8 minutes ago, DPKANKAN said:

 In June, the European market grew by 13%, with Germany leading the surge at a remarkable 71% increase, followed by Italy and Switzerland.

 

5555 only part wat through June ffs!!!!

😆

8 minutes ago, DPKANKAN said:

 

 

 

I’ve heard this quality over quantity announcement so many times it’s getting down right annoying.

 

TAT don’t seem to realise that if you want to change your target market, you have to change your product offering. The so called “vibrant nightlife” which is a euphemism for sleaze, plus the inherent dangers from a second rate infrastructure ( pavements electrical wiring etc etc) AND the elevated risks involved in road travel, just don’t talk quality.

13 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

They've opened the borders to cheap mass tourism by opening up their visa system. They then want quality tourists.

 

Something is a miss there.

 

If you want quality high spending tourists - go look at Barbados, Maldives, St Lucia, etc 

 

If you want cheap trash, high crime, visa free look at Thailand. 

You are right in most respects, but the visa thing is a red herring. The island countries you mention don’t have much in the way of visa requirements.

One day Thailand say they shall prioritize quality tourists and next day they complain that too few chinese,indians and russians are coming. 

TAT is the Thai organisation for jokes

1 hour ago, DULEROY said:

😆

 

 

 

WoW, New Zealand numbers seem crazy low while USA numbers seem crazy high.

43 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

I’ve heard this quality over quantity announcement so many times it’s getting down right annoying.

 

TAT don’t seem to realise that if you want to change your target market, you have to change your product offering. The so called “vibrant nightlife” which is a euphemism for sleaze, plus the inherent dangers from a second rate infrastructure ( pavements electrical wiring etc etc) AND the elevated risks involved in road travel, just don’t talk quality.

 

I agree.  Second rate transportation doesn't help either.  Not to mention the scams, rip-offs, dirt, trash, ladyboys, polluted beaches, and unscrupulous taxis.  

.

23 minutes ago, Showtime said:

 

 

WoW, les chiffres de la Nouvelle-Zélande semblent incroyablement bas tandis que ceux des États-Unis semblent incroyablement élevés.

That is the reality 😆

A week back they were worried about drop in tourists. now it all seem to be fixed

 

With 30% of global population being chinese or indian, a small portion of them coming here would result in a large increase in arrivals. we like it or not, that will continue. 

 

During peak summer months arabs will visit with families as its too hot over there, so no surprises of the growth in that segment

2 hours ago, jwl53 said:

Maybe you don't frequent the high end places that the rich folk use

My well off brother asked me to check out the Centara hotel in Hua Hin as he was thinking of booking it. They wouldn’t let me in ! 

Thailand Boosts Tourism with Strategic Focus on Quality Markets

 

Tomorrow they'll be an OP about how Thailand is losing the regular classes of average tourist to Vietnam as they focus on a handful of the "Rich & Wealthy" who collectively don't contribute much to the Thai economy.  The "Rich & Wealth" prefer London, Monaco, New York, and Dubai. 

     It's all just this week's nonsense.  TAT's this week's 'Look, Ma, I'm working!'.   Anybody with a working brain knows that a huge tourism market like Thailand needs a wide variety of tourists at ALL economic levels to fill all of those tourist rooms that range from 0 stars to 5 stars.  

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is intensifying efforts to elevate its tourism markets to "Million Market" status, shifting focus from volume to value.

Translated:

"Thailand is losing volume to Vietnam and other tourist location which are more welcoming, so it will shift focus to the "Rich & Wealthy" who aren't the types to take Elephant tours and jaunts to Pai.  

As retirees, I bet we spend buckets more in a month that any tourist would. We also make long term investments in the family and the neighborhood. And yet they really don't want us here. Go figure. 

We need "contextual" understand here please:

 

"With Germany leading the surge at a remarkable 71% increase"

 

That could mean 7.1 people, or 71000 people. 

Please update with actual bodies arriving, not percentages. 

 

17 hours ago, norsurin said:

Here we go again!

They never give up, do they! Dream on....🙄🙄

They tried that before - and failed. Rich tourists simply aren't into fake floating markets and taxi scams all that much.

Unfortunately Thailand and their respective authorities are missing the bigger picture for attracting high end tourists. They jump from promoting this and turn around and relax the visa requirements to all the wrong nations, law and order escalates and bad publicity follows.

Their mindset of spend as little as they can on infastructure and take as much money as they can pocket no longer works and will have a downward spiral until they realise that infrastructure, law & order etc etc is the key given that Thailand is no longer the cheap & peacefull destination it once was.

Due to all the incoming unwanted and Thailands known deficiencies it has developed a reputation for scams, blatant corruption and growing violence just to name a few. The legalising of Cannabis has contributed to attracting more of the unwanted!

The attitude of the authorities often starts at the immigration arrivals where laws and rules navigating the constant changing requirements are often at the discretion of the officer, then the taxi Mafia and so it goes on.

We all know most of what is missing but Thailand knows better, corruption & greed will be the downfall of Thailand!!

 

Great initiative from TAT. I wonder why it hasn't been thought of before😁.

 

They need to look at the products offered elsewhere: beaches with pedestrianised promenades toilets and showers, no noisy jetskis, parasailers etc, no dogs roaming, no pot smokers. It makes for a far better beach experience.

So all those low-spending Chinese and Indians who have been encouraged to visit Thailand by the TAT and others don't really exist ? Thailand gave up attracting quality tourists years ago.

Been reading this sort of Garbage for 20 years or more; they just never learn that this is not and never will be a destination for the Wealthy on a regular basis.   How can it ever be when it's same old, same old year in and decade out !

3 hours ago, Showtime said:

 

I agree.  Second rate transportation doesn't help either.  Not to mention the scams, rip-offs, dirt, trash, ladyboys, polluted beaches, and unscrupulous taxis.  

Well, ya, there are those too. I didn’t want to sound too downbeat in my post 😂

3 hours ago, Showtime said:

 

 

WoW, New Zealand numbers seem crazy low while USA numbers seem crazy high.

The numbers aren’t accurate anyway. I have been overseas and back to Thailand 3 times this year. So I’m a triple tourist….but I live here. 
 

Every visa run by every person results in an additional “tourist”. I don’t know how much it skews the numbers, but the anomaly is there and TAT don’t care because it is in their favoir

You have to wonder who these people are that sit around in these offices dreaming up these schemes on almost a daily basis? There's are good reasons why wealthy people are avoiding Thailand, there are a dozen areas that should have, and could have been addressed over the past decade or longer, that the government's been ignoring. Those problems are not going away on their own.

 

Wealthy people like to buy good wine at a fair markup. Wealthy people like to shop while on vacation, and are unwilling to spend $13,000 for a Prada handbag that they can get for $4,500 in Singapore and elsewhere. Wealthy people like to travel by helicopter locally. Wealthy people do not want to get on a dangerous, choked up highway and spend hours and hours in traffic. Wealthy people care about things like air quality, public safety, traffic safety, and effective law enforcement. The list goes on and on and on, when will these govt. nimwits wake up? 

18 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

They've opened the borders to cheap mass tourism by opening up their visa system. They then want quality tourists.

 

Something is a miss there.

 

If you want quality high spending tourists - go look at Barbados, Maldives, St Lucia, etc 

 

If you want cheap trash, high crime, visa free look at Thailand. 

Explain how visa free brings in the riff raff, seriously, Want to know.

Are you getting bored with these perpetual announcements by TAT of  moving  from "volume"  to "value" tourism? I am! It's like continually telling your friends you are going to outer space without ever saying how you are going to do it. By the way did I ever tell you I was going to outerspace? Now where did I put my stash of drugs?

23 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

File photo courtesy of Thai Rath

 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is intensifying efforts to elevate its tourism markets to "Million Market" status, shifting focus from volume to value. TAT Governor, Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, reported positive growth in foreign tourist arrivals during the Green Season, particularly among high-spending visitors from Europe. In June, the European market grew by 13%, with Germany leading the surge at a remarkable 71% increase, followed by Italy and Switzerland.

 

The Middle Eastern market also showed exceptional growth, with Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE contributing to a 55% increase as they enter their tourism season.

 

A significant development in Thailand's tourism landscape is Malaysia surpassing China as the top source of foreign visitors, a position China held consistently since 2012. Early June saw a 13.22% rise in Malaysian tourists compared to last year, highlighting shifts in regional tourism dynamics.

 

TAT forecasts strong growth in forward bookings for upcoming travel slots, with July-September and October-December seeing substantial increases across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

 

To maintain momentum, TAT is implementing strategic market development initiatives. For the UK, new partnerships with British Airways and Norse Atlantic Airways aim to attract first-time and repeat visitors with enhanced flight options. Germany will see collaboration with major tour operators for charter flights and targeted promotions towards diverse markets such as DINKs, Gen Z, and LGBTQ communities.

 

In Russia, strategic promotions will focus on both primary and secondary cities, while French partnerships include major travel networks like Carrefour Voyages. In the United States, TAT plans to launch the "2 by 4 Global Amazing Month Campaign" through Travelstride and EVA Air.

 

In response to recent tourism challenges, TAT is restructuring its approach to ensure sustainable growth by promoting new destinations and balancing global tourist markets. They aim to stimulate interest in less-visited areas and target tourists with high purchasing power through creative and event-driven marketing, focusing on the "Value over Volume" growth model.

 

This comprehensive strategy is designed to adapt to changing market structures and strengthen Thailand's position as a premier destination for quality tourism, ensuring the sustainable development of its tourism sector.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Khaosod 2025-06-16

 

 

The problem is not Thailand it’s the monkey’s that run the show 🤷🏼

I still don’t understand why Thailand always feels the need to do things differently and target other groups that, as it turns out, don’t really benefit the country. Why not stick to the tried-and-true concept that has proven itself: older men from the West who have secured their pensions, cause little trouble, and are good for the Thai women? That target group is large enough and growing.

23 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

File photo courtesy of Thai Rath

 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is intensifying efforts to elevate its tourism markets to "Million Market" status, shifting focus from volume to value. TAT Governor, Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, reported positive growth in foreign tourist arrivals during the Green Season, particularly among high-spending visitors from Europe. In June, the European market grew by 13%, with Germany leading the surge at a remarkable 71% increase, followed by Italy and Switzerland.

 

The Middle Eastern market also showed exceptional growth, with Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE contributing to a 55% increase as they enter their tourism season.

 

A significant development in Thailand's tourism landscape is Malaysia surpassing China as the top source of foreign visitors, a position China held consistently since 2012. Early June saw a 13.22% rise in Malaysian tourists compared to last year, highlighting shifts in regional tourism dynamics.

 

TAT forecasts strong growth in forward bookings for upcoming travel slots, with July-September and October-December seeing substantial increases across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

 

To maintain momentum, TAT is implementing strategic market development initiatives. For the UK, new partnerships with British Airways and Norse Atlantic Airways aim to attract first-time and repeat visitors with enhanced flight options. Germany will see collaboration with major tour operators for charter flights and targeted promotions towards diverse markets such as DINKs, Gen Z, and LGBTQ communities.

 

In Russia, strategic promotions will focus on both primary and secondary cities, while French partnerships include major travel networks like Carrefour Voyages. In the United States, TAT plans to launch the "2 by 4 Global Amazing Month Campaign" through Travelstride and EVA Air.

 

In response to recent tourism challenges, TAT is restructuring its approach to ensure sustainable growth by promoting new destinations and balancing global tourist markets. They aim to stimulate interest in less-visited areas and target tourists with high purchasing power through creative and event-driven marketing, focusing on the "Value over Volume" growth model.

 

This comprehensive strategy is designed to adapt to changing market structures and strengthen Thailand's position as a premier destination for quality tourism, ensuring the sustainable development of its tourism sector.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Khaosod 2025-06-16

 

 

TAT. If you leave school with low grades or indeed if you never went come join the club you are welcome here. 🙈