Agoda says Thailand needs better attractions in the post-Covid travel world

[snoop1130]

 

“Thailand ranked among the top three choices for travellers from 98 different countries, and it claimed the number one spot for visitors from 39 countries.”

 

During a media briefing on Thursday, Agoda CEO Omri Morgenshtern emphasised the need for Thailand to expand its offerings beyond just vacations and parties in order to elevate the country’s tourism industry to new heights. He provided an overview of the Asia Pacific tourism industry for the first five months of the year, drawing insights from data obtained through Agoda’s extensive online booking platform.

 

Agoda started in Singapore and Phuket in 2005 and is now one of the world’s largest OTA (Online Travel Agents).

 

The data unveiled a remarkable recovery and growth across cities and countries in the region, surpassing pre-pandemic levels seen in 2019. Based on Agoda’s data, Japan emerged as the most popular destination, followed by Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and then South Korea.

 

By Peter Roche

Caption: Phuket Andamanda Water Theme Park

 

Full Story: https://phuket-go.com/phuket-news/phuket-travel/agoda-says-thailand-needs-better-attractions-in-the-post-covid-travel-world/

 

-- © Copyright Phuket GO 2023-06-19

 

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[ThailandRyan]

Can not wait to see what Thailand comes up with to appease the Agoda wishes.

[ikke1959]

Thailand never had to do anything to atrack tourists, but with a post coup government they have broken down down the whole sector, and that was not only because of Covid.. Now they have to invent new things to get tourists back...Maybe a start to be more foreign friendly, instead of for example create a group police officers to chase foreigners. 

[KhunLA]

They needed better attractions before covid, though TBH, haven't a clue what they would be.

 

I was attracted to the 3rd world with modern things vibe.  Still enjoy the older quaint areas.   The Asian flare part of it, was interesting, as not really exposed to in the USA, since wasn't a big fan of big metro's 'ChinaTowns'.  

 

Only time I actually travelled for attractions, was museums, a few in USA, & Amsterdam.  My travels interests were always nature, and water sports.

 

For TH now, it's not so much giving tourist a reason to come here, but to not give them a reason to avoid.

 

They really need to address the pollution; air, sewer/seas, and trashed everywhere.

 

It boggles my mine, people come here at all during high/burn season, unless going south, and getting worse down there.

Edited June 19, 2023 by KhunLA

[spidermike007]

The goons did alot to sabotage the industry. Covid was an excuse for a reset, perhaps. I believe the intention was to destroy the nightlife and entertainment industry. And most likely it was done with a misplaced sense of purity and fake righteousness. 

 

Thailand is nowhere near pre pandemic levels. It could take years. None of the issues plaguing Thailand prior to covid were ever addressed. 

 

And sacrifices need to be made. I do not hear ANY discussion about what sacrifices Thailand is willing to make, to get the tourists, and that multi trillion baht cash cow back.
 

[RandiRona]

I am sure that “ Show me your document” checks and will test your pee pee is definitely instilling new confidence in tourists.

[bkk6060]

They need more Soi 6's throughout the country to attract tourists to non popular areas.

[steven100]

37 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Can not wait to see what Thailand comes up with to appease the Agoda wishes.

most likely more temples and Bobo the gorilla in the supermarket cage

[John Drake]

Segregated beach resorts. Russians only. Chinese only. British only. Germans only. Americans only. Indians only.

[bignok]

Agoda need to fix their website. Deceptive prices given without explanation. Lack of information on room features.

[zzaa09]

Contrary to the popular conditioning and indoctrination - 

Less foreign tourist and residents - a better Thailand. 

[RichardColeman]

12 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Can not wait to see what Thailand comes up with to appease the Agoda wishes.

My money is on wicker basket weaving and flower arranging

[kinyara]

12 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

The goons did alot to sabotage the industry. Covid was an excuse for a reset, perhaps. I believe the intention was to destroy the nightlife and entertainment industry. And most likely it was done with a misplaced sense of purity and fake righteousness. 

 

Thailand is nowhere near pre pandemic levels. It could take years. None of the issues plaguing Thailand prior to covid were ever addressed. 

 

And sacrifices need to be made. I do not hear ANY discussion about what sacrifices Thailand is willing to make, to get the tourists, and that multi trillion baht cash cow back.
 

 " Thailand is nowhere near pre pandemic levels ".  That's not really the case if you look into the actual figures.   April was 73% of April 2019 and the only significant difference causing that shortfall is China. 

 

Top 10 countries for the first 4 months of 2023 compared to average for 2019 :

Russia - 137%

Germany - 101%

Malaysia - 98%

UK - 92%

Vietnam - 89%

Korea - 85%

USA - 82%

Singapore -78%

India - 69%

China - 23%

 

Pretty remarkable recovery in such a short period of time given reduced flight capacity, increased flight cost and world economic headwinds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

During a media briefing on Thursday, Agoda CEO Omri Morgenshtern emphasised the need for Thailand to expand its offerings beyond just vacations and parties in order to elevate the country’s tourism industry to new heights.

Still flogging the old dead horse.

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Can not wait to see what Thailand comes up with to appease the Agoda wishes.

The new arrival levy was supposed to help elevate the tourism infrastructure...

I guess the extortionate entrance fee at parks has been mis-appropriated.

[daveAustin]

11 hours ago, bignok said:

Agoda need to fix their website. Deceptive prices given without explanation. Lack of information on room features.

Yes you always get the add on and their cust service is crap. Booking.com (same owners?) is often better or going direct. 

[jacko45k]

13 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Can not wait to see what Thailand comes up with to appease the Agoda wishes.

It will be another parade and a market selling plastic crxp!

[Misty]

There certainly are areas that Thailand has a competitive advantage in, and could strengthen and make more tourist friendly.

 

Ex: more international standard training courses - ex: motorcycle, muay thai, Thai language, Thai cooking, hospitality, herb and flower farming

 

Reinvest in some of the museums. The Thailand national museum in Bangkok is amazing. Although tours are offered in a few foreign languages they are limited and conducted by volunteers.  Expand and promote this type of program, charge ticket prices and pay the volunteers. Offer evening programs and transportation options to avoid taxi scams.

 

 

 

[newnative]

    I found the article to be just chock full of extremely useful insights, such as this one from the CEO:

 

 'Ultimately, he emphasised the significance of increasing the number of visitors, as a higher influx of tourists directly correlates with a more positive impact on the country’s revenue.'

 

    Wow, just wow.  More visitors will increase the country's revenue.   That's deep.  Who would have thought it?  Let me get that gem tattooed on my arm so I won't forget it.  Meanwhile, Thailand managed to attract 39 million visitors in 2019, who thought Thailand had plenty of attractions to entice them to visit.  As Kinyara has pointed out, in April we were around 73% of 2019 numbers, with some nationalities even at higher numbers than 2019 at this point in the year. The only nationality not yet recovering at this point is Chinese visitors.  Likely that will change at some point.

    I feel Thailand has attractions galore.   If it could attract a Disney World that certainly wouldn't hurt but Thailand's tourist numbers were growing every year, pre-covid, without it.  What I feel is needed more than new attractions is more emphasis on infrastructure maintenance and improvement, coupled with a truly serious--for once--all-out, no expense barred, full-throttle effort to reduce pollution.  The world-wide, extremely negative stories regarding Chiang Mai's pollution being the worst in the world had a much more negative impact on tourism than the number of attractions on offer.  

Edited June 20, 2023 by newnative
correction

[mikebell]

14 hours ago, KhunLA said:

They really need to address the pollution; air, sewer/seas, and trashed everywhere.

Why would tourists pay rip-off airfares for the above?  And no mention of wild dogs and bent cops! Or road traffic deaths!  Or racist dual pricing!

[bignok]

2 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Yes you always get the add on and their cust service is crap. Booking.com (same owners?) is often better or going direct. 

Same owners, just as deceptive.

[djayz]

Some more cultural events would be a welcomed change to the endless temples, street markets, street food, beaches, elephant rides, etc. constantly advertised as the "amazing Thailand".

[lordgrinz]

Thailand is so dangerous to travel in, that I recommend to people back home not to travel here. Until safety on the roads, sidewalks, and crosswalks is improved, its just not worth the risk for travelers. I would suggest they work on that long before adding any new attractions.

[chalawaan]

Agoda self promotion much?

It's a travel agent website, not the arbiter of ANYTHING.

 

Thailand has many touristic faults, what place doesn't?

 

But what Thailand does as a destination, in spite of the supposedly expert goons in Bangkok coming up with ideas like Durian KitKat and overpriced alcohol imports, it does incredibly well.

 

It doesn't need more or new "attractions".

 

It desperately needs more and new and enforced safety regulations. 

 

Too many balcony deaths, boat sinkings, bus crashes, club fires, and high wire ride failures. 

 

 

 

[IndomitableSpirit]

14 hours ago, John Drake said:

Segregated beach resorts. Russians only. Chinese only. British only. Germans only. Americans only. Indians only.

And a separate one for all well-behaved/civilized tourists.????

[chalawaan]

1 hour ago, mikebell said:

Why would tourists pay rip-off airfares for the above?  And no mention of wild dogs and bent cops! Or road traffic deaths!  Or racist dual pricing!

But tourists do!

 

Not to argue your very valid points, just  imagine how much more money they could make if they SPENT some money on those issues instead of Billionaire "advisors" such as Tourism Grandee Phipat stupidly and repeatedly announcing how they want quality (money throwing) tourists, and... that's it, that's his solution!

 

Their business plan amounts to some old battleaxe with badly applied makeup hanging around a BTS backstage hoping to be a groupie.

[John Drake]

26 minutes ago, IndomitableSpirit said:

And a separate one for all well-behaved/civilized tourists.????

Pattaya

[bignok]

31 minutes ago, IndomitableSpirit said:

And a separate one for all well-behaved/civilized tourists.????

Go to Nong Khai.

[actonion]

I would like to see the Tourist  numbers  if they were ever to do away with  Full Moon type party's,  and Prostitution ( in bars)..

Edited June 20, 2023 by actonion

[Almer]

With all the reported graft and brown envelopes I don't see the likes of Disney rushing here