The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) predicts that national holidays this month will significantly increase revenue from tourism. They forecast about 18.3 billion baht as a result of five million local trips. The recent Buddhist holidays, Asarnha Bucha Day and Khao Phansa (Buddhist Lent), showed promising results and it's expected that this trend will carry over to the King's 72nd birthday.

 

Typically, Thai citizens spend these holidays with their families, engaging in religious activities. Additionally, state authorities are planning special king's birthday events that will further promote local travel.

 

However, TAT head Thapanee Kiatphaibool pointed out that there are some people who remain cautious about spending due to high living costs and economic slowdown. Those with more disposable income are opting for trips overseas.

 

For this vacation period, only a minor increase in revenue growth is expected. The largest number of local trips are predicted to be in the central and western parts of Thailand, generating 2.48 billion baht from 1.17 million trips. Following closely are Bangkok with 947,810 trips and 4.78 billion revenue, and the Northeast 931,950 trips yielding 2 billion baht.

 

 

Travel during the Buddhist holidays went beyond predictions with a 66% occupancy rate, resulting in 9.5 billion baht from 2.58 million trips. In comparison, projections for the King’s birthday forecast a 63% occupancy rate and 8.86 billion baht from 2.43 million trips.

 

Chon Buri was the most visited destination with an 86% occupancy rate, due to events like the Amazing Thailand Pattaya Marathon and Vijitr Chon Buri Lighting Extravaganza, and its closeness to Bangkok. Ubon Ratchathani followed with an 84% occupancy rate, driven by its popular candle festival and the 'Vijitr Ubon Ratchathani Lighting Extravaganza’.

 

Places such as Chonburi, Kanchanaburi, Ayutthaya, Prachuap Khiri Khan, and Udon Thani are among the top 10 provinces attracting the most local tourists.

 

So far this year, Thailand recorded over 135 million local trips, which brought in over 492 billion baht, according to the TAT.

 

File photo for reference only

 

-- 2024-07-23

 

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Tourism numbers at almost record highs, yet revenue down.

 

Their policies are attracting CHEAP tourists. 

 

What happened to the quality tourism reset?

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) predicts that national holidays this month will significantly increase revenue from tourism. They forecast about 18.3 billion baht as a result of five million local trips. The recent Buddhist holidays, Asarnha Bucha Day and Khao Phansa (Buddhist Lent), showed promising results and it's expected that this trend will carry over to the King's 72nd birthday.

Domestically people who spend on travel will not spend somewhere else later, they only have so much money.

Not many international tourists come specially for these national holidays... so the extra expenditure is not there.

Did they take into account the lost revenue from non-alcohol sales and businesses that remained closed due to the ban?

8 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

What happened to the quality tourism reset?

When they provide quality they might come.

So a permanent holiday, 365 days a year, should sort out the Thai economy? At least as far as TAT is concerned. Brilliant!

The amount mentioned is dwarfed by loss of production in having all these extra holidays

combined with all the tourist drinking establishments not even bothering opening or not

being able to serve alcohol due to Thailands archaic liquor laws

I guess they are happy that their credit card  minimum payments have been reduced and are willing to spend more. Unfortunately they don’t apparently get that the interest rates remain the same and increase their long repayment debt. This country is only worried about how much people spend, not how they can handle repaying it. Sad state of affairs. 

I know Thais that have up to 10 credit cards.  It seems crazy here they don't seem to understand the minimum payment scam that will take many years to get them paid off.

 

 

If this is such a wondrous thing......home tourism.....and it has such a positive effect on the economy, shouldn't they be giving people even more holidays?

Can someone ring the TAT and tell them that they're dreaming.