would be for Europe to simply block LOS.......it's not like they need LOS

[lujanit]

Where are all the trillionaire Indians and Arabs who were going to save the tourist industry?  Oh more hot air out of TAT.

 

Inviting Russians here on charter flights is as low as TAT can go.  They have no human compassion.  Maybe the Thai government should send support to the Ukraine instead of supporting that ratbag dictator Putin.  Of course the 3Ps wouldn't want to upset Xi.

[Muhendis]

Please don't do this.

Once there are enough Russians here, they will hold a referendum to become part of Russia.

[spidermike007]

They are just starting to come to terms with the devastation caused by the Prayuth Decimation. 

 

You don't just open up after 27 months, and the world pours in. And the goons still don't realize and haven't acknowledged that Thailand needs tourism 50X more than tourists need Thailand. 

Predicting a post Covid economy for a nation that was hugely dependent on a grossly sabotaged tourism, nightlife, and sex industry, is likely to have the same accuracy level of guessing the winning numbers for the  upcoming mega millions in the US, when it tops $100 million. 

 

I truly believe, that 20 or 30 years from now, in tourism industry, business and sociology classes, at the uni level, there will be tours of these hollowed out shells, of huge hotels that were built, and could neither find guests to stay, nor even a market for condo conversions, and ended up abandoned, after buyers could not be found, or owners refused to accept 20% of the land and construction costs, as a sales price. 

 

That is where I see the future of Thai tourism. 

 

 

 

[ezzra]

1 hour ago, Martyjustice said:

No honor. No shame. Thainess at its best. 

What honor and what shame? i don't think that those words mean anything when the telly up the yearly tourists numbers and the income derived from them, that's what matter the most...

[vandeventer]

1 hour ago, Fairynuff said:

Thailand, this isn’t a great look for you, but I doubt anyone is surprised.

I wonder how many tourist will be coming in from the Ukraine? Being neutral may back fire in our faces.

[cheapcanuck]

Thailand has no shame. 

[Henryford]

If it was Thais being tortured and murdered would they be so welcoming, probably yes.