Thailand’s tourism authority faces challenge to boost foreign arrivals

[webfact]

With a significantly decreased budget from its 2019 benchmark, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) faces the daunting task of increasing foreign arrivals from 28 million in 2023 to 40 million in the span of just a year.

 

The drastic goal was deliberated on Tuesday when Chai Wacharonke, a government spokesperson, revealed potential plans to boost arrivals to this figure, spurred by new initiatives like the reciprocal visa-free scheme between Thailand and China.

 

Yet, the ambitious target remains unofficial as the Tourism and Sport Ministry continues to uphold its goal of 35 million foreign arrivals for 2024. During a record-breaking year in 2019, Thailand saw 39.8 million foreign arrivals and 2 trillion baht (US$ 58,105,760,000) in revenue, thanks to a generous budget of 6.6 billion baht (US$ 191,749,008) granted to the TAT, as informed by TAT governor Thapanee Kiatphaiboon.

 

Nonetheless, this year’s budget has been reduced by approximately 20%, standing at 5.2 billion baht (US$ 151,031,072), despite the significantly higher revenue target of 2.5 trillion baht (US$ 72,611,092,500). The challenge of matching the arrivals figure of 2019 is a complex task that would necessitate comprehensive discussions with the Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, as well as TAT directors from key source markets like China, reported Bangkok Post.

 

The TAT’s 2024 budget, bigger than last year’s 3.2 billion baht (US$ 92,951,680), could potentially face further reductions in the wake of the 2024 Budget Bill debate starting this week. 

 

by Alex Morgan

Picture courtesy of Ragnar Vorel, Unsplash

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-01-04

 

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[worgeordie]

The could just pencil in higher numbers have arrived ,like they normally do .....

 

regards worgeordie

[KhunLA]

The weekly TAT challenge to increase #s.

 

Followed by next weeks news- blip of increased tourist arrivals.

 

Rinse & repeat ... 

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

With a significantly decreased budget from its 2019 benchmark, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) faces the daunting task of increasing foreign arrivals from 28 million in 2023 to 40 million in the span of just a year.

Stop all the accidents in Thailand would be a good place to start.

[Bangkok Barry]

They might like to consider spending their budget on education courses for taxi and tuk tuk drivers, teaching them that attacking tourists that do come is a bad idea. And all other drivers that killing visitors on pedestrian crossings is frowned upon too, And then there are the authorities who think that not caring about the live and/or low hanging wires that make holidaying in Thailand such an unforgettable experience (yet another one in the news today) doesn't matter. Stuff like that.

[Sydebolle]

Well, it does not help to float silly ideas like a "landing tax" as discussed nine months ago but luckily never implemented - so far! 

Likewise I wonder. how many hundreds of thousands of non-Thais have left or are in the process of leaving. Thailand's idea on taxing revenues from overseas - like retiree pensions as of this year without offering anything in return like health care - was not the brightest idea either. All those non-Thai retirees are spending money which they either earned/inherited overseas, live here the whole year, buy condominiums, vehicles and have to proof of six times the minimum wage of a Thai citizen. Maybe food for thought? 

It might help to get press speakers and a united voice; all those farts from all those various bureaucratic branches of brainlessness does, quite obviously, not trigger off the desired effect. 

[StayinThailand2much]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Nonetheless, this year’s budget has been reduced by approximately 20%, standing at 5.2 billion baht (US$ 151,031,072)...

 

... a lot of which is used for pointless schemes and, almost daily occurring, press releases about ever higher tourist arrival and tourism income projections, reminiscent of Grimm's fairy tales.

[spidermike007]

Again the discussion continues with quantity over quality, which does not necessarily boost revenues for the people in the industry. I guess the goons and charge will never understand that concept, it's far too intellectual and far too abstract. 

[Blumpie]

44 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Again the discussion continues with quantity over quality, which does not necessarily boost revenues for the people in the industry. I guess the goons and charge will never understand that concept, it's far too intellectual and far too abstract. 

When China finally rebounds some years from now they will be ahead of the curve, that being quantity over quality.  

[GammaGlobulin]

Would it not also be a good idea to make it as easy as possible for those on retirement visa to remain here as long as possible, or until they croak, with as few restrictions as possible....

 

Maybe even add a few more enticements for those who wish to retire here or are already living here as retired people?

 

 

[CartagenaWarlock]

10 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

It might help to get press speakers and a united voice; all those farts from all those various bureaucratic branches of brainlessness does, quite obviously, not trigger off the desired effect. 

And all those farts in this forum are not going to change anything except make money for the forum owners. It's a vicious circle. People rejected in their own societies are forced to travel 10,000 miles to seek a life, and possibly a wife in a foreign land have no voice anywhere on the planet except this forum, and forum owners are clever enough to monetize their frustrations. 

[kinyara]

As far as Thailand's 2024 tourism level is concerned it really is all about China, everything else is small incremental increases. Other markets will tick along with increases tied to the introduction of additional airline capacity. If you don't like reading about discussion of the Chinese market I'd recommend switching off now.

[reefsurfah]

Here we go again