Incoming tourism growth slows amid visas, airfares and attacks on Chinese nationals which have caused jitters

[webfact]

Figures just released to April 18th show the kingdom on course to achieve 24 million foreign visitors in 2023 with a marked deceleration in growth in April. There is hope that with more flight slots that faster growth and the recovery of the foreign tourism industry will pick up again in the second half of 2023.

 

by Carla Boonkong & Pranee O' Connor

Fitch Ratings already downgraded projected GDP growth for Thailand to 3% this year due to a sharp contraction in exports but even this was dependent on the country welcoming 27 million tourists this year. Based on the latest figures to April 18th, the final tally is now likely to be something like 24 million although there is hope with more flights coming on stream in the months ahead.

Thailand is struggling to achieve the foreign tourism numbers targeted by the government and economic planners this year according to the latest arrival numbers up to mid-April. The figures, although on course for a three-year high in April 2023 for Chinese visitors and showing a marked recovery in foreign tourism, appear to indicate that growth is slowing from the key market with tourist industry leaders blaming higher airfares and a complicated visa process for the lower than expected growth in numbers. There is also a nagging concern about an ongoing social media campaign in China and reports spreading in that country about the potential danger posed to Chinese tourists in Thailand.

 

Foreign tourist arrival growth from China appears to have slowed in April with only 177,758 visitors recorded from the Communist Country in the first 18 days of April despite a rise in flights being made available.

 

Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2023/04/24/incoming-tourism-growth-slows-in-april-fears-chinese-market-attacks/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2023-04-25

 

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[harleyclarkey]

What a surprise... not. The Chinese are a fickle lot at the best of times. 

Delighted to think that TAT must be shaking in their flip flops. 

But no doubt they are working overtime to fiddle the figures. 

[madmitch]

After the pandemic have they forgotten the annual event known as low season?

[ezzra]

Blowing numbers and figures into a hot air, there are several agencies who profess to know how to tell the future buy some odd calculation methods using components of information they get from here there and everywhere, i never put stock to any of their ' declarations'.

[spidermike007]

Yeah. We have so many things to blame the decimation of the tourism industry on. And the lack of a recovery. 

 

Now, with some of the worst air on the planet, maybe word is getting around? Maybe selling out to Big Agra was not such a great idea? Maybe not holding the pathological (the very definition of behaving in such a way that destroys lives, to make a bit of cash) rice and sugar farmers to account is not good for tourism and the nation? 

[Millcx]

Oh Cmon .. Is it any wonder … A month of more tourist and the hands of greed claws at the fabric of Tourism .. They have no understanding that to rein in the greed will multiply income in more ways than one … But the continuation of price increases and double price listing will drag it down

[Captor]

Who want to visit a country with children with that heavy air pollution? Western news have start to write about it now. It has also been in TV.

[nigelforbes]

We're now in Low Season, so what else is new, the same thing happens every year!

 

 

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The figures, although on course for a three-year high in April 2023 for Chinese visitors and showing a marked recovery in foreign tourism, appear to indicate that growth is slowing from the key market with tourist industry leaders blaming higher airfares and a complicated visa process for the lower than expected growth in numbers. There is also a nagging concern about an ongoing social media campaign in China and reports spreading in that country about the potential danger posed to Chinese tourists in Thailand

No surprises there.

[DjSilver]

Great news, more people needs to stop going to Thailand. It needs to be less than Thailand had during 2020 and 2021. We need to send a strong signal to the Thais, that we will not be scammed any more.

[Dukeleto]

I for one am amazed that anyone came at all considering the air-piracy being employed by airlines and the limited amount of flights. They are making everyone pay for their “losses” after taking in all the covid payouts. It’s a wonder anyone is bothering getting on a flight…I certainly am not until they return to normal.

[Hanuman2547]

Not really surprised that April is a lower month for international arrivals from all countries.  Guess what, May just might be a low month for international arrivals as well.  However, it's not all doom and gloom.  I predict that in November and December there will be an uptick in international arrivals.  

[nigelforbes]

It will be interesting to see how government handles the Chinese aspect. There has been a lot of well publicised crackdowns on illegal visa's and business ownership, mostly targeting the Chinese. Maybe TAT is not happy with the impact on tourist numbers that resulted but I'm  sure many are happy with the crackdowns. The one thing is the inevitable price that must be paid for the other, more tourists means higher rates of crime by foreigners, do they want the one thing more than they don't want the other. 

[steven100]

Don't come to Thailand '   stay in Wuhan and keep your Covid in your a__.  

You destroyed millions and millions of peoples lives worldwide through your Covid virus.  Perish would be best.

[RandiRona]

Add all those "Show your documents" and we will test your pee raids in Pattaya and there you have the perfect storm. Tourist dont want to be hounded by dirty cops....

[Zack61]

1 hour ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

elite visas and fruit baskets???   coupon for shrimp buffet?..free mama cup upon arrival??

Not to forget Sticky Rice and Mango

[Skeptic7]

Awww such a shame...NOT❗This place deserves every bit of bad it gets and only has itself to blame. Actually deserves much more than it gets, but still somehow skating by...riding the long gone reputation of yesteryears. Badly tarnished now and in dire need of a spit shine. Toxic air, hazardous death trap drivers and driving conditions, scams, regular coups, endless junta government, tourist area raids, overpricing, dual pricing and gouging, ludicrous alcohol hours...and the ???? list goes on and on. 

Som nam na. 

[jacko45k]

31 minutes ago, Dukeleto said:

I for one am amazed that anyone came at all considering the air-piracy being employed by airlines and the limited amount of flights. They are making everyone pay for their “losses” after taking in all the covid payouts. It’s a wonder anyone is bothering getting on a flight…I certainly am not until they return to normal.

And in a single swoop, Thailand achieves it's aim of only high value tourists. Well not really... they will get Indians and Chinese to come, and I doubt their flights will be too expensive. 

[bob smith]

i personally cant wait till september rolls around and it's quiet again.

 

im sick to the back teeth of the russians and chinese.

 

they have no manners whatsoever. 

[sikishrory]

That's so disappointing. I was looking forward to the roads being clogged up with buses and hordes of loud screaming Chinese tourists pushing and shoving everywhere.

Hope you sort it out guys.

[Geoffggi]

Perhaps try making it easier for tourists to come & stop all the witch hunts for the minority who are not here legally !!!

 

[thaibeachlovers]

Any downturn is great news IMO. Might save a few places from the fate of Maya Bay.

Last time I visited the White Temple the horde of tourists was horrible. I didn't bother staying it was so bad.

 

Can we at least hope for tourists that don't destroy the environment by sheer weight of numbers?

[itsari]

I believe that there was a surge in tourists after the three years of covid travel restrictions were lifted . 

Not forgeting the help from the surge in Russians avoiding the call up .

From now on with high airfares , bad air and dodgy policeman Thailand will struggle to have the number of tourists to match precovid .

[ChipButty]

1 hour ago, nigelforbes said:

We're now in Low Season, so what else is new, the same thing happens every year!

 

 

It didnt last year low season was good, Best ever 

[quake]

Raiding night clubs, and forcing foreigners to pee it a bottle for drug testing.

Sure makes foreigners,  feel welcome.

Thailand -4.0

[atpeace]

29 minutes ago, Skeptic7 said:

Awww such a shame...NOT❗This place deserves every bit of bad it gets and only has itself to blame. Actually deserves much more than it gets, but still somehow skating by...riding the long gone reputation of yesteryears. Badly tarnished now and in dire need of a spit shine. Toxic air, hazardous death trap drivers and driving conditions, scams, regular coups, endless junta government, tourist area raids, overpricing, dual pricing and gouging, ludicrous alcohol hours...and the ???? list goes on and on. 

Som nam na. 

In this yesteryear you mentioned there wasn't "Toxic air, hazardous death trap drivers and driving conditions, scams, regular coups, endless junta government, tourist area raids, overpricing, dual pricing and gouging, ludicrous alcohol hours".  

 

IMO most the above conditions have improved and some drastically but I do miss the pre 2000's.  The country was an adventure and now it is starting to resemble the west more and more.  Tourism now, even its reduced level, is bringing multiples of what it did 20 years ago.  No going back but sure wish it was an option.

[mikebell]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

blaming higher airfares and a complicated visa process

And murderous roads and TWO million people hospitalised by carcinogenic air and packs of wild dogs spreading excrement on every soi and no police force.

[RichardColeman]

The people that were locked up due to covid and wanting to get away to Thailand no matter the cost  have now come and gone - now it will just be those that have the money and do not read about the air, the roads, the beaches and the trans 'its' dancing nude on the beach 

 

 

[brucegoniners]

"Tourism dips"?

 

I'm not so sure.

 

In Pattaya it isn't dipping at all. It's supposedly low season and traffic is crazy. A 6 minute drive to the beach takes 25.

[chrisbangkok]

46 minutes ago, Skeptic7 said:

Awww such a shame...NOT❗This place deserves every bit of bad it gets and only has itself to blame. Actually deserves much more than it gets, but still somehow skating by...riding the long gone reputation of yesteryears. Badly tarnished now and in dire need of a spit shine. Toxic air, hazardous death trap drivers and driving conditions, scams, regular coups, endless junta government, tourist area raids, overpricing, dual pricing and gouging, ludicrous alcohol hours...and the ???? list goes on and on. 

Som nam na. 

Enjoying life there I guess then ?