Thai Tourism To Lose Bt3b In Revenue From Japan Disaster

[webfact]

Thai tourism to lose Bt3 bln in revenue from Japan disaster

BANGKOK, March 16 - Thailand's tourism revenues are projected to fall by about Bt3 billion for the first three months following Japan's recent natural and nuclear disasters, according to the Thai-Japan Tourist Association (TJTA).

One hundred per cent of Thai travellers have cancelled their intended trips to Japan, and their air tickets will be fully refunded if they had booked to travel with Thai Airways International (THAI).

Speaking to reporters after meeting the public and private sectors concerning Thai-Japan tourism, Deputy Permanent Secretary for the Tourism and Sports Ministry Thanitta Maneechot said the Thai-Japan Tourist Association and related agencies have agreed to fully refund Thai tourists wishing to cancel their trips if flying with THAI.

The agencies are coordinating with the Japanese Embassy to Thailand concerning the refund of visa fees and tickets issued by other airlines.

Thais travelling as tourists and in Japan have been reported safe and will return to Thailand as originally planned.

Ms Thanitta advised tour agents to organise tours in other parts of Asia, particularly India and China, due to their lower cost of travelling.

A THAI representative said at the meeting all types of tickets to Japan can be cancelled until the end of April, while the airline is facilitating ticket purchases for Thais in Japan wishing to return to Thailand. Those want to return home can have their families and friends at home buy tickets.

Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA) president Charoen Wangananont said in regard to cancelled organised tours to Japan, association member companies are willing to refund some part of the fees to travellers, but the process may take at least 60 days.

Thai tourists generally travel to Japan from March to May. This year saw a rise in the number of Thai tourists by about 100,000 wishing to travel to the country, or around 30,000-40,000 travellers on a monthly average with an average Bt50,000 expense per person.

However, TJTA President Anek Srichiwachart said only 20-30 per cent of Japanese tourists have cancelled their trips to Thailand due to the recent disasters.

Mr Anek said the situations might affect Thai-Japan tourism in April-May when some 40,000-50,000 Japanese travellers usually visit Thailand for their ten-day holidays.

TJTA said the association had expected 1.4 million Japanese tourists to enter the country this year but now indicate the number of arrivals will be reduced to 1.2 million due to the Japan crisis.

Nearly one million Japanese --980,000-- visited Thailand last year, the second biggest group following Chinese travellers. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-03-16

[londonthai]

"One hundred per cent of Thai travellers have cancelled their intended trips to Japan"

doesn't sound correct, as all airlines are fully operational both ways and only 200 (out of 36k thai citisens in japan) decided to come back home.

on another thread there is about 15k tablets of iodine to be given to thai travelling to japan

Edited March 16, 2011 by londonthai

[bangon04]

"One hundred per cent of Thai travellers have cancelled their intended trips to Japan"

doesn't sound correct, as all airlines are fully operational both ways and only 200 (out of 36k thai citisens in japan) decided to come back home.

on another thread there is about 15k tablets of iodine to be given to thai travelling to japan

Well they'll have to sell the tablets on the open (or not so open) market, won't they. Now that the government has paid someone to supply them at tremendous cost.

[Nisa]

"One hundred per cent of Thai travellers have cancelled their intended trips to Japan"

doesn't sound correct, as all airlines are fully operational both ways and only 200 (out of 36k thai citisens in japan) decided to come back home.

on another thread there is about 15k tablets of iodine to be given to thai travelling to japan

You are right, I think something was lost in the translation.

[kdc1899]

The revenue will be lost due to the tens of thousands japanese men who come to monger on sukumvit and ratchada; not cumming for a while.

[londonthai]

no, iodine tablets are dirt cheap - in the desert/far from civilisation they might be used to clean water from bacteria, in a fluid form it's used to clean wounds. Doesn't need prescription.

in the usa box of 14 tablets are fetching now $525 - whoever has money this kind of money to throw away doesn't know much about searching for much cheaper options on the net

Edited March 16, 2011 by londonthai

[MaiChai]

More low quality news reporting from Thailand. Its pretty obvious the Japanese won't be coming en-mass for a while; however, where do they gets these figures from?

[LaoPo]

More low quality news reporting from Thailand. Its pretty obvious the Japanese won't be coming en-mass for a while; however, where do they gets these figures from?

I agree; Premature and nonsense BS ....how can anyone even estimate what the losses for tourism will be.

Of course there will be losses but it's even "not done" to speak about losses for Thailand.

What about Japanese losses?

LaoPo

[khaowong1]

The revenue will be lost due to the tens of thousands japanese men who come to monger on sukumvit and ratchada; not cumming for a while.

There's going to be a bunch of girls on Soi Cowboy in dire straights.

[exbelg]

tens of thousands of people died or might die, and thailand is thinking about losing some money, sad sad thailand

do you think, if japan asks countries around them, to have refugies from japan for a long stay, that thailand will come up with blue cheese VISA requirements , 90 day reports for japanase refugees, leaving the country every 90 days for a stamp ???

Edited March 17, 2011 by exbelg

[EODghost]

Sad indeed, no thought for the loss of life, only their own pocket books. Selfish Thailand.

tens of thousands of people died or might die, and thailand is thinking about losing some money, sad sad thailand

do you think, if japan asks countries around them, to have refugies from japan for a long stay, that thailand will come up with blue cheese VISA requirements , 90 day reports for japanase refugees, leaving the country every 90 days for a stamp ???

[Sydebolle]

Well, to continue this subject which completely lacks taste - maybe there are close to no Japanese coming to Thailand but there are also no Thais going to Japan. While Thais wrip off every living creature setting foot on the Land of Smiles the Japanese hosts treat their Thai guests at fair (yet expensive) prices.

So maybe those Thai tourists with having their travelling plans to the Land of the Rising Sun cancelled can send their money to the Tourism Authority of Thailand to compensate for the loss ......