Tourism Council's Plan to Combat Overtourism Revealed

[webfact]

 

Tourism faces a crisis as overtourism sparks protests globally. The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has a plan to manage the surge in visitors, urging cooperation between businesses and local communities.

 

As travel demand skyrockets post-pandemic, locals in several countries demand measures to control tourist influx.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President and CEO, explained, "Overtourism arguably began in the 18th century. It's about managing the tourism flow."

 

Simpson emphasised that businesses must collaborate with local authorities. Encouraging off-season travel and implementing digital ticketing for popular attractions could ease overcrowding.

 

During a panel at the International Air Transport Association’s annual general meeting in Dubai, Simpson highlighted successful destination management examples. In Rwanda, tourists pay US$1,500 (approx. £1,100) to see mountain gorillas, with fees supporting local farmers and services. This initiative has boosted both the gorilla population and local incomes.

 

Barcelona also received praise for its approach. Tourists can buy digital tickets to visit multiple Gaudí sites, including the iconic Sagrada Familia. This system spreads visitors across various locations, supporting local employment and preserving culture.

 

Yet, challenges remain, such as skyrocketing property prices in tourist hotspots like Spain’s Balearic Islands.

 

Simpson spotlighted Thailand, urging it to develop infrastructure that encourages tourists to explore beyond major areas. This would enhance travel experiences and distribute economic benefits more widely. Thailand’s efforts in marketing, luxury travel promotion, and expanding visa-free travel were lauded. Simpson suggested Thailand diversify its economy while maintaining tourism as a key sector.

 

Countries like Saudi Arabia are also investing in tourism as a tool for soft power and cultural diplomacy.

Despite the conflict, Ukrainians at a tourism conference recognised travel's vital role in post-war reconstruction.

 

According to WTTC, the travel and tourism sector, encompassing hotels, airlines, and other distributors, is projected to reach US$11.1 trillion (approx. £9.3 trillion) this year, employing over 348 million people worldwide.

 

File photo courtesy: Thailand Business News

 

 

-- 2024-06-15

 

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[Patjqm]

Simpson never was in Barcelona... 

 

[Gknrd]

Thailand will curb tourism with its political  policies. No need to implement anything. 

10 years, a failed country basically.

[hotchilli]

27 minutes ago, Gknrd said:

Thailand will curb tourism with its political  policies. No need to implement anything. 

10 years, a failed country basically.

Thailand will never curb tourism, it's all it's got.

Keeping the GDP afloat while it's manufacturing slides, little employment opportunities for graduates each year so they join the ranks of the  millions of sex workers and the tourism supply chain going.

[Kerryd]

On one hand they are whining about too many tourists coming here.

On the other hand, they are easing visa restrictions for many countries and proposing to double the "visa exemption" period to attract MORE tourists.

On another hand, they want to gouge those tourists by adding yet another surcharge on their ticket prices.
But another hand wants to cancel the idea because it may reduce the number of tourists.

I expect the next thing will be an increase of prices - for foreigners -  at national parks and historic sites. Maybe the ones that charge foreigners 5 times more for a ticket will increase the price and then charge 10 times more while the ones already charging 10 times more will also increase their price and charge 20 times more ?

Like Khao Kitchakut did a couple years ago. 
20 baht ticket for Thais, 100 for foreigners.

Then it went to 20 baht for Thais  and 200 for foreigners.

I guess foreigners were breathing too much air and taking too many pictures (or not throwing enough money into all the money traps they've set up at the top).

Khao Yai and Khao Phra Vihan for example charge 40 baht for locals and 400 for foreigners.

I haven't looked at the arrival numbers recently. Before the covid crisis, Thailand received something like 39(+) million "arrivals" in 2018 I think it was and was expecting close to 40(ish) million in 2019.
I looked up those numbers a couple years ago when the gov't first announced they were planning on adding another surcharge to ticket prices because "foreigners" skipping out on their hospital bills had cost those hospitals (most of which were PRIVATE hospitals) nearly 300 million baht.
I calculated that they only needed to add a 10 baht surcharge to tickets to recover that "lost" money and then some.

So what did the gov't decide ? They wanted a 300 baht charge ! 30 times more than they said "foreigners" had stiffed the hospitals for.

(It sounds like they got a lot of negative publicity and pushback so have cancelled the increase. For now.)

So if they could handle 40 million+ arrivals back in 2019, they should be able to handle at least the same numbers now. It's not like they're suddenly facing 60 or 70 million arrivals in the last year even with the changes to visas and visa exemptions (that haven't even happened yet).

[Kerryd]

2 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Thailand will never curb tourism, it's all it's got.

Keeping the GDP afloat while it's manufacturing slides, little employment opportunities for graduates each year so they join the ranks of the  millions of sex workers and the tourism supply chain going.

Tourism accounts for about 20% of the GDP and foreign tourism is about 12% of that.

And note that Thailand's economy did NOT crash and burn even when they completely shut down the (foreign) tourist industry completely and restricted domestic tourism as well.

Yes, a lot of businesses closed. A lot of people were out of work. A lot of people went back to their villages.

And a few weeks later most of them were working at other jobs. Maybe not as glamourous or well paying, but still work.

I know one girl who was a dancer in Baccara who went home and ended up working in a CP chicken factory.

So it's not like 20% of the country suddenly starved to death. And 2 years later everything was pretty much back to normal. (I haven't checked to see if that girl went back to Baccara or is still working in the chicken factory.)

Tourism is a huge revenue source for the country - but the "sex" part is NOT the main driving force - except for the old, fat, white single males from Western countries of course.

The same people who often think THEY are the only reason Thailand even has tourists because when they look around their favourite beer bar all they see is other old, fat, "white" guys like themselves and they have NO idea that there's 10s of MILLIONS of other tourists in the country that will likely never even go near a Pattaya beer bar on their holidays.

[cowellandrew]

 highlighted successful destination management examples. In Rwanda, tourists pay US$1,500 (approx. £1,100) to see mountain

 

and in the uk we are trying to pay illegal immigrants £3000 per person to go to Rwanda,

free flight, free accommodation 

[Luuk Chaai]

11 minutes ago, Kerryd said:

On one hand they are whining about too many tourists coming here.

On the other hand, they are easing visa restrictions for many countries and proposing to double the "visa exemption" period to attract MORE tourists.

On another hand, they want to gouge those tourists by adding yet another surcharge on their ticket prices.
But another hand wants to cancel the idea because it may reduce the number of tourists.

I expect the next thing will be an increase of prices - for foreigners -  at national parks and historic sites. Maybe the ones that charge foreigners 5 times more for a ticket will increase the price and then charge 10 times more while the ones already charging 10 times more will also increase their price and charge 20 times more ?

Like Khao Kitchakut did a couple years ago. 
20 baht ticket for Thais, 100 for foreigners.

Then it went to 20 baht for Thais  and 200 for foreigners.

I guess foreigners were breathing too much air and taking too many pictures (or not throwing enough money into all the money traps they've set up at the top).

Khao Yai and Khao Phra Vihan for example charge 40 baht for locals and 400 for foreigners.

I haven't looked at the arrival numbers recently. Before the covid crisis, Thailand received something like 39(+) million "arrivals" in 2018 I think it was and was expecting close to 40(ish) million in 2019.
I looked up those numbers a couple years ago when the gov't first announced they were planning on adding another surcharge to ticket prices because "foreigners" skipping out on their hospital bills had cost those hospitals (most of which were PRIVATE hospitals) nearly 300 million baht.
I calculated that they only needed to add a 10 baht surcharge to tickets to recover that "lost" money and then some.

So what did the gov't decide ? They wanted a 300 baht charge ! 30 times more than they said "foreigners" had stiffed the hospitals for.

(It sounds like they got a lot of negative publicity and pushback so have cancelled the increase. For now.)

So if they could handle 40 million+ arrivals back in 2019, they should be able to handle at least the same numbers now. It's not like they're suddenly facing 60 or 70 million arrivals in the last year even with the changes to visas and visa exemptions (that haven't even happened yet).

 

 

one has to wonder ...     why ? isn't Thailand the Ping Pong champion of the world ( not counting Patpong )

[hotchilli]

4 minutes ago, Kerryd said:

Tourism is a huge revenue source for the country - but the "sex" part is NOT the main driving force - except for the old, fat, white single males from Western countries of course

It's the only driving force... just look at Pattaya, Phuket, Samui, Nana, Soi Cowboy and the other thousands of dodgy Sois and karaoke bars...

[Pesche]

It is - again - in my humble opinion the proof of incompetence...

Like: "Thailand’s efforts in marketing, luxury travel promotion, and expanding visa-free travel were lauded."

It is a WRONG approach with the only purpose to make higher profits!

 

"Thailand diversify its economy while maintaining tourism as a key sector."

Tourism related Economy represents roughly 1/3 of Thailand's GDP (including all para-tourism like Real Estate, Entertainment Venues even more than 30%)

 

While very lucrative, Tourism is becoming weaker while paradoxically increasing in quantity it is getting weaker since the major trend is "getting more for less".

Today's average Tourist has a smaller budget to spend!

- Don't you notice how many Tourists are eating and drinking in front of the 7/11, instead of enjoying the friendly service in a restaurant?

- Don't you notice that (while skyrocketing) there is a real fight in Rental- or Booking-Prices, sometimes even Tours are offering dumping prices...

- The strategy "to attract more quality-luxury Tourism" does not work since there is NO improvement in Service! NO ONE speaks proper English!!

- The strategy to enlarge and offer outside the major destinations is wrong since it will increase unnecessary infrastructure and finally increase the offer while the demand will diminish...

- The strategy with "Visa-Free Travel" is very short sighted! It will enhance short term, seasonal Tourism but WILL NOT improve "off-Season" Tourism!

- Too many points to criticise and the most acute is the lack of competence - as I often mention.

 

Thailand has fantastic potential!

However, it is still thinking "the Thai way": How to increase profits with the less effort (even easier while imposing more taxes), instead of giving an effort to improve quality that will result into solid prosperity!

 

While Cambodia makes a similar mistake with cheap regulations, it has become a Chinese Colony.

 

But Vietnam, the Philippines and many more will soon take over the market with very little efforts (i.e. they all speak English!) while Thailand WILL lose more and more Tourists because of wrong management...

 

 

 

[thailand49]

1 hour ago, Kerryd said:

On one hand they are whining about too many tourists coming here.

On the other hand, they are easing visa restrictions for many countries and proposing to double the "visa exemption" period to attract MORE tourists.

On another hand, they want to gouge those tourists by adding yet another surcharge on their ticket prices.
But another hand wants to cancel the idea because it may reduce the number of tourists.

I expect the next thing will be an increase of prices - for foreigners -  at national parks and historic sites. Maybe the ones that charge foreigners 5 times more for a ticket will increase the price and then charge 10 times more while the ones already charging 10 times more will also increase their price and charge 20 times more ?

Like Khao Kitchakut did a couple years ago. 
20 baht ticket for Thais, 100 for foreigners.

Then it went to 20 baht for Thais  and 200 for foreigners.

I guess foreigners were breathing too much air and taking too many pictures (or not throwing enough money into all the money traps they've set up at the top).

Khao Yai and Khao Phra Vihan for example charge 40 baht for locals and 400 for foreigners.

I haven't looked at the arrival numbers recently. Before the covid crisis, Thailand received something like 39(+) million "arrivals" in 2018 I think it was and was expecting close to 40(ish) million in 2019.
I looked up those numbers a couple years ago when the gov't first announced they were planning on adding another surcharge to ticket prices because "foreigners" skipping out on their hospital bills had cost those hospitals (most of which were PRIVATE hospitals) nearly 300 million baht.
I calculated that they only needed to add a 10 baht surcharge to tickets to recover that "lost" money and then some.

So what did the gov't decide ? They wanted a 300 baht charge ! 30 times more than they said "foreigners" had stiffed the hospitals for.

(It sounds like they got a lot of negative publicity and pushback so have cancelled the increase. For now.)

So if they could handle 40 million+ arrivals back in 2019, they should be able to handle at least the same numbers now. It's not like they're suddenly facing 60 or 70 million arrivals in the last year even with the changes to visas and visa exemptions (that haven't even happened yet).

The leaders like always can't decide when Going to toilet to <deleted> or Pee.🤔

[AustinRacing]

Only way to diversify in LOS is to build Walking Streets in all cities since most tourists are into this kind of stuff. 

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, Kerryd said:

Khao Yai and Khao Phra Vihan for example charge 40 baht for locals and 400 for foreigners.

A few years back I traveled to Erawan waterfalls with Thai friends... 40 baht per Thai

me 400 baht...

My Thai friends were shocked and embarrassed at the price for me, 9 of them together only 360 baht.

I never returned... 

[simon43]

12 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

A few years back I traveled to Erawan waterfalls with Thai friends... 40 baht per Thai

me 400 baht...

My Thai friends were shocked and embarrassed at the price for me, 9 of them together only 360 baht.

I never returned... 

I've lived on/off in Thailand for 23 years.  I have never ever visited a national park because of the 'farang' tax. 

[Sig]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

"Overtourism arguably began in the 18th century.

Ok, no need to read further when you have idiots saying nonsense like this. They instantly prove that whatever issue they're dealing with is a non-issue.
So-called "overtourism" is not the issue. The issue is horrific mismanagement and corruption in the tourism sector.

[Sig]

14 minutes ago, simon43 said:

I've lived on/off in Thailand for 23 years.  I have never ever visited a national park because of the 'farang' tax. 

Yep, about the same amount of time for me, since 2000 and I've been to one national park. My Thai friends paid because they were too upset to let me pay that and felt they sort of needed to apologize by paying for me. I was new to Thailand at that time, but I never went to another place that set charges like that. For one, it is too humiliating for both oneself as well as any Thai friends one is with, and secondly, it is a detestable policy to abide by, so I pass. I'd love to go to many of those places, but I find alternative destinations and smaller operations to support financially.

[newnative]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

It's the only driving force... just look at Pattaya, Phuket, Samui, Nana, Soi Cowboy and the other thousands of dodgy Sois and karaoke bars...

Nonsense.  It's not even the 'only driving force' for Pattaya.

[Emdog]

"Overtourism arguably began in the 18th century. It's about managing the tourism flow."

WTH? I know King George sent lots of red coats and sailors off to tour the American colonies in the 18th century.... and food sample trips to Indian sub continent... other european of military age toured Africa, S America, Asia.... other than that, her statement  is spit out my coffee level absurdity

[newbee2022]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Despite the conflict, Ukrainians at a tourism conference recognised travel's vital role in post-war reconstruction.

🤔What you want to see? Graveyards? Mutilated people? Mine fields? Damaged and destroyed buildings?😱

[Nickcage49]

These guys can't make up their minds about whether they have too many or too few tourists.

[Sydebolle]

Thailand's tourism lacks dedication and passion; they go strictly for the money. The lack of education equals number of tourists with money they spend; more tourists = more money. 

Fact is, that since 1987 (when they launched "Amazing Thailand") the number of tourists three- or even fourfolded; not so though the revenue and certainly not the profit. 

Take countries like Bhutan or Switzerland. Costs a fortune compared to the other end of the scale because they have limited availability and no infrastructure for avalanche masses. So they upgraded the product on all levels and make more money per head than more heads per money. 

I've been around for decades, saw how tourists opened their valet and let vendors help themselves with 500 Baht for an instant ice tea and no change. The tourist did so in the wrong belief, that the auntie selling the stuff would be honest and either take only what is hers or return the surplus change. I was behind that tourist queueing for a bottle of cold water and turned away once I got the picture. Auntie asked what I wanted and I told her in Thai, that I cannot afford a bottle of water if an instant ice tea costs 500 Baht to which auntie answered "not for you, only for tourist". 

40 years ago Thailand was a "mono destination" with sun, fun, culture, nightlife, food and lovely people while being affordable. Most of that went out the window while Thailand got stiff competition which resulted in compensating the departure of the wealthier tourists to more dedicated markets while Thailand filled it up with much cheaper Asian visitors. Countless examples all over Thailand; domestic carriers hardly see any caucasians, the Rembrandt Hotel in Bangkok disintegrated from a 4+ hotel with room rates of above 2,000/night to a 2+ place for loud, careless Indians with little to no style. The masses at airports speak their own language - fact is, that the per capita revenue and profit are in free fall and Thailand's greed marred with a lack of common sense and education does not stop that. 
The ever-changing rules and regulations by the various governments from visa to visa-exempt for 30 days for a certain period is 60 days for a certain period, TM6 obsolete on air travel as they simply could not process the data any longer and must have run out of storage space, TM6 discontinued until autumn on some overland borders while other borders still demand it. The left does not know what the right is doing while people get impatient, rude, and their limited command of foreign languages is on the way down. Ministerial comments on "dirty farang" must have cost millions of tourists, sinking tourism boats in Phuket with drowned Chinese tourists was an accident - the government's comments and actions killed a further hundreds of thousands of tourists. 

Pass on the tourism management to professionals, like in other countries and if you are it, do the same with Thai Airways which turned from a 5* diamond on Asian aviation some 40 years ago to a below-standard, arrogant if not rude aviation provided operating like a 7/11 without a cashier on the way out (for the executive staff, that is). 

Your call, your country and it is up to you to clean up the self-inflicted mess ......... 

[spidermike007]

3 hours ago, Kerryd said:

Tourism accounts for about 20% of the GDP and foreign tourism is about 12% of that.

And note that Thailand's economy did NOT crash and burn even when they completely shut down the (foreign) tourist industry completely and restricted domestic tourism as well.

Yes, a lot of businesses closed. A lot of people were out of work. A lot of people went back to their villages.

And a few weeks later most of them were working at other jobs. Maybe not as glamourous or well paying, but still work.

I know one girl who was a dancer in Baccara who went home and ended up working in a CP chicken factory.

So it's not like 20% of the country suddenly starved to death. And 2 years later everything was pretty much back to normal. (I haven't checked to see if that girl went back to Baccara or is still working in the chicken factory.)

Tourism is a huge revenue source for the country - but the "sex" part is NOT the main driving force - except for the old, fat, white single males from Western countries of course.

The same people who often think THEY are the only reason Thailand even has tourists because when they look around their favourite beer bar all they see is other old, fat, "white" guys like themselves and they have NO idea that there's 10s of MILLIONS of other tourists in the country that will likely never even go near a Pattaya beer bar on their holidays.

The economy has not come back, as you claim. It is in bad shape. Low growth, higher unemployment, (despite what they claim) lower car and real estate sales, manufacturing and exports are down. Etc, etc. 

 

Many are struggling here. 

[BangkokReady]

53 minutes ago, simon43 said:

I've lived on/off in Thailand for 23 years.  I have never ever visited a national park because of the 'farang' tax. 

 

It's not like it unaffordable, but it's the principle.

[BangkokReady]

3 hours ago, Kerryd said:

And note that Thailand's economy did NOT crash and burn even when they completely shut down the (foreign) tourist industry completely and restricted domestic tourism as well.

 

It pretty much did, though.

[Grusa]

'cos I say so!, cos I say so!

[Cabradelmar]

That's one council Thai tourism operators and government officials will not be following very closely 😂 

[Cabradelmar]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand, urging it to develop infrastructure that encourages tourists to explore beyond major areas

😂 Sorry, there is nothing much to see here beyond temples 🥱 increasingly polluted and already overcrowded beaches 🤮 and night life (in Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya only) 🍻

[brianthainess]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Tourism faces a crisis as overtourism sparks protests globally. The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has a plan to manage the surge in visitors, urging cooperation between businesses and local communities.

 This is about the rest of the world not just Thailand. Thailand will take no heed of anything the WTTC says, him falang him not know Thainess. IMO

[brianthainess]

5 hours ago, Patjqm said:

Simpson never was in Barcelona... 

 

I beg to differ here is Photographic proof of him on his way there from a bit south of Barcelona.

 

[Nicholas Paul KNIGHT]

Thailand will do exactly nothing to improve Tourism adventures or visitors, having lived here for over two decades , there is still too many Tourist scams from Jet Skis to taxis. The infrastructure is poor despite promises to improve it. Toilets for example are a very good guide to an efficient tourism service, woefully poor standards in many places.

I enjoy Thailand but then I do not do the tourism sites. 

How can you JUSTIFY  the 100/300 per cent increase in admittance prices, when you do not improve said site at all. Pure Governmental authorised SCAM !!