Thailand Eyes 30 Million Tourists In 2015

[webfact]

Thailand eyes 30 million tourists in 2015

BANGKOK, Sept. 5 – Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silpa-archa has set a target to increase the number of tourist arrivals to at least 30 million by 2015 and to generate national revenues of Bt1.4 trillion.

Speaking in a meeting with the ministry’s senior officials on Monday, Mr Chumpol said the urgent policy to be implemented is to designate the 2011-2012 the “Miracle Thailand Year” to attract foreign tourists to travel to Thailand and to celebrate the 84th anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol’s birthday which falls on December 5.

The ministry will launch a campaign to promote the year of sports and tourism in line with the King’s self sufficiency economy philosophy.

Activities will be organised in the capital and the provinces, while road shows will be held overseas. The ministry initially proposed a budget of Bt3.05 billion for 40 planned projects.

Mr Chumpol said the targeted group is quality markets. Visa fees will be exempted for tourists from some countries having Free Trade Area agreements with Thailand or having trade and investment relations with Thailand, such as Taiwan, Korea and China. Moreover, travel insurance will be offered for them.

The ministry will adopt tax measures to promote Thailand as a location for foreign movie shooting, and boost the country to become a full scale film production centre.

It will promote holding conferences, fairs such as the BoI Fair 2011 and international sports events. Tourism-related laws will be improved and bill will be proposed to address tourist problems and concerns.

The ministry targets to double income from foreign tourists to Bt1.4 trillion within five years and to increase the number of tourist arrivals from 15.9 million in 2010 to 31.8 million in 2015.

In 2011, it targeted to have 19.5 million tourists and earn Bt700 billion. There were 11.2 million tourists from January to July this year. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-09-05

[Guest]

I hope all those new visitors will enjoy the special welcome they will get in Phuket from the transportation mafia; perhaps its a new way to promote medical tourism?

[jimbeam1]

jb1

[kraplung]

I can't help but get the feeling the new Tourism minister isn't too experienced in the line of tourism. He seems to have a good line in fortune telling though.

[jonclark]

That new bunch of ministers ..lol ..oh you've got to love them..travel insurance..for a tourist from a Thai company - The claim will be forgotten as soon as the plane takes off. If they want quality tourists then they need some quality attractions. Not bemoaning Thailand, but its worn out and tired, the once famous beaches are a mess of low quality development gone crazy, the temples are knackered, crowded (but still a pleasant day out) and the National parks are shrinking by the day, lacking species coupled with a grossly biased two tier entrance system and as for the scams and other tourist <deleted> - When I leave I sure as hell won't return as a tourist. Good luck

[Bakseedaa]

That new bunch of ministers ..lol ..oh you've got to love them..travel insurance..for a tourist from a Thai company - The claim will be forgotten as soon as the plane takes off. If they want quality tourists then they need some quality attractions. Not bemoaning Thailand, but its worn out and tired, the once famous beaches are a mess of low quality development gone crazy, the temples are knackered, crowded (but still a pleasant day out) and the National parks are shrinking by the day, lacking species coupled with a grossly biased two tier entrance system and as for the scams and other tourist <deleted> - When I leave I sure as hell won't return as a tourist. Good luck

Hear Hear jonclark......!!!

[aussiebebe]

I can't pretend to understand how doubling the numbers of foreign tourists visiting could possibly be 'in line with the King's self sufficiency economy philosophy' which just seems like a contradiction in terms.

[madmitch]

It'll be interesting to see which "tourism related laws" will be improved! And I really don't understand how a bill to address tourist problems and concerns is feasible, unless it imediately bans jetskis, Phuket tuktuks and cracks down on the scammers.

Also I see the TAT budget has been set at 3.05bn baht and not the 8bn they requested. Still a very high amount. But a 50% increase in the number of tourist in four years? Sounds like they are going back on the quality not quantity jargon of the last few Governments.

Finally I'd like to say I entirely agree with jonclark and kraplung.

[Deez]

Now I know what they do with all the drugs they confiscate

[saintofsilence]

And pigs will fly by 2015

[Ricardo]

30 million tourists per-annum, within a few years and when the global-economy is crashing once again, I suspect this can only be achieved by counting each visitor twice, as they arrive and again as they depart.

And easing the visa-requirement for tourists ? Since I travel several times each year, and am therefore counted already in the statistics as several tourists, how about making visa-requirements easier & free for us current-residents, as part of this initiative ? We contribute more, to the Thai economy, than short-stay tourists, after all.

Trashing the Thai economy so that the Baht falls drastically would also help encourage more tourists, however I would not wish the new PTP-government to go that far, in their efforts to fill the 5-star resorts & First-Class seats on Thai Airways. If they're listening, that is ...

[DP25]

Very optimistic numbers, and hopefully it never comes to pass. 15 million is already too taxing on the environment, another 15 million will be a catastrophe.

[Buchholz]

And pigs will fly by 2015

Also, due by 2015 is...

ICT Ministry speeds up Smart Thailand operation

BANGKOK, 5 September 2011 (NNT)

At present, only 37% of Thailand has internet access. The ICT Ministry will expand the network coverage to 80% of the country within 2012 and to 85% by 2015.

A 30 Billion Baht budget will be sought for the four-year plan.

http://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news.php?id=255409050014

[Pedzie]

That new bunch of ministers ..lol ..oh you've got to love them..travel insurance..for a tourist from a Thai company - The claim will be forgotten as soon as the plane takes off. If they want quality tourists then they need some quality attractions. Not bemoaning Thailand, but its worn out and tired, the once famous beaches are a mess of low quality development gone crazy, the temples are knackered, crowded (but still a pleasant day out) and the National parks are shrinking by the day, lacking species coupled with a grossly biased two tier entrance system and as for the scams and other tourist <deleted> - When I leave I sure as hell won't return as a tourist. Good luck

I agree, also Thailand should spend some serious money upgrading it's infrastructure and come up with fresh idea's to combat pollution in the major tourist hotspots and the country as whole, without doing this i find hard to believe Thailand can keep attracting more tourists year in year out

[ginjag]

I can't help but get the feeling the new Tourism minister isn't too experienced in the line of tourism. He seems to have a good line in fortune telling though.

Is there any body there???? it's like knocking and no one at home. K.ChumpOL. Why not take care of your bigger spenders=foreigners -here already, I'm talking about months here at a time NOT A quick Package tour prepaid-inclusive-from China.

As stated so many times---THE SCAMS--get it-apart from the world money problems-PROTECT the travelers when they arrive==drive out the SCUM-LEECHES that prey on your precious tourists. This will save the 3 billion baht you want to do the job. GET the biggest hoover in the world and suck up these greedy Thais, REMOVE them and word of mouth will give you your tourists back, NOT 3Billion

Get your immigration law sorted -and for gods sake stop these STUPID visa runs for long time stayers.

[ratcatcher]

30 million tourists per-annum, within a few years and when the global-economy is crashing once again, I suspect this can only be achieved by counting each visitor twice, as they arrive and again as they depart.

And easing the visa-requirement for tourists ? Since I travel several times each year, and am therefore counted already in the statistics as several tourists, how about making visa-requirements easier & free for us current-residents, as part of this initiative ? We contribute more, to the Thai economy, than short-stay tourists, after all.

Trashing the Thai economy so that the Baht falls drastically would also help encourage more tourists, however I would not wish the new PTP-government to go that far, in their efforts to fill the 5-star resorts & First-Class seats on Thai Airways. If they're listening, that is ...

"If they are listening" ?

Nobody's listening here, they operate in a dream world full of miracles and pipe dreams. Numbers are pulled out of a hat, meanwhile the system they are trying to promote is rotten to the core with scams and corruption.

Until the people that run these ministries come down to earth and face the cold, hard facts, nothing will change. Sad really.

[moe666]

I can't help but get the feeling the new Tourism minister isn't too experienced in the line of tourism. He seems to have a good line in fortune telling though.

Is there any body there???? it's like knocking and no one at home. K.ChumpOL. Why not take care of your bigger spenders=foreigners -here already, I'm talking about months here at a time NOT A quick Package tour prepaid-inclusive-from China.

As stated so many times---THE SCAMS--get it-apart from the world money problems-PROTECT the travelers when they arrive==drive out the SCUM-LEECHES that prey on your precious tourists. This will save the 3 billion baht you want to do the job. GET the biggest hoover in the world and suck up these greedy Thais, REMOVE them and word of mouth will give you your tourists back, NOT 3Billion

Get your immigration law sorted -and for gods sake stop these STUPID visa runs for long time stayers.

Funny man I didn't know long term stayers where tourist. Have them get the proper visa if they qualify, no more visa runs.

[rametindallas]

Sounds like they are counting their chickens before the eggs have hatched. i hope they don't spend those 'profits' before they are realised. Advertising for more first-time visitors is good but cleaning up some of the worst offences to tourist would insure repeat visitors and word-of-mouth free advertising.

Getting rid of the airport taxi mafia and the Grand Palace scams should be a no-brainer and two-tiered pricing is insulting even if the higher price is reasonable. I used to visit Koh Samui every trip but the rip offs got so bad that Koh Samui no longer gets my tourist dollars. I refuse to visit Phuket because of it reputation for taxi mafia and jet ski crooks. I won't be going back to Pataya because I don't like being constantly propositioned by prostitutes while walking along the beach at 7 o'clock in the morning LOL.

This country has a lot going for it, tourist-wise, but the learning curve for first time visitors if very steep if they don't want unpleasantries to mar their vacation. I keep coming back because the pros, by far, outweigh the cons; if you know the cons in advance. TAT wil probably spend the money luring unsuspecting first-time visitors to the LOS but if they were to clean up the most glaring problems, they would get more repeat visitors and the all-important, and free, word of mouth advertising. Maybe they should use the TAT money to bribe the police to do their job in tourist areas.

[virtualtraveller]

Who dreams this stuff up, what you're talking about here is nearly 100% increase in three years, hardly achievable or sustainable. Man this government of ours is just so full of unrealistic dreamy goals and promises that can't possibly be met. For starters the airport is at capacity so just how are you going to squeeze double through there. Oh, and by the way, there's probably a second recession on its way in Europe and the US which means weak $ and £ and Euro and less money to spend on holidays, especially to a place like Thailand where a tourist beer costs more than your local and a trip across the length of Patong in a tuk tuk costs the same a similar ride across London's West End.

[terryp]

And the signs at Swampy will all read:

欢迎到泰国... ... ...现在花所有的钱，他妈的关闭

[surangw]

"Sounds like they are counting their chickens before the eggs have hatched."

in this case several generations of chickens still have not been hatched to produce the eggs

Sounds like they are counting their chickens before the eggs have hatched. i hope they don't spend those 'profits' before they are realised. Advertising for more first-time visitors is good but cleaning up some of the worst offences to tourist would insure repeat visitors and word-of-mouth free advertising.

Getting rid of the airport taxi mafia and the Grand Palace scams should be a no-brainer and two-tiered pricing is insulting even if the higher price is reasonable. I used to visit Koh Samui every trip but the rip offs got so bad that Koh Samui no longer gets my tourist dollars. I refuse to visit Phuket because of it reputation for taxi mafia and jet ski crooks. I won't be going back to Pataya because I don't like being constantly propositioned by prostitutes while walking along the beach at 7 o'clock in the morning LOL.

This country has a lot going for it, tourist-wise, but the learning curve for first time visitors if very steep if they don't want unpleasantries to mar their vacation. I keep coming back because the pros, by far, outweigh the cons; if you know the cons in advance. TAT wil probably spend the money luring unsuspecting first-time visitors to the LOS but if they were to clean up the most glaring problems, they would get more repeat visitors and the all-important, and free, word of mouth advertising. Maybe they should use the TAT money to bribe the police to do their job in tourist areas.

[ginjag]

I can't help but get the feeling the new Tourism minister isn't too experienced in the line of tourism. He seems to have a good line in fortune telling though.

Is there any body there???? it's like knocking and no one at home. K.ChumpOL. Why not take care of your bigger spenders=foreigners -here already, I'm talking about months here at a time NOT A quick Package tour prepaid-inclusive-from China.

As stated so many times---THE SCAMS--get it-apart from the world money problems-PROTECT the travelers when they arrive==drive out the SCUM-LEECHES that prey on your precious tourists. This will save the 3 billion baht you want to do the job. GET the biggest hoover in the world and suck up these greedy Thais, REMOVE them and word of mouth will give you your tourists back, NOT 3Billion

Get your immigration law sorted -and for gods sake stop these STUPID visa runs for long time stayers.

Funny man I didn't know long term stayers where tourist. Have them get the proper visa if they qualify, no more visa runs.

Not so funny man,

Near every person passing through is classed as a tourist, Many people here do not want to put 800,000 in the bank, and still have to report, other long term cat 0 visa do border runs, =Thai dont get anything the other country benefits where you cross-ridiculous. MY point was modify the visa -if you get a yearly 0 visa why not report to immigration, the same as your retirement visa. If a person wishes to stay long term and is under the retirement age, then he has to do visa runs. GET REAL--sounds like your an I'm alright jack person. Do you honestly believe that the visa law does not want a second look, with the tourist problem that exists.

We are ALL guests here only-tolerated- if you do not do a visa run it does not mean that you are more special- step out of line here and it does not matter what type of visa you have. you'll be done

[REM]

That new bunch of ministers ..lol ..oh you've got to love them..travel insurance..for a tourist from a Thai company - The claim will be forgotten as soon as the plane takes off. If they want quality tourists then they need some quality attractions. Not bemoaning Thailand, but its worn out and tired, the once famous beaches are a mess of low quality development gone crazy, the temples are knackered, crowded (but still a pleasant day out) and the National parks are shrinking by the day, lacking species coupled with a grossly biased two tier entrance system and as for the scams and other tourist <deleted> - When I leave I sure as hell won't return as a tourist. Good luck

Dido on that! Once I'm out, I'm out and never looking back!

[lovetotravel]

And the signs at Swampy will all read:

欢迎到泰国... ... ...现在花所有的钱，他妈的关闭

You need to add:

مرحبا

приветствие

[Payboy]

Thailand Eyes 30 Million Tourists In 2015

Would be better if 30 million tourists were eyeing Thailand in 2015.

[DLock]

That new bunch of ministers ..lol ..oh you've got to love them..travel insurance..for a tourist from a Thai company - The claim will be forgotten as soon as the plane takes off. If they want quality tourists then they need some quality attractions. Not bemoaning Thailand, but its worn out and tired, the once famous beaches are a mess of low quality development gone crazy, the temples are knackered, crowded (but still a pleasant day out) and the National parks are shrinking by the day, lacking species coupled with a grossly biased two tier entrance system and as for the scams and other tourist <deleted> - When I leave I sure as hell won't return as a tourist. Good luck

JC, I concur.

Thailand tourism has seen it's best days. The usual places are old, tired and faded, rife with corruption, dirty and inhabited by transplanted Thai's chasing the mythical "gold rush" fever.

Unless the get an F1, a new Casino, Disneyland or discover magnificent ancient ruins, then my guess is tourism will only grow marginally in the next 4 years.

There is only so far the exotic reputation, average beaches, temples, elephant treks, bargirls and full moon parties can take you.

"Miracle Thailand". That just feels like the marketing department projecting their doubting attitude into a slogan.

[lovetotravel]

That new bunch of ministers ..lol ..oh you've got to love them..travel insurance..for a tourist from a Thai company - The claim will be forgotten as soon as the plane takes off. If they want quality tourists then they need some quality attractions. Not bemoaning Thailand, but its worn out and tired, the once famous beaches are a mess of low quality development gone crazy, the temples are knackered, crowded (but still a pleasant day out) and the National parks are shrinking by the day, lacking species coupled with a grossly biased two tier entrance system and as for the scams and other tourist <deleted> - When I leave I sure as hell won't return as a tourist. Good luck

JC, I concur.

Thailand tourism has seen it's best days. The usual places are old, tired and faded, rife with corruption, dirty and inhabited by transplanted Thai's chasing the mythical "gold rush" fever.

Unless the get an F1, a new Casino, Disneyland or discover magnificent ancient ruins, then my guess is tourism will only grow marginally in the next 4 years.

There is only so far the exotic reputation, average beaches, temples, elephant treks, bargirls and full moon parties can take you.

"Miracle Thailand". That just feels like the marketing department projecting their doubting attitude into a slogan.

I was just reading an article on occupancy rates at hotels here in Thailand. Seems they are averaging 50% or so. Some less. These are the rates reported by the western hotel chains. So probably true info.

[jeanelie]

Chinese, Russians & muslims will fill the gap.

[DLock]

Chinese, Russians & muslims will fill the gap.

They may "fill the gap", but Thailand needs massive incremental tourists, not replacements.

But I do agree. Add Indians and budget Australians, and plan accordingly.

[slapout]

Give the right groups the money they are requesting and they will be able to modify the hand held counters so the numbers will meet the goals. The cost to get these widgets into the right hands, as well as official testing/approval may require a budget adjustment. Upwards of course.