Jump to content

Songkran holiday unlikely to boost outbound trips due to high airfares


Recommended Posts

Posted

image.jpeg


Despite the extended Songkran holiday, a surge in outbound trips is not anticipated, mainly due to high airfares and deflation risk concerns. This perspective comes from travel agents who predict that the 21-day ‘Water Festival’ campaign is more likely to entice foreign tourists than the local market.

 

Kriangphon Piyaekchai, the vice president of the Thai Travel Agents Association, explained, “This holiday is no longer a high season for outbound trips as before the pandemic”. He further clarified that the recovering aviation industry’s high airfares mean only travellers with significant purchasing power can afford to travel during Songkran. The rest prefer domestic trips or delayed travel until it becomes more affordable.

 

Kriangphon noted that a five-day tour package to Japan during the Songkran holiday now begins at 40,000 baht (US$1,112), a steep increase from the pre-pandemic price of approximately 30,000 baht (US$834). Furthermore, the limited number of charter flights available during the Songkran holiday to accommodate outbound demand is another hindrance, reported Bangkok Post.

 

Despite the government’s recent extension of the Songkran holiday to five days, Kriangphon believes it won’t stimulate outbound trips as most travellers book their trips several months in advance.


Chaiyapruk Thongkam, president of the Association of Domestic Travel, anticipates that 65% of Thai tourists will opt for domestic travel during Songkran, with half of them visiting their hometowns. Chaiyapruk suggests that domestic tourists might extend their trips to 5-6 days, up from the usual 3-4 days, potentially benefitting second-tier destinations.


The Tourism and Sports Minister, Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, has proposed a 100-million-baht budget to host the Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024 in Bangkok and upcountry between April 11-15. However, Chaiyapruk expressed scepticism about the event’s ability to attract domestic tourists, suggesting it may appeal more to foreigners.

 

Chaiyapruk recommends that the government focus on long-term tourism sustainability by improving attractions and addressing the PM2.5 crisis in the North and Northeast, which currently deters upcountry tourism. He also advocates for support for tour operators still recovering from the pandemic’s impact.

 

by Alex Morgan

Photo courtesy of iStock

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-02-21

 

- 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.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

 

Join us now!

  • Heart-broken 1
  • Haha 2
Posted
  On 2/21/2024 at 1:39 AM, webfact said:

Chaiyapruk Thongkam, president of the Association of Domestic Travel, anticipates that 65% of Thai tourists will opt for domestic travel during Songkran

Expand  

Meaning that 35% of Thai tourists will travel internationally then ? 

  • Haha 2
Posted

just yesterday I was searching for flights to various locations in Japan and Australia for the songkran period and found a lot of "flight not available" on various airline websites plus kayak.com 

Posted

Fear not, the loss of Thai tourists will be compensated for by the huge influx of expats from various parts of Thailand to Bangkok during the one week of the year when the city is more or less quiet and unpolluted.

Posted
  On 2/21/2024 at 1:39 AM, webfact said:

a surge in outbound trips is not anticipated, mainly due to high airfares and deflation risk concerns.

Expand  

 

Can someone please explain what they mean by 'deflation risk concerns'?

Are they concerned that their inflatable toys might get a puncture, lol?

Posted
  On 2/21/2024 at 8:15 AM, Mywayboy said:

Taylor Swift performed in Melbourne Australia airfares increased 30%.

That's business sadly price gouging.

Expand  

 

It's called supply and demand.

 

Along with some complex pricing models which drive people into higher fare buckets as the seats sell on a particular flight.

 

 

As Warren Buffet said about investing in airlines...“If a capitalist had been present at Kitty Hawk back in the early 1900s he should’ve shot Orville Wright; he would have saved his progeny money.”

  • Agree 1
Posted
  On 2/21/2024 at 7:11 AM, hotchilli said:

TAT would like a 21 day bonanza....  it's going to be well short of that.

Expand  

Except for the local eejits who stand beside the roads in and out of Pattaya who manage to spin it out for two weeks as things stand. I'm sure they'll give it a good go. They're there from morning until night so none of them can have jobs anyway. How come they don't get bored???

Posted
  On 2/21/2024 at 2:01 AM, mancub said:

Meaning that 35% of Thai tourists will travel internationally then ? 

Expand  

Maybe meaning they will catch a bus or stay at home

 

  On 2/21/2024 at 1:39 AM, webfact said:

Chaiyapruk suggests that domestic tourists might extend their trips to 5-6 days, up from the usual 3-4 days, potentially benefitting second-tier destinations.

Expand  

yet potentially  depriving their own home towns of the related extra revenue ?

Posted
  On 2/21/2024 at 8:06 AM, blazes said:

Fear not, the loss of Thai tourists will be compensated for by the huge influx of expats from various parts of Thailand to Bangkok during the one week of the year when the city is more or less quiet and unpolluted.

Expand  

Jesus imagine bangkok full of all the miserable geriatrics off this forum,  I think I'd rather be in Pattaya

Posted
  On 2/21/2024 at 9:17 AM, Tropicalevo said:

I am not Einstein (sorry) but from what I read.....

 

There are fewer serviceable planes and fewer flight crews available since Covid. Labour shortages in all skill sets in the industry. Maintenance, baggage handlers, airport workers, everywhere.

There are less airlines covering long haul routes. Airlines are still recovering from losses during Covid.

Pre Covid, here on Koh Samui, we had up to six other International airlines from other countries flying in. Now we only have Bangkok Airways (but they are flying more routes).

So - there are less seats available to most destinations.

 

Since Covid, people are desperate to travel again and in the European winter, Thailand is a popular destination.

So there is even more demand.

Airline pricing has always been based on  - empty seats, sell them cheap. Fill up the plane.

Now, there are very few empty seats so it is 'normal' high pricing.

Nothing to do with a scam. Just the pricing algorithms.

Expand  

Agree where certain destinations like Thailand are concerned. A September flight Nice France to Bristol, easyJet, with a suitcase 300€.  That’s 1hr 25 mins flight . No other options with a case. I choose BA Nice Heathrow and then airport link to Bristol , all cheaper than easyjet and nicer. Second flight , Nice to Venice December , with easyjet, no other option , 300€ + . 1 hour flight. Late leaving, late arriving , awful.  Emirates to Bangkok has greatly increased in price, I’ve used for many years , now I fly Swiss Air through Zurich. Fantastic and great service, delicious food and much cheaper.  You have to pick and choose . In France where my main home is, people are using trains a lot. Also in Italy, Spain. Took a few Frecciarossa trains in Italy and it’s 1st class luxury ! I think trains are the future , not necessarily much longer  as no check in or airport wait and stations mostly in the cities . The number of luxury bus coach companies have sprung up in EU too, making travel a lot cheaper. 

  • Thanks 1
Posted
  On 2/21/2024 at 11:36 AM, Bday Prang said:

Maybe meaning they will catch a bus or stay at home

 

yet potentially  depriving their own home towns of the related extra revenue ?

Expand  

Meaning either they'll be domestic tourists as in the 65% mentioned.....or they won't actually be tourists at all.

Posted
  On 2/21/2024 at 11:43 AM, geisha said:

Also in Italy, Spain. Took a few Frecciarossa trains in Italy and it’s 1st class luxury ! I think trains are the future , not necessarily much longer  as no check in or airport wait and stations mostly in the cities . The number of luxury bus coach companies have sprung up in EU too, making travel a lot cheaper. 

Expand  

Good to read. Thank you.

It does not help us here in Asia, but for European travel - good stuff. :thumbsup:

  • Thanks 1
Posted

Not much competition especially with the demise of Thai Smile (swallowed up by its parent Thai Airways).

 

I found it the only descent domestic airline.

 

AirAsia, with all is add ons tends to get expensive. 

  • Agree 1
Posted
  On 2/21/2024 at 3:03 PM, Tropicalevo said:

Good to read. Thank you.

It does not help us here in Asia, but for European travel - good stuff. :thumbsup:

Expand  

Well, Thailand Malaysia, Singapore even Burma has a train service, Vietnam too. Nice places to visit everywhere and very cheap. Would be nice to have a some good 1 st class service. Lots of Thais take buses, there are never enough at holiday time , some good planning and investment needed. 

  • Heart-broken 1
Posted
  On 2/21/2024 at 9:18 AM, AhFarangJa said:

Disgraceful, fleecing all those people trying to get out of Melbourne for a few days.:smile:

Expand  

Capitalism at it's best. A real Capitalist is the worst type of person on earth bettered only by rapists and paedophile's.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.



×
×
  • Create New...