High travel costs and weak flight capacity challenge Thailand’s domestic tourism targets

[webfact]

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) revealed that the government’s target of accruing 1.08 trillion baht (US$30.9 trillion) in revenue from domestic tourism this year may be challenging to achieve due to high travel costs and weak flight capacity.

 

Glazer family 'set to snub Sir Bobby Charlton's funeral with Man United's owners fearing abuse from fans could overshadow the service', and other top stories from November 13, 2023.

 

The target set by the TAT for the domestic market is 200 million trips this year, matching the 2019 levels. However, last year, the domestic tourism industry could only manage 185 million trips, generating just over 900 billion baht (US$25.8 billion), said Somradee Chitchong, the Deputy Governor for Domestic Marketing at TAT.

 

“To mark a full recovery, seat capacity on flights has to improve to 46.5 million from 36.5 million recorded last year, while economic conditions should be more upbeat than in 2023.”

Somradee also highlighted that increased airfare costs, particularly for last-minute bookings, coupled with the country’s delayed fiscal budget, pose significant challenges this year, reported Bangkok Post.

 

by Alex Morgan 

Photo courtesy of iStock

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-01-08

 

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[keith101]

I tried booking a flight for my wife to come back from Bangkok and couldn't get one 

[Gottfrid]

Only 8 days into the new year and they are already finding it difficult to keep the income budget.

Edited January 8 by Gottfrid

[bamnutsak]

I purchased domestic tickets last month for Songkhran travel. Only four seats left, and I was pushed into the second-highest fare bucket, so 6,000-ish vs. 4,500-ish last year.

 

My destination is captive: PG, so no other options (other than bus or train).

Edited January 8 by bamnutsak

[Lite Beer]

Quote

Glazer family 'set to snub Sir Bobby Charlton's funeral with Man United's owners fearing abuse from fans could overshadow the service', and other top stories from November 13, 2023.

[bkk6060]

It is peak season the flight fares seem to be at least 1000 b higher each way.

If you wait until closer to flight date, much higher.

Bangkok hotels for a 4 star are about 30% or more higher.  Other places in the country seem higher.

Add, with holiday after holiday after holiday, this place is in debt big time. I met a Thai female last week.  She dropped her purse and honest to God 9 or 10 credit cards fell to the floor.  Needless to say I blocked her. Crazy no self awareness or accountability of their debts.

 

[hotchilli]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) revealed that the government’s target of accruing 1.08 trillion baht (US$30.9 trillion) in revenue from domestic tourism this year may be challenging to achieve due to high travel costs and weak flight capacity.

Wow they may be onto something, but hey...

with the new airlines opening up this year surely competition will lower prices?

[hotchilli]

17 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Only 8 days into the new year and they are already finding it difficult to keep the income budget.

And walk-back predictions for a bumper year

[RichardColeman]

In the larger picture, I booked last week a 2 day return trip to the UK - direct. Now bordering on £900 - or say £3,500 for a family of 4. It was about £500 a few years ago. Flights are killing the tourist industry - and Thai airways greed as they are now the most expensive it appears ! Want tourism ?Attack the airlines

[jacko45k]

Thailand could apply the Ryan Air method of having an incentive to fly there. We could start with lowered landing and gate costs. Thailand has already made it easier for the tourists of many countries to enter, so that will increase demand. That should also include more countries, how about 3 month Visa Exempt for Western countries, ie, EU, UK, USA, Oz, etc. It is also a negative that their national carrier, is often relatively expensive.. 

[mikebell]

20 hours ago, webfact said:

Glazer family 'set to snub Sir Bobby Charlton's funeral with Man United's owners fearing abuse from fans could overshadow the service',

This is at least the 2nd time this sentence has appeared in unrelated stories.  He was my hero but doesn't belong in stories like this.

[lapamita]

i dont know, i purchased

begin december bkkpnh less 2000 , pnh-sin 2700 , jhb-dmk 2200

mid december bkk  hkt return 3400

now bkk pnh 2200 and pnh bkk 2700

 

not peak season and all flghts middays , no or minor price change to 3 year ago

 international long haul flight are up a lot compare to regional fares, with avergae 50% more i guess

booked aprox 2 week before flights

Edited January 9 by lapamita

[dinsdale]

So AirAsia now giving 24% off all seats/All flights. Thing is the price showing the discount is up 24% from previous. Price of a flight I take is after 24% discount exactly the same as it was before the "24% discount" which is about 40% higher than 2019.

Edited January 9 by dinsdale

[PETERTHEEATER]

On 1/8/2024 at 6:08 AM, Lite Beer said:

If TAT was to make an entry charge to attend the funeral (dual pricing of course) they may meet the financial income target.

[Lancelot01]

19 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Wow they may be onto something, but hey...

with the new airlines opening up this year surely competition will lower prices?

$30.9 trillion??

[Paris333]

Climate tax in air-transfers...................

Increase in ticket tax affects passengers twice
The aviation tax is scheduled to increase from May 2024. Airlines are allowed to pass the tax on to passengers. Consumers should use the time until then.

Anyone who is currently planning their vacation for the current year should book their flights as soon as possible. In a few weeks tickets will probably be more expensive.

The increase in the so-called aviation tax is one of the measures with which the federal government wants to plug the budget hole that opened up a few weeks ago after the Federal Constitutional Court's ruling. The new tax should actually have been in effect since the beginning of the year.

If the above link does not open because it may require subscription I read the whole article and it is :

€30 additional to air fare for distance 6.000 km

€53 additional to air fare for distance 12.000 km

and €110 additional to air fare for distance above 12.000 km...........Thailand did your hear we have to pay for apostle of climate change ecomodernism........

I can hear the melody but I dont understand the lyrics "maestro"...........

Source:

https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/handel-konsumgueter/luftfahrt-erhoehung-der-ticketsteuer-trifft-passagiere-gleich-doppelt-01/100004972.html

 

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Edited January 9 by Paris333