Passenger Traffic Numbers Continue To Decline At Thailand Airports

[churchill]

The six main airports in Thailand continued to see decreased passenger numbers in March, although the decline for the month was significantly less than in February, which was hit particularly hard by the economic downturn and increasing political tensions.

Passenger traffic fell by 14.22 per cent in March, to 4.78 million passengers, as compared with the drop of 20.55 per cent in the previous month.

At Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, passenger numbers fell to 3.46 million, down 11.08 per cent for the month. There was an increase in domestic numbers, however, which were up by 7.55 per cent, year-on-year, to 734,130 passengers. International numbers fell to 2.72 million, down 15 per cent.

For the first quarter, ended 31 March, passenger traffic dropped by 17.03 per cent to 13.71 million, as compared with the same period in 2008. International traffic was down 18.26 per cent, at 8.43 million passengers; and domestic traffic for the period was down 14.98 per cent, to 5.28 million passengers.

Aircraft movements for the first quarter fell by 16 per cent, year-on-year, to 89,481. International movements dropped by 12.87 per cent, to 50,627, and the number of domestic flights decreased by 19.9 per cent, to 28,854, according to figures published by Airports of Thailand (AoT).

Industry experts expect that passenger and flight numbers will continue to decline at Thai airports over the coming months.

The outlook was further dampened by political demonstrations and street riots in Bangkok in April and the more recent swine flu scare.

www2.airportthai.co.th

http://news.carrentals.co.uk/passenger-tra...ts-3426418.html

[TEFLMike]

I am not in the least surprised.

Travel company reports (2009) of holiday bookings for brits holidaying in the UK are soaring, for those that can even afford holidays. Due mainly to the economy, swine flu and troubles around the world.

It appears that 2009 is 'a stay at home', year for the Brits. And not just families.

Edited May 11, 2009 by TEFLMike

[wasabi]

I guess this is true of anywhere in the world but it's a shame small dissatisfied groups have made life very difficult for the majority. So many Thai's live hand to mouth and now with this type of trend desperation is going to set in.

[bartender100]

Hench the reason flights have dropped in price, cheapest i've seen is £340 on Emerita, can even book a regional airport via Amsterdam for under £500 in November, never seen this before.

[ralphlsasser]

IMO. These low numbers indicate Thailand remains the laughing stock of the world.

[Thongkorn]

IMO. These low numbers indicate Thailand remains the laughing stock of the world.

WHY

[Rinrada]

Time now for all the Thai businesses ...bars,restaurants,hotels,shops,tours .....and of course BANKs to put UP their Prices......

that should bring all the rich high spending ATM tattoed toorists back again....chai......dee mak....MPrai

[skiman1]

IMO. These low numbers indicate Thailand remains the laughing stock of the world.

Thats a bit harsh - deaths daily in the South, Murder and deaths at Krabbi and Phi Phi, riots, Airport closure and shootings in Bangkok, televised protests at ASEAN in Pattaya, Containers full of bodies at Sattahip, daily muggings and thefts by Katoeys, and a very poor exchange rate with 150 baht ATM fees - no problem Amazing Thailand

Edited May 11, 2009 by skiman1

[snuggzzz]

The drop in tourism/visitors is not due to any internal strife in Thailand; it is down to lack of money, in the UK as in the EU and around the world, currencies have dived, certainly in the UK it's about a third down against the Baht. In July 2008, GBP was 70 BHT. now 50BHT, on top of that the UK is now entering a deep recession.

Businesses like 'Woolworths' have been wound up, many are going bankrupt, the car industry are having to lay off workers as no one is buying new cars, unemployment is predicted to go through the 3M mark.

My Brother-in-law owns a firm, only a small family business, employing his brothers and sons, they make bespoke wooden furniture, the Order books have steadily declined this year, his first cancellation was the holiday to Thailand, he and my sister will not be going on holiday this year due to financial predictions; the UK is so badly in debt that after the next General Election, taxes will have to go up substantially, public services and jobs cut, there is also some talk of retirement ages for Men and Women being upped to 70 & 65 years.

Sorry this is so long, but any loss of Tourism is down to the lack of their available cash. My good friend a experienced Graphic Designer has been made redundant and given 6 weeks wages, after which for 13 weeks he has to sign on every two weeks to validate his £60 live on money plus show that he's actively looking for work. He's 38 years old and experienced in his profession. This is happening a lot, so the inevitable fallout will be holidays abroad, and the recession can only be fully assessed in the middle of next year.

[Texpat]

Tourism contributes 6% to Thailand's GDP.

If tourism fell to ZERO, not a single visitor, no hotels, no meals, no soapies.

It would only be down six percent. Get a grip.

Edited May 11, 2009 by Texpat

[skiman1]

Tourism contributes 6% to Thailand's GDP.

If tourism fell to ZERO, not a single visitor, no hotels, no meals, no soapies.

It would only be down six percent. Get a grip.

"Only 6%" - that is Billions of Baht - combine this with the decreases in the manufacturing sector and you are looking at serious problems for the economy

[ralphlsasser]

IMO. These low numbers indicate Thailand remains the laughing stock of the world.

Thats a bit harsh - deaths daily in the South, Murder and deaths at Krabbi and Phi Phi, riots, Airport closure and shootings in Bangkok, televised protests at ASEAN in Pattaya, Containers full of bodies at Sattahip, daily muggings and thefts by Katoeys, and a very poor exchange rate with 150 baht ATM fees - no problem Amazing Thailand

I think you answered the question of, "Why" very well. Except you forgot the daily riots. TIT!

[JR Texas]

Tourism contributes 6% to Thailand's GDP.

If tourism fell to ZERO, not a single visitor, no hotels, no meals, no soapies.

It would only be down six percent. Get a grip.

Six percent is actually high........but it does not include all of the industries that are linked to the tourism industry........if you include all of them, the figure is much higher than 6 percent.

In addition, the 6% is a national figure. We all know that certain areas/cities are overwhelmingly dominated by tourism. When tourists are put off by immigration policies, internal strife, etc., specific areas are severely hurt.

I would also like to remind you that if you work in the tourism industry, it does matter.........you are out of a job.

It is not wise to minimize the problem using statistics that do not show the entire picture.

[blackadder]

Tourism contributes 6% to Thailand's GDP.

If tourism fell to ZERO, not a single visitor, no hotels, no meals, no soapies.

It would only be down six percent. Get a grip.

Six percent is actually high........but it does not include all of the industries that are linked to the tourism industry........if you include all of them, the figure is much higher than 6 percent.

In addition, the 6% is a national figure. We all know that certain areas/cities are overwhelmingly dominated by tourism. When tourists are put off by immigration policies, internal strife, etc., specific areas are severely hurt.

I would also like to remind you that if you work in the tourism industry, it does matter.........you are out of a job.

It is not wise to minimize the problem using statistics that do not show the entire picture.

And do not forget the tourism money is 100% profit made in Thailand with foreign currency. It makes the 6% a great importance in relation to the industry to get raw materials abroad and pay in foreign currency. Tourist money is foreign currency 100% down in the country. Something that people do not understand when they look at the statistics.

[selftaopath]

- deaths daily in the South, Murder and deaths at Krabbi and Phi Phi, riots, Airport closure and shootings in Bangkok, televised protests at ASEAN in Pattaya, Containers full of bodies at Sattahip, daily muggings and thefts by Katoeys, and a very poor exchange rate with 150 baht ATM fees - no problem Amazing Thailand

But the main thing is: NOT to appear..... i.e. don't loose FACE LOLOLOLLOLL - or let's pretend....

[brahmburgers]

Tourism contributes 6% to Thailand's GDP.

There are basically 3 types of foreigners who come and spend money in Thailand. There are tourists, who stay for days/weeks, there are biz investors, and there are long staying residents.

That 6% deals mostly with tourist money, and it's still under-reported, particularly when tourists spend money in ways that are off the radar.

In comparison, money spent by long term farang is even more 'under the table' or otherwise doesn't show up on gov't statistics. Just 4 examples: dowries, payments to gf's families, brothels, and properties bought in a Thai person's name.

A more realistic measure of money brought in to Thailand (whether spent or put away) would be to gauge how much comes in via ATM's and other transfer protocols, or just carried in as cash by the traveler.

If gauged realistically, that 6% figure easily doubles or triples.

Obviously, touristed areas will feel the biggest crunch, in terms of unemployed and angry people (leading to more crime, mental depression, family problems), but the effects of less farang (and their bulging wallets) in Thailand will have a ripple effect throughout the country.

[skiman1]

Budget cuts wont affect investment spending (as they are borrowing money instead)

http://www.gibgae.com/united-files/spendin...nvestment-2600/

[Somtamnication]

It is a lot more than 6% GDP.

Industries related to tourism: taxis, food suppliers, clothes, double pricing, medical, ecotourism, $ex, drop in wages and taxes for the locals, etc etc.

It is by far closer to 40% if you take all of that into account. Thais never save, they spend, so most of the %100 of their wages are spent within a week or less. That is huge purchasing power in the cities and little villages.

[selftaopath]

Time now for all the Thai businesses ...bars,restaurants,hotels,shops,tours .....and of course BANKs to put UP their Prices......

that should bring all the rich high spending ATM tattoed toorists back again....chai......dee mak....MPrai

Yes that seems like the Thai thinking. Also this might be included: Does this help tourists(or other foreigners) feel welcomed?

Thai Immigration changes the rules for all foreigners

Thursday, 04 December 2008

<H1 style="MARGIN: auto 0in">30-days border runs now only 15 days </H1>In order to limit the amount of foreigners using "back-to-back" border runs, Thai Immigration has issued a new regulation regarding the 30 days tourist exemption.

Effective immediately, travellers without visa will get only 15 days of stay if they are arriving via a land border checkpoint from a neighboring country.

Discuss this news in our forum:

[waza]

Tourism is 6% of GDP! That would be the reported income, I bet the ladies, road side stall, tour guides,pick pokets ect ect ect, dont report their income. I think even tripling that percentage would be conservative.

[Boater]

the worst is still to come .........

[photojourn]

Six per cent of GDP but it used to amount to around 11 per cent of the economy - officially. With the drop in the manufacturing sector, exports down and many Thais not able to change out of the spending mentality the slide the country is on now is going to see a very hard landing when it bottoms out. Lots of building projects in Bangkok will come to a completion this year seeing thousands of laborers suddenly out of work as new projects don't start.

[hansnl]

Tourism contributes 6% to Thailand's GDP.

If tourism fell to ZERO, not a single visitor, no hotels, no meals, no soapies.

It would only be down six percent. Get a grip.

"Only 6%" - that is Billions of Baht - combine this with the decreases in the manufacturing sector and you are looking at serious problems for the economy

Indeed, and please let us not forget the kind of people at the bottom end, so to say, eek a living out of the 6%

[mrtoad]

the worst is still to come .........

Sounds familiar. Didnt't Toxins moron son have something like that on his t-shirt?

[jackdanielsesq]

The actual digits dont mean squat - it all depends on what fool bean-counter (remember Wall St) uses what abacus!

Its the cumulative and knock-on effect it has on all the peripheral service and folks employed therein.

When a maid or driver - who is a bread winner - loses a job, the family becomes a ward of the state.

Once that starts to snowball, you are in real trouble - remember, its the sum of the parts.

I feel real bad for those smiling, kindly folks, who always make me feel like I just got home.

BR>Jack

[EndofDays]

Tourism contributes 6% to Thailand's GDP.

If tourism fell to ZERO, not a single visitor, no hotels, no meals, no soapies.

It would only be down six percent. Get a grip.

i thought it would be way more than that, at least 15%. How about the trickle down economics of it, all the things that exist because of the tourist trade?

[sriracha john]

the worst is still to come .........

Sounds familiar. Didnt't Toxins moron son have something like that on his t-shirt?

I think he did, but the "come" portion was spelled differently.

[redwood13]

For comparison Los Angeles (LAX) showed a decline of 19% in international traffic for the month of March vs. March 2008. This was the 12th straight month of declines.

LA Times

-redwood

[Texpat]

Farangs continually try to inflate their importance toward Thailand.

In the big scheme of things, we don't amount to squat.

A little perspective would go far.

I'll concede that the cesspits of Pattaya and Phuket rely on your precious euros and pounds and bucks more than other places. But the constant calls that farangs are keeping Thailand afloat are mere fantasy.

[deprogrammed]

Front page of the Nation today reported that 'tourist arrivals are down 50%'