To revive tourism, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) unveiled dynamic strategies to draw Japanese tourists back to the Land of Smiles. Despite the yen’s depreciation, TAT Tokyo Office Director Kajorndet Apichartrakul remains optimistic about reversing the deficit in tourist numbers with Japan.

 

Last year, 995,000 Thai tourists visited Japan, while only 804,000 Japanese tourists came to Thailand, resulting in a nearly 200,000-person shortfall. Citing the yen’s decline as an unintentional attraction for Thai tourists, Kajorndet emphasised the need to make Thailand a cost-effective and appealing destination for Japanese visitors.

 

“Despite the higher costs due to the yen’s depreciation, I believe Thailand still provides great value compared to other destinations.”

 

Kajorndet anticipates that Japanese tourist arrivals will normalise by early 2025, though it may take two more years to reach pre-pandemic levels of 1.8 million.

 

 

The TAT’s 2025 marketing plan will target two major groups: Gen Z and Gen Y tourists who are drawn to Thailand’s pop culture, and niche lifestyle travellers such as young entrepreneurs and mother-and-child pairs. Kajorndet stressed the importance of demonstrating that Thailand is not just a golf haven for older tourists but a vibrant, youth-friendly destination.

 

Increased flight routes between the two countries bolster recovery prospects. Airlines like Thai Airways and Thai AirAsia X are adding more flights, including a direct route to Nagoya and a potential reopening of the Sendai route. Kajorndet noted that promoting tourism in both directions is crucial, as airlines depend on mutual passenger volumes to sustain routes.

 

The TAT projects that by next year, Thailand could welcome at least 1.1 million Japanese tourists, a 10% increase from this year. This influx is expected to restore Thailand’s surplus in tourist arrivals from Japan, balancing the overall tourism outlook between the two nations, reported The Nation.

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Photo courtesy of The Nation

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-07-11

 

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Isn’t the  Japanese Yen in the toilet at the moment ?

Japanese tourists to flock to Thailand despite economic woes

 

2 minutes later......

 

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

To revive tourism, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) unveiled dynamic strategies to draw Japanese tourists back to the Land of Smiles.

 

so are they coming back or just a plan to sucker them to come back ? 

I just hate those flocking tourists... Much prefer the regular ones...

56 minutes ago, Willy Wombat said:

Isn’t the  Japanese Yen in the toilet at the moment ?

More like partially down the drain already. It's lost a third of it's value over the last few years.

 

I don't think that's going to change, either. Interest rate is ridiculously low (0.1%) compared to any other country currently, and debt is 263% of GDP. The only way the Yen recovers is if either BoJ raises rates or world rates go drastically lower - neither of which are likely anytime soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

To revive tourism, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) unveiled dynamic strategies to draw Japanese tourists back to the Land of Smiles

Clean the place up so that it looks like Japan instead of an open sewer, have vendors greet you with a smile and sincerity coupled to good service.

Have public transport that is fast, efficient and affordable?

Ohhh and get rid of the Squat toilets for more modern convenience.

14 hours ago, Willy Wombat said:

Isn’t the  Japanese Yen in the toilet at the moment ?

Yes it is, i live in Toyko but still have a UK bank account and have paid for my trip to Thailand next month in GBP, as the rate is much more favourable than the JPY. A lot of foreign residents in Japan doing similar.  

15 hours ago, stoner said:

Japanese tourists to flock to Thailand despite economic woes

 

2 minutes later......

 

 

so are they coming back or just a plan to sucker them to come back ? 

It's yet another TAT prediction. Just a few weeks ago there were too many tourists, then not enough........🤔

And in other news, 6 foreigners were murdered at an upscale hotel in BKK.

Thailand aint what it used to be. Anyone claiming it is still cheap has got another thing coming.

 

The tourist scams e.g. taxi meters, dual pricing and police extortion of tourists... (yesterday's headline that chinese tourists on a bus were extorted 700k) come to mind.