Travel industry girds for weak low season amid cost and weather challenges

[webfact]

 

The travel industry is bracing itself for an exceptionally weak low season, with predictions of stagnant demand, escalating operational costs at popular destinations, and the impacts of tropical storms.

 

The president of the Thai Travel Agents Association, Charoen Wangananont highlighted that the season’s sale rate for outbound packages significantly lags behind the comparison period recorded before the pandemic. He cited hesitancy and prudence shown by both individuals and executives, reducing their expenditure on travel.

 

A notable shift has arisen within group travel. Government agencies, historically a key market sector for tour companies, have grown concerned about budget allocation amid political uncertainty, added Charoen. Several agencies have decided to curb overseas trips to dodge potential criticisms of opulent spending.

Despite the downturn, Charoen noted that a select demographic with high purchasing power is maintaining their international travel plans, reflecting an emerging trend in the aftermath of the pandemic.

 

by Alex Morgan

Photo courtesy of huahintoday.com

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/business/uk-travel-industry-girds-for-weak-low-season-amid-cost-and-weather-challenges

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-08-14

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

 

 

[ikke1959]

There is always a reason except that Thailand is destroying its own tourist industry, by outdated laws as alcohol buy/sell hours or days, e-cigarettes, overcharging entrance fees, scamming by taxis and others, tourists chasing by the RTP to fine them ... etc etc... No tropical storms, costs, etc that are the culprits  

[Bim Smith]

At least some honesty. Needlessly Closing the country for two years hasn't helped. They usually smoke something and come up with an over estimated magical number of tourists that will visit. It must be serious 

[malibukid]

part of this can be blamed directly on the airlines who continue to downgrade their customer service and increase their fares.  its just to bloody not worth and stressful to travel these days. unless your Keith Richards of course 

[GobSmacked]

Thai Airways aren't sharing the load in the 'heavy lifting' to fly tourists into and out of the kingdom. For example, they have yet to restart non-stop flights to Perth, Western Australia since the pandemic. Stopping en route in either Singapore or Kuala Lumpur with Singapore or Malaysian Airlines to change terminals and aircraft is aggravating and time-wasting so would-be tourists won't do it. It's easier to fly to Bali, Singapore, or Malaysia non-stop. Thai needs a boot up the backside.

[retarius]

7 minutes ago, malibukid said:

part of this can be blamed directly on the airlines who continue to downgrade their customer service and increase their fares.  its just to bloody not worth and stressful to travel these days. unless your Keith Richards of course 

I don't understand the reference to Keith Richards....sorry, can you explain it?

[retarius]

6 minutes ago, GobSmacked said:

Thai Airways aren't sharing the load in the 'heavy lifting' to fly tourists into and out of the kingdom. For example, they have yet to restart non-stop flights to Perth, Western Australia since the pandemic. Stopping en route in either Singapore or Kuala Lumpur with Singapore or Malaysian Airlines to change terminals and aircraft is aggravating and time-wasting so would-be tourists won't do it. It's easier to fly to Bali, Singapore, or Malaysia non-stop. Thai needs a boot up the backside.

Do you travel to Perth often?

[Mywayboy]

Over opulent spending by Authorities which one are they B S about all of them.

 

[Bangkok Barry]

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

There is always a reason except that Thailand is destroying its own tourist industry, by outdated laws as alcohol buy/sell hours or days, e-cigarettes, overcharging entrance fees, scamming by taxis and others, tourists chasing by the RTP to fine them ... etc etc... No tropical storms, costs, etc that are the culprits  

You have misunderstood what this story is about, probably due to yet another poorly written headline. The entire article and the link is about Thai tourists and Thais reducing outbound trips. So everything you wrote is irrelevant to this thread.

[madmitch]

The article is about outbound tourism. I think the posters so far have only read the headline!

 

Edit apart from Bangkok Barry who posted as I was writing!

[Bangkok Barry]

38 minutes ago, Bim Smith said:

At least some honesty. Needlessly Closing the country for two years hasn't helped. They usually smoke something and come up with an over estimated magical number of tourists that will visit. It must be serious 

This is about outbound tourism and Thais not travelling as much. Nothing to do with visitors.

[Bangkok Barry]

3 minutes ago, madmitch said:

The article is about outbound tourism. I think the posters so far have only read the headline!

 

Edit apart from Bangkok Barry who posted as I was writing!

People too ready to jump on the bash Thailand wagon.

[Nickcage49]

Isn't THIS supposed to be the low season? Sure doesn't look bad to me. Bad to drive in, but lots of tourists, that's for sure.

 

I liked it during covid much better.

[ikke1959]

24 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

You have misunderstood what this story is about, probably due to yet another poorly written headline. The entire article and the link is about Thai tourists and Thais reducing outbound trips. So everything you wrote is irrelevant to this thread.

Than still.... Thai people will run out of money very soon.... too many holidays, nothing about the weather... indeed no because their houses were flooded

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The president of the Thai Travel Agents Association, Charoen Wangananont highlighted that the season’s sale rate for outbound packages significantly lags behind the comparison period recorded before the pandemic.

Perhaps due to the thousands that lost their employment, got sick, had other expenses to consider?

[StayinThailand2much]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The travel industry is bracing itself for an exceptionally weak low season, with predictions of stagnant demand, escalating operational costs at popular destinations, and the impacts of tropical storms.

The typical made-up reasons. With even domestic tourism below expectations, thanks to a stagnating economy and record household debt, how can the average Thai afford spending even more for holidays abroad? -  Probably less about increased costs at destinations, and, most likely, not about tropical storms, as they don't tend to last for entire tourism seasons.

[Dickie Dee]

1 hour ago, retarius said:

I don't understand the reference to Keith Richards....sorry, can you explain it?

He can't mention Michael Jackson, who once had a fleet of Jumbo 747’s. And I don't know if Travolta still flys his right from his front door anymore. 

[Dickie Dee]

46 minutes ago, Nickcage49 said:

Isn't THIS supposed to be the low season? Sure doesn't look bad to me. Bad to drive in, but lots of tourists, that's for sure.

 

I liked it during covid much better.

Great news influenza, RSV, Covid GE5. Leprosy and Polio are back. 

[malibukid]

1 hour ago, retarius said:

I don't understand the reference to Keith Richards....sorry, can you explain it?

private jet

[CygnusX1]

1 hour ago, GobSmacked said:

Thai Airways aren't sharing the load in the 'heavy lifting' to fly tourists into and out of the kingdom. For example, they have yet to restart non-stop flights to Perth, Western Australia since the pandemic. Stopping en route in either Singapore or Kuala Lumpur with Singapore or Malaysian Airlines to change terminals and aircraft is aggravating and time-wasting so would-be tourists won't do it. It's easier to fly to Bali, Singapore, or Malaysia non-stop. Thai needs a boot up the backside.

I’m wondering if that’s the fault of Thai airlines, or another case of the Aust Govt disallowing more flights in order to protect the market share of Qantas. For instance, I know that Qatar Airways is very keen to introduce more flights to Australia, but approval is continually denied to protect Qantas.

[StayinThailand2much]

51 minutes ago, Dickie Dee said:

Great news influenza, RSV, Covid GE5. Leprosy and Polio are back. 

Many Thais will probably keep wearing masks forever...

[Shocked farang]

2 hours ago, malibukid said:

part of this can be blamed directly on the airlines who continue to downgrade their customer service and increase their fares.  its just to bloody not worth and stressful to travel these days. unless your Keith Richards of course 

Keith Richards? I believe he flies in private jets... 

[Shocked farang]

27 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Many Thais will probably keep wearing masks forever...

Well, this was part of Asian culture before the pandemic... I remember well on a flight to Japan seeing a masked person for the first time. Sure it will persist as some people see it as a form of personal protection, personal hygiene. 

[Shocked farang]

1 hour ago, CygnusX1 said:

I’m wondering if that’s the fault of Thai airlines, or another case of the Aust Govt disallowing more flights in order to protect the market share of Qantas. For instance, I know that Qatar Airways is very keen to introduce more flights to Australia, but approval is continually denied to protect Qantas.

Australia is indeed under very weird leadership these days... 

[Shocked farang]

1 hour ago, Dickie Dee said:

He can't mention Michael Jackson, who once had a fleet of Jumbo 747’s. And I don't know if Travolta still flys his right from his front door anymore. 

The only Travolta movie I ever liked was Saturday night fever, the rest are all crap... 

[Shocked farang]

3 hours ago, GobSmacked said:

Thai Airways aren't sharing the load in the 'heavy lifting' to fly tourists into and out of the kingdom. For example, they have yet to restart non-stop flights to Perth, Western Australia since the pandemic. Stopping en route in either Singapore or Kuala Lumpur with Singapore or Malaysian Airlines to change terminals and aircraft is aggravating and time-wasting so would-be tourists won't do it. It's easier to fly to Bali, Singapore, or Malaysia non-stop. Thai needs a boot up the backside.

You only need to see carefully the number of planes, specially A380s parked on Survanabhumi airport when you use the airport 

[mrfill]

5 minutes ago, Shocked farang said:

The only Travolta movie I ever liked was Saturday night fever, the rest are all crap... 

Pulp Fiction is crap?

[Shocked farang]

8 minutes ago, mrfill said:

Pulp Fiction is crap?

You're right, I had forgotten about Pulp fiction, it's a great movie. 

[spidermike007]

Alot of people were hurt by the highly selective shutdowns and the cowardly approach to re-opening. Nothing is the same. 

[PETERTHEEATER]

1 hour ago, Dickie Dee said:

He can't mention Michael Jackson, who once had a fleet of Jumbo 747’s. And I don't know if Travolta still flys his right from his front door anymore. 

Jumbos? I thought he had chimpanzees.