Thailand’s tourism authority plans strategy revamp to boost visitor spending

[webfact]

 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is setting its sights on revamping its strategies to rejuvenate tourist spending, which has experienced a notable decline since the onset of the pandemic. Foreign tourists’ expenditure has dipped from an average of 50,000 baht to 42,000 baht (US$ 1,423 to 1,195).

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin yesterday urged TAT executives and domestic offices to reignite tourism expenditure. He suggested promoting less well-known cities, encouraging spending beyond the high season, curating products that cater to tourists’ demands, and smoothing the connection between different destinations.

 

Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol revealed plans to discuss strategies with TAT to extend the duration of stay for Thai as well as international tourists. This will be achieved by offering combined tourism products that span more than one destination. The minister emphasised that TAT should persuade cross-border tourists to extend their stay beyond a single day.

This approach should also be implemented for domestic travellers across all provinces. This is primarily because local visitors are boosting tourism spending in second-tier cities, according to Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, reported Bangkok Post.

In 2019, foreign tourists spent roughly 5,100 baht (US$ 145) per day, equating to around 50,000 baht (US$ 1,423) per trip.

 

Before the pandemic, the average growth of spending per person was increasing at a rate of 2.5 to 5% per year. However, this year witnessed a shrink in average spending due to an increase in short-haul tourists from Southeast Asia, who typically have shorter stays than other markets. Additionally, the Chinese market did not perform as anticipated.

 

by Alex Morgan

Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-12-14

 

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[jacko45k]

Refund the 220 baht ATM surcharge and let them spend that!

[mikebell]

Make retiring to Thailand easier for expats and they will increase visits from friends and family.  Give them fresh air; reduce the suffering of feral dog packs; sack predatory cops.

[GypsyT]

When at Jomtien Immi lady said (after I complained current stupid system):

"Changes regarding TM30 reporting are coming by new government. Starting Jan 7, 2024.",

She also mentioned "no need for visa runs in 2024" but didn't say more (maybe she meant only me, like "going to be deported")

 

TM30 news may be they finally start to follow existing rules. Or?

 

Hopefully something intelligent happens. I'm not holding my breath...

 

[Mark17AA]

Perhaps they will start a gofundme page.

[Captor]

More taxes!

[Fancyzancy]

Reduce the 90 day O visa from $200. USD to $99.00. 

 

Edited December 14, 2023 by Fancyzancy
Pushed buttons to soon

[TheFishman1]

Last week I read the Chinese tourist syrup. They read the Chinese tourist are down. Who knows what the hell the TAT does here TIT

[Guderian]

So spending is down by almost 10%, big deal, the way prices are going here, inflation will quickly deal with that drop.

[plahgat]

Why don´t they just implement the 90 days Visa free for EU citizens to Thailand, as they promised  some time ago! 

 

[Paul Henry]

TAT come up with more stories then Reader Digest. But no meaningful action to draw more visitors.

[spidermike007]

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin yesterday urged TAT executives and domestic offices to reignite tourism expenditure.

 

Huh? Is he really powerful enough to change the world, re-invigorate the depressed economies, stop a recession, lower airfares, erase the huge mistakes that Anutin and Prayuth made by keeping the nation shut down for far too long, enrich the local population that lost thousands upon thousands of businesses due to the Prayuth Decimation, and change all the things that were plaguing Thailand before Covid, that NOBODY ever addressed? That would be a very impressive feat.

 

Perhaps this guy is a superhero after all. 

 

 

 

Edited December 14, 2023 by spidermike007

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol revealed plans to discuss strategies with TAT to extend the duration of stay for Thai as well as international tourists. This will be achieved by offering combined tourism products that span more than one destination. The minister emphasised that TAT should persuade cross-border tourists to extend their stay beyond a single day.

Desperation sinks in.

[Muhendis]

Adjust the Fx back to 72 Baht to the £

[mokwit]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

He suggested promoting less well-known cities

3 motorcycle dealerships and a shop selling blue balustrades. they are all the same.

[PETERTHEEATER]

42 minutes ago, Paul Henry said:

TAT come up with more stories then Reader Digest. But no meaningful action to draw more visitors.

But, like Reader's Digest they agree 'Laughter is the best medicine' judging from some of their forecasts. 😀

[Caldera]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is setting its sights on revamping its strategies to rejuvenate tourist spending, which has experienced a notable decline since the onset of the pandemic.

 

How? If they don't spend more, it's probably not because they couldn't find more cr/\p or entertainment to spend more money on, but because their budget simply doesn't allow them to spend more. Economic realities come to bite.

 

Sure, they can chase the more affluent "quality tourist" again, but they just won't come in the numbers that Thailand wants. 

[Gknrd]

90 days or suck it. Not interested in an outdated 30 day stay. 

You want my money it is 90 days or nothing, so nothing.

[StayinThailand2much]

5 hours ago, GypsyT said:

She also mentioned "no need for visa runs in 2024" but didn't say more (maybe she meant only me, like "going to be deported")

 

Hoping for the best, but being prepared for the worst. Bring it on, Thailand...

[StayinThailand2much]

Years ago they wanted to get rid of the snowbirds who regularly spent 6 months a year here in Thailand. Then they started to favour tourists from China and SE Asia (e.g. day-trippers from Malaysia). Consequently, the average duration of stay, as well as the income per tourist went south... Perhaps time to repair those TAT calculators to bring the message home that a Chinese tourist staying one week in Thailand, spending 5,000 baht a day (i.e. 50,000 baht) spends LESS than a snowbird/expat who spends 2,500 baht a day, but for 180/365 days (i.e. 450,000/912,500 baht)...

Edited December 14, 2023 by StayinThailand2much

[soalbundy]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin yesterday urged TAT executives and domestic offices to reignite tourism expenditure.

 

Huh? Is he really powerful enough to change the world, re-invigorate the depressed economies, stop a recession, lower airfares, erase the huge mistakes that Anutin and Prayuth made by keeping the nation shut down for far too long, enrich the local population that lost thousands upon thousands of businesses due to the Prayuth Decimation, and change all the things that were plaguing Thailand before Covid, that NOBODY ever addressed? That would be a very impressive feat.

 

Perhaps this guy is a superhero after all. 

 

 

 

Perhaps your purchases get checked and if it's not enough you get threatened with a good beating and sent back in again.

[Caldera]

2 hours ago, Fancyzancy said:

Reduce the 90 day O visa from $200. USD to $99.00. 

 

 

Come again? The fee for a single-entry non-immigrant visa is 2000 baht.

 

As Thai embassies and consulates tend to use a somewhat unfavorable exchange rate, that often translates to $80 - still well below your amounts. 

[Mavideol]

sheer desperation, shxxxxt starts to hit the fan and they can't figure out how to move forward without the Chinese 555

[Purdey]

Trying to encourage Chinese tourists to come here by arresting a Chinese influencer is probably going to backfire. There's a reason they're called influencers.

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/12/13/travel/chinese-influencer-tourist-thailand-tiktok-video-intl-hnk/index.html

[StayinThailand2much]

1 hour ago, soalbundy said:

Perhaps your purchases get checked and if it's not enough you get threatened with a good beating and sent back in again.

 

Maybe they will copy their Chinese friends' business tactics for tour groups ('forced' shopping tours); spend a minimum of X baht at each shop, or risk being kicked out of the hotel, and have your transportation tickets invalidated... That would teach those pesky tourists to spend more!

Edited December 14, 2023 by StayinThailand2much

[Chris Daley]

He wouldn't last a second in a proper Westminster system.  Prime Minister question time.  He would run away crying.

[StayinThailand2much]

6 minutes ago, Chris Daley said:

He wouldn't last a second in a proper Westminster system.  Prime Minister question time.  He would run away crying.

 

Are you seriously comparing that Muppet Show (with the puppet master holding the strings while staying at the luxury wing of a hospital) with the Westminster system?

[JackGats]

Thailand has no "less well-known" destinations outside the 3 months when temperatures are bearable. Outside these 3 months the only bearable destinations are the (dwindling number of clean) beaches. Unless you consider cowering under a hotel air-con or soaking all day in a hotel pool a holiday destination.

 

Sensible measures to promote "less-well known" would be abolishing dual pricing in the cancerous national parks that pre-empt 80% of wild-life areas, and relaxing the stifling dress codes for tourists in temples and monuments.

[Sweet Swede]

It is incredible that they don't understand why tourist spend less. Higher travel expenses and for most tourists less spending money because of higher cost of living in their home countries. That will not change because  they have a limit for their expenses. People spend a lot more when they can afford it. Wake up to the reality we live in. They should be happy that people still have the money to travel to Thailand. I booked a trip to Sweden next year in May and it was close to double price I paid last time.. If you spend a lot of time on the travel  it was slightly cheaper, but not significantly like before. It seems like TAT believe that all tourists have fat wallet. Dream on.

[peter zwart]

8 hours ago, GypsyT said:

Hopefully something intelligent happens. I'm not holding my breath...

A very wise decision