If They Want The Tourists Back

[sriracha john]

What is necessary to bring tourism back??

Slash prices further, Phuket hotels told

Published on February 12, 2005

Phuket hotels must cut their room rates another 20 to 30 per cent if they are to appeal to foreign tourists again, said a group of British travel agents who are apparently displeased with the 50-per-cent price cuts most hotels are currently offering.

To register the number of guests they had pre-tsunami, hotels and resorts should also come up with aggressive promotional offers, they said.

Keith Betton, a representative of The Association of British Travel Agents, said only further price reductions would attract tourists who focus on price and other special offers.

If they are offered more benefits, then they will soon start showing up to the vacation isle once again, he added.

“We want to help Phuket’s low season by [bringing] more tourists. If hotels can’t cut the rates a bit more, we’ll be fine but we might have to offer destinations such as China,” another travel agent said.

A group of 17 travel agents yesterday met with 45 local hotels and travel agents in Phuket, where they called for additional reductions in room rates.

A British tour operator noted that more special offers would not hurt Phuket’s image as a high-end destination, given that international travellers recognise it would be a temporary measure.

The request was met with a cold response from local hotel operators and representatives from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), who feel that implementing the suggestions would negatively affect the industry’s outlook in the long term.

The industry would be destroyed if hotels offered such heavy discounts, said Opas Netr-ampai, owner of the Club Andaman Phuket and a member of the Tourism Council of Thailand’s executive committee. “If Phuket hoteliers accept this, then we have to give the same rate to all travel agents around the world. This will not be help tourism at all,” he said.

Phuket has many tourism offerings, including natural sites, adventure activities as well as many kinds of hand-made products, Opas said. These can attract tourists all year round.

Instead of recommending slashing rates, the TAT will instead step up marketing activities and promotional offers in all major European markets, said Pornsiri Manoharn, the authority’s deputy governor for international markets.

Suchat Sritama

The Nation

[joinme2leave]

as a matter of fact, unrealistic high reduced hotel rates would not all do good to tourist biz as it mostly might attract these kinda (sex) tourist that would come to Phuket anyway. Imho, it is more important to convince tourists about tranquillity at high level. Those kinda tourist might still pay any price as long as ther receive what they expect...

[khunlungphudhu]

The impression I have got from a few of the local High Street agents is that they are not yet offering West Coast holidays, so how do they know the price is too high? Asked specificly for Phuket and got a big sigh and weird look! Perhaps the larger reductions will allow them more per booking?

[chuchok]

as a matter of fact, unrealistic high reduced hotel rates would not all do good to tourist biz as it mostly might attract these kinda (sex) tourist that would come to Phuket anyway. Imho, it is more important to convince tourists about tranquillity at high level. Those kinda tourist might still pay any price as long as ther receive what they expect...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Can't agree here.Who's to say that sex tourists are not wealthy? Who's to say that a family of 4 are poor??? There is accomodation in Phuket that caters to all levels of expence.

When I take the family away I look for a deal.End of story.

[cdnvic]

I say if you want to go to Phuket, go to Phuket, and don't hold a financial gun to the head of a place that has suffered enough already.

I remember watching TV in Aus after the coup in Fiji. They ran ads showing a beautiful sandy beach and turquoise waters with the caption: "Fiji before" and then an identical picture with the caption "Fiji Now".

I think Phuket should put money into a PR campaign rather than a quick fix price drop, much of which will be pocketed by travel agents.

cv

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I say if you want to go to Phuket, go to Phuket, and don't hold a financial gun to the head of a place that has suffered enough already.

I remember watching TV in Aus after the coup in Fiji. They ran ads showing a beautiful sandy beach and turquoise waters with the caption: "Fiji before" and then an identical picture with the caption "Fiji Now".

I think Phuket should put money into a PR campaign rather than a quick fix price drop, much of which will be pocketed by travel agents.

cv

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The numbers are well down Vic, I recently stayed in a resort that only had 9% occupancy. Your idea is the right idea.

[ovenman]

I haven't looked into it myself but I would be curious to know whether the Phuket hotel discounts being offered truly do save any money, or is it a case of a property offering 50% off of their ridiculous rack rates and trumpeting that as a cut-rate price (when one could normally have received a bigger discount on that hotel, pre-tsunami, through a travel agency)?

[Diggerbasher]

I certainly would not describe the "cheap" deals as anything like cheap,just less than the previously high prices.

[chuchok]

I say if you want to go to Phuket, go to Phuket, and don't hold a financial gun to the head of a place that has suffered enough already.

I remember watching TV in Aus after the coup in Fiji. They ran ads showing a beautiful sandy beach and turquoise waters with the caption: "Fiji before" and then an identical picture with the caption "Fiji Now".

I think Phuket should put money into a PR campaign rather than a quick fix price drop, much of which will be pocketed by travel agents.

cv

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Travel agents will always be the same. They want cheaper deals so they can get bums on seats.Can't blame them as if I was in this business I would be asking the same.Doesn't mean that I like them though.

The Hotel industry is supply and demand. That's why we get deals off peak isn't it?

If I was the GM of a Hotel in peak season and it only had a 10% occupancy, I'd certainly be dropping my prices a little in the short term to get people in.

An advertising campaign is good for the longer term, but not great for next week

BTW, the Fijian Coup ads got themself in the poo for that.Good idea though.

[The_Moog]

Hoteliers are ultimate pragmatists - they will adjust prices down if necessary - I recall the Queen Sirikit Travel Show post SARS where there were great deals.

...lets not be sentimental - those prices will go STRAIGHT BACK UP when circumstances allow.

An article I did about Balinese tourism after the bomb suggest a 30% year-on-year reduction in tourist numbers. I daresay it will be same-same in Phuket.

Subject to a warning system put in place. (and thats why the 'Fijian' before/after campaign doesn't work here - the beaches are now empty in part because former sunbathers are now crab-food). Without a warning system to show off, Phuket cannot escape its past.

The Balinese codicil was that they caught the bombers before travel perked up.

In Bali I discovered the people who really suffered were the marginal beach traders

That's why I find it a bit sad that people focus in Phuket on the bigtime hoteliers and try to squeeze the deckchair attendants and massage girls by restricting beach access to them.

Edited February 13, 2005 by The_Moog

[sonthaya]

as a matter of fact, unrealistic high reduced hotel rates would not all do good to tourist biz as it mostly might attract these kinda (sex) tourist that would come to Phuket anyway. Imho, it is more important to convince tourists about tranquillity at high level. Those kinda tourist might still pay any price as long as ther receive what they expect...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree. The main problem is one of 'ignorance'. I had a Greek guy tell me a few days ago, when I said that I may go to Thailand to live... "Why you go there, the place is destroyed!" I kid you not... many, many people do not know the difference between Thailand, Sri Lanka, or Malaysia... it is all "over there."

They have seen the weeks of a thousand hours of waves, destruction, chaos and they really 'believe' that is what Thailand is like right now. Destroyed.

It is this ignorant world 'concept' that must be corrected by the Thai Government.

It has nothing to do with hotel prices at all. Nothing.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And why don't they know the difference between Thailand ,Indonesia or Sri Lanka, I think we can thank the press for that, seeing programs from BBC or CNN, it could be difficult for some people to see the difference.

[phuketsiam]

My Grandma wanted to send a parcel to my daughter here in Phuket, and the Post Office in Europe told her that Phuket had been destroyed, there is no-one there now and certainly no postal service !!

[kreon]

as a matter of fact, unrealistic high reduced hotel rates would not all do good to tourist biz as it mostly might attract these kinda (sex) tourist that would come to Phuket anyway. Imho, it is more important to convince tourists about tranquillity at high level. Those kinda tourist might still pay any price as long as ther receive what they expect...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree. The main problem is one of 'ignorance'. I had a Greek guy tell me a few days ago, when I said that I may go to Thailand to live... "Why you go there, the place is destroyed!" I kid you not... many, many people do not know the difference between Thailand, Sri Lanka, or Malaysia... it is all "over there."

They have seen the weeks of a thousand hours of waves, destruction, chaos and they really 'believe' that is what Thailand is like right now. Destroyed.

It is this ignorant world 'concept' that must be corrected by the Thai Government.

It has nothing to do with hotel prices at all. Nothing.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

totally agree with this, my 15yr daughter in oz is paranoid in coming to thailand, because of all the diseases here, sars, chicken flu and now the tsunami diseases, the travel agent advised her mum told her to stay away from these areas

she thinks its all over thailand and having a hard time to convince to come over in april

i think thailand must start to think about promoting thailand as a whole, not just the affected areas, and stop by being greedy at the same time, as this is another problem here...greed

[PeaceBlondie]

I worked at a big resort that many of you wouldn't know: South Padre Island, Texas. A few days after the 11th of September, 2001, a barge bumped into the only bridge and destroyed 100 meters of the causeway. For 2.5 months, there practically was no resort. Our hotel had as little as 5% occupancy, and those were folks that were stranded. I returned the day the bridge reopened with state-wide publicity. But even in March, 2.5 months AFTER the bridge reopened, travel agents were calling to ask what year the resort would reopen!

People in general, even travel agents, don't get the details when there's been a single disaster. But after SARS, bird flu, and the tsunami, Thailand as a travel destination is like a cruise ship that's dead in the water. It will take billions of baht in advertising and many months to re-educate the world.

[britmaveric]

Funny my brother in law said the same thing to me. Why the f$&k are you going to Phuket - place is wrecked? I gave him a few website urls and told him to look for himself. He realizes he was associating the tsunami effects elsewhere in SEA to Phuket which by those standards wasn't even touched. I think only time will get people back!

Edited February 14, 2005 by britmaveric

[The_Eye_Of_Sauron]

It is called 'ignorance' and 'lack of education'.

Come on. We're at the nob end of the world. Why should schools in Europe teach about us in South East Asia. Why can't they learn about things that might be more useful to them.

Anyone here who thinks the opposite - go and draw an pencil map of the principal islands of Indonesia - then compare it with an atlas and see how accurate you are in placing them all in relation to each other. Its not as easy as you think. If you can't do it why should a schoolboy from Billericay?

We have precious little bearing on their lives, apart from being the sources of disasters, antisocial diseases, fake t shirts, and women with upwardly pointy knockers.

Its nobody's obligation, duty, to fly 13 hours on holiday.

People are sceptical about adverts anyway, especially from Tourist organizations.

Phuket just has to take its lumps for 2005 and nurse its bruises. Its inevitable, but a slow process. It'll be back. These things take time.

Edited February 14, 2005 by The_Eye_Of_Sauron

[Diggerbasher]

I must say that i never saw the attraction of Phuket with islands like Koh Chang to visit.

[Digger]

In my opinion and speaking as someone who has worked before in the travel industry, directly selling holidays to people, it needs a two fold approach.

Firstly, An advertising campaign by the TOT showing what Phuket is like today - bit similar to Fuji ad's but also showing that damage did occur but its been repaired.

Secondly, a concerted pricing effort by airlines, hotels and ground handlers to motivate people to come back. An example could be "Come to Phuket now and enjoy prices so low you will never see them again" - basically your attracting people by price as there way of justifying to friends why they are going to Phuket. Forget any ideas about 'doing the right thing' and 'helping those less fortunate than oursleves' this does not cut it when your trying to encourage tourism to a Island that was hit by a Tsunami less than 2 months ago.

If it were me, I would tend to approach it along the lines that this holiday pre-tsunami was $XXX and is now $YYY a reduction of 50%. Once those people come, they will then feedback the true situation to their friends and so on. Also Thailand needs to focus its efforts on getting people from within Asia. Not sure what the TOT did to encourage Singaporeans and Hong Kong residents to spend Chinese New Year in Phuket - but I would hazzard a guess it was not a lot.

But ultimately, I believe that the hoteliers will not learn and sit on their high pedestals until they go bankrupt.

[Diggerbasher]

I get the impression that the TAT is not a particularly well run organisation and tends to be rather slow on its feet.Might be an idea to bring in a big hitter from the outside to take control.Thaksin could certainly do it if he wished.

[sriracha john]

An example could be "Come to Phuket now and enjoy prices so low you will never see them again"

Forget any ideas about 'doing the right thing' and 'helping those less fortunate than oursleves' this does not cut it when your trying to encourage tourism to a Island that was hit by a Tsunami less than 2 months ago. 

But ultimately, I believe that the hoteliers will not learn and sit on their high pedestals until they go bankrupt.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I believe you're right.... for the reasons stated above your assessment... they don't want to do that.

[The_Eye_Of_Sauron]

What happens if another tsunami comes while our new visitors are sitting on the beach?

[britmaveric]

What happens if another tsunami comes while our new visitors are sitting on the beach?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Remote at best - if for some bizzare reason it did occur this soon again I'd say Thailand's lost a viable tourist destination for the meek.

[Digger]

What happens if another tsunami comes while our new visitors are sitting on the beach?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well at least they will now what it is and what to do - i.e run like never before

[The_Eye_Of_Sauron]

Remote at best

Is it Brit. How can we be so sure? Are we seismologists?

....2 after shocks in Aceh at the weekend.

On the 25th December - it didn't look just remote, it looked inconceivable.

Hey, the quake was being discussed on Thaivisa by myself and a couple of others half an hour before the tsunami hit. ....didn't see anything on Thai Television though.

I guess we could trust the Thai Government....ah waitamminit...they didn't warn anyone because it might 'harm tourism'.

They've lost my confidence. I'm going on holiday to Bognor Regis this year.

Wouldn't jeopardise my kid's safety for a 50% discount !

[britmaveric]

Well the last big Tsunami - happened in 1700(s) so a 300 year window is good enough for me. I don't think a reoccuring pattern has been established so I dare say your fears are unfounded!

Edited February 15, 2005 by britmaveric

[The_Eye_Of_Sauron]

Well the last big Tsunami - happened in 1700(s) so a 300 year window is good enough for me

Well, would you not go to Bali because they haven't had a tsunami and so might be due for one?

Interesting advertising angle that TAT could use there ! The 'lightning doesn't strike twice' campaign.

[joinme2leave]

"shipping" in a sensationally good crisis trouble shooter (preferrably western, with tourism-only related aftermath experience) indeed is a good idea.

Don't know if TAT ever considered hiring somebody alike but I hope for them they do seriously think about that.

The big hotel chains defintely got this kinda crisis managment running already as from dec 27 but whatabout all those med-priced resorts who cannot afford assistance within their own budget?

Got lots of experience in tourism and could imagine to offer my serives (though, paid services as I cannot live on savings only) .... on the other hand, I am not sure TAT or similar governmental/local tourist managers would even think about outsider's help

[sriracha john]

What happens if another tsunami comes while our new visitors are sitting on the beach?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Remote at best - if for some bizzare reason it did occur this soon again I'd say Thailand's lost a viable tourist destination for the meek.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's the incredible thing about Nature. It is NOT remote possibility. Simply because it had been long time in between previous tsunamis doesn't mean anything now. The very unpredictable aspect of Nature is that one could happen easily next week. Nature knows nothing about keeping to a schedule.

[Diggerbasher]

If they had any sense they would limit construction to a "safe" distance behind the beach but i'm sure that will not happen.Only a second tsunami might bring that about.

[sriracha john]

That's the incredible thing about Nature. It is NOT remote possibility. Simply because it had been long time in between previous tsunamis doesn't mean anything now. The very unpredictable aspect of Nature is that one could happen easily next week.  Nature knows nothing about keeping to a schedule.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

ok, I admit it. I was TOTALLY wrong.... another earthquake/tsunami could just as easily happen THIS week, not next....

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=27535

"Earthquake felt in Phuket"