Foreigners Staying Away As Floods Stay: Thailand Tourism

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SETBACKS TO TOURISM

Foreigners staying away as floods stay

Suchat Sritama

The Nation

Q4 arrivals from key markets may plunge 10%: ATTA

Thailand's tourism industry will slow down in the final quarter and arrivals from key markets will drop by 10 per cent if the problem of flooding is not solved soon, warns Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA).

He said travel agencies in Japan, South Korea and China were keeping an eye on the situation and asking ATTA when the flooding would improve because they want to bring package tours to key destinations, namely Bangkok, Ayutthaya and Chiang Mai.

"These three markets are very worried about the flooding and will not visit if the floods continue through October." He added that tourists from long-haul markets such as Europe and the Americas were also concerned about making reservations during high season this year.

ATTA predicted that the number of inbound tourists from key markets would drop by 10 per cent if the flooding situation did not get addressed immediately.

According to ATTA statistics, 2.2 million international visitors booked their trips with ATTA travel agents between January 1 and September 27, recording a 57-per-cent increase over the same period last year.

The nine highest-growth markets during this period were all in Asia, with China showing 122-per-cent growth with 470,000 more arrivals; Russia soaring 102 per cent with another 300,000 arrivals; and India rising 10 per cent with 180,000 more visitors.

Sisdivachr said arrivals from Asian countries should grow by 50 per cent in the current final quarter of the year mainly because Thailand is politically stable and the post-earthquake crisis in Japan is improving.

Surapol Svetasreni, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said last week that flooding had brought domestic tourism to a halt because people could not travel to flooded areas.

According to private-sector estimates, overall domestic tourism has dropped by 30 per cent, with Bangkok and Chiang Mai the most affected.

The Association of Domestic Travel has learned that tourists have cancelled many travel packages sold before several provinces were inundated, though many travel agencies offered alternatives to customers.

Tourism in heavily flooded areas such as Ayutthaya, Lop Buri, Angthong and other provinces has dropped by 70-80 per cent or more.

However, TAT said foreign tourists were still making bookings for Thailand during the high season and they should start arriving from this month to February.

Charoen Wangananont, vice president of ATTA, said the association had asked the Tourism and Sports Ministry to consider offering travel agencies urgent loans. He said small operators should be the first to receive help with a loan of Bt1 million at 2-per-cent interest.

-- The Nation 2011-10-01

[BigRick]

The floods are keeping them away thats the ticket. Nothing to do with policy change or high profile scams.

[jalansanitwong]

Alot of tourists wouldnt even know about the floods expecially in Europe. Why does Thailand always think its the centre of the universe ? Maybe tourists are put off coming to a country where overpricing and cheating is a national pastime.

[kalbo123]

Alot of tourists wouldnt even know about the floods expecially in Europe. Why does Thailand always think its the centre of the universe ? Maybe tourists are put off coming to a country where overpricing and cheating is a national pastime.

A friend tried to get here with China Airlines from Holland, they fly daily, first 2 weeks of October,fully booked!

So think Europeans still come here in large numbers.

[BigRick]

At least one good thing is the exchange rate is going back in our favor almost 31 to the US dollar vs 29 a couple of months ago. Keep up those great policies!!!

[OzMick]

This flooding has to be solved NOW - it's starting to lose us money!

The empathy shown towards those living the nightmare is completely underwhelming.

[Bakseedaa]

Alot of tourists wouldnt even know about the floods expecially in Europe. Why does Thailand always think its the centre of the universe ? Maybe tourists are put off coming to a country where overpricing and cheating is a national pastime.

A friend tried to get here with China Airlines from Holland, they fly daily, first 2 weeks of October,fully booked!

So think Europeans still come here in large numbers.

China Airlines are cheap... you try booking with Thai Airways or British Airways... their flights are empty... American and European peoples are not coming because they are broke .. and worried about the future of the Euro and the US dollar... Thanks to our bankers and politicians... and the Dutch are not exactly Big Spenders .. tell your friend , plenty of flights to South Africa...

[Bakseedaa]

This flooding has to be solved NOW - it's starting to lose us money!

The empathy shown towards those living the nightmare is completely underwhelming.

But the price of water is down..... just wish it was raining whisky..!

[OldeBellPedr]

I wouldn't think the average Thai would give a toss about Chinese and Korean package tourists staying away: They stay in hotels owned by the rich, eat in restaurants owned by the tour operators nephew and go out on stage managed day trips to places owned by the tour operators neice! The average Thai benefits much more from Farang tourism whith independent minded tourists choosing for themselves where they want to stay eat and visit.

[geriatrickid]

At least one good thing is the exchange rate is going back in our favor almost 31 to the US dollar vs 29 a couple of months ago. Keep up those great policies!!!

The FX changes don't have much to do with Thai policies. The FX changes are a result of foreign markets returning to the $US. Look at the change in the other markets. The $US has climbed steadily against the Euro, $CAD, $AUS this month. Now if your are refering to the European debt crisis, I can see why you would want them to keep up their economic policies. The fact of the matter is that if someone wants to visit Thailand there are alternative destinations to the areas with the flooding. People in search of the beach are not going to make a beeline to Chiang Mai. The Scandanavians, and Russians are still pouring in. There is no flood damage to speak of in Bangkok so the Arabs and Asians will still come. What's turning some people off are the 10-20% increase in airfares over the past year.

[rogerdee123]

At least one good thing is the exchange rate is going back in our favor almost 31 to the US dollar vs 29 a couple of months ago. Keep up those great policies!!!

yeah! with all this free money, free credit, and Govt going into debt ... the PTP policies should bring the Baht back to 40/$1 in another year or two ... if they last that long.

[KhunVee]

I wouldn't think the average Thai would give a toss about Chinese and Korean package tourists staying away: They stay in hotels owned by the rich, eat in restaurants owned by the tour operators nephew and go out on stage managed day trips to places owned by the tour operators neice! The average Thai benefits much more from Farang tourism whith independent minded tourists choosing for themselves where they want to stay eat and visit.

Absolutely.

I see them pass trough here and there. They come and go in those coaches. A very well oiled machine. They are well herded by the guide(s) and always stay concentrated in group never less than 10 per sqm.

I wonder if they even carry THB cash (except some small change for the occasional Chaa Yen or Saa Paper fan) as it seems everything is taken care off at the Seoul or Beijing Agency already....

They also don't stroll around the Night Bazaar in the evenings or restaurant area's. It seems they are kept away from it and are tucked away at the Kantoke places that are outside the city.

Edited October 1, 2011 by KhunVee

[uptheos]

What's turning some people off are the 10-20% increase in airfares over the past year.

Don't know about other places, but there are loads of OK fares from the UK to Bangkok for 500 pounds or less (about 24,000 Baht).

I wish I could have as many options from here at that price.

[BigRick]

30% is more like it I picked up a jaw ticket (Open end 1 year) for 800$ US last year that same ticket is almost 1200$ and that price has not dropped at all. My guess is the Chinese tourist have minders to make sure they don't see the good life and the fact that you can use Google and Facebook in Thailand. I wonder if they will last two years myself the average Thai does not seem to happy with the situation lots of promises but same sh*t different day brought to you courtesy of the Chinese Thai power brokers.

[uptheos]

Taking everything into account, it's actually better value for Brits to come here than it is to go to the med.

[jalansanitwong]

I wouldn't think the average Thai would give a toss about Chinese and Korean package tourists staying away: They stay in hotels owned by the rich, eat in restaurants owned by the tour operators nephew and go out on stage managed day trips to places owned by the tour operators neice! The average Thai benefits much more from Farang tourism whith independent minded tourists choosing for themselves where they want to stay eat and visit.

yes , exactly... i shared an office with a Korean for 3 months .Drove me crazy . never stopped talking about his 'brother' which in Korean basically means rich Uncle with influence. koreans are toy soldiers and the Government is the generals. I am talking about South korea !! I Koreans always need someone to hold their little hand no matter what they do or where they do it.

[Boater]

well there has been no mention of the Floods here in the UK at the moment, and i dont think they will

BUT

1) they have mentioned the Nazi event in Chaing Mai -

2) South African man Scammed by Cops

So , i think people might not come here as per the above.............

[blazes]

I wouldn't think the average Thai would give a toss about Chinese and Korean package tourists staying away: They stay in hotels owned by the rich, eat in restaurants owned by the tour operators nephew and go out on stage managed day trips to places owned by the tour operators neice! The average Thai benefits much more from Farang tourism whith independent minded tourists choosing for themselves where they want to stay eat and visit.

I'm sure you're right, but I'd just like to query: since "farang" means "foreigner" (right?), aren't all the Chinese, Koreans, Japanese etc also farangs???

[blazes]

30% is more like it I picked up a jaw ticket (Open end 1 year) for 800$ US last year that same ticket is almost 1200$ and that price has not dropped at all. My guess is the Chinese tourist have minders to make sure they don't see the good life and the fact that you can use Google and Facebook in Thailand. I wonder if they will last two years myself the average Thai does not seem to happy with the situation lots of promises but same sh*t different day brought to you courtesy of the Chinese Thai power brokers.

Apparently the Chinese economy is beginning to look distinctly sickly (by the standards of the last few years). So, it would not be too surprising to see massive decreases in tourists from there, and possibly Japan.

[tigermonkey]

I wouldn't think the average Thai would give a toss about Chinese and Korean package tourists staying away: They stay in hotels owned by the rich, eat in restaurants owned by the tour operators nephew and go out on stage managed day trips to places owned by the tour operators neice! The average Thai benefits much more from Farang tourism whith independent minded tourists choosing for themselves where they want to stay eat and visit.

I'm sure you're right, but I'd just like to query: since "farang" means "foreigner" (right?), aren't all the Chinese, Koreans, Japanese etc also farangs???

Farang roughly translates as "caucasian" -- so the answer to your question is "no".

Edited October 1, 2011 by tigermonkey

[whitejaguar]

Thailand hates foreigners, Thailand loves money and its getting more and more visible. I think enough reason to go somewhere else where the sun shines!

[JulesMad]

I only read about reasons why people should NOT come to Thailand (Phuket, BIB, scams, rain, floods, etc etc) Let's try to find some good reasons why people SHOULD come to Thailand.....

I don't care about package tourists, they don't spend any money

[bhakta]

Could it have anything to do with the rip off prices of Thai tourism these days? I honestly cannot recommend my friends to come here for a holiday any longer.

[Ulysses G.]

Could it have anything to do with the rip off prices of Thai tourism these days? I honestly cannot recommend my friends to come here for a holiday any longer.

Tell them to visit London or the South of France. The prices are so much lower there.

[saroq]

China Airlines are cheap... you try booking with Thai Airways or British Airways... their flights are empty... American and European peoples are not coming because they are broke .. and worried about the future of the Euro and the US dollar... Thanks to our bankers and politicians... and the Dutch are not exactly Big Spenders .. tell your friend , plenty of flights to South Africa...

Not so out of Beijing I can assure you. Flights to Thailand (China Airlines, Thai Air, Singapore Air etc.) during the Chinese National holiday in October were fully booked weeks, even a month or more before the holiday. I know scams and other bullshit go on in Thailand all the time but maybe the Thais have found that the new and growing Chinese market isn't aware of them or more likely is shielded from them because they choose to travel in tour groups which allows the scam artists little to no access to them. Perhaps it's not only the Thais who think that the universe revolves around them but also the Westerners as well.

[Theo007]

No, my Thai friends tell me that " farang " refers only to Western foreigners since it was the name given to the French when they first arrived here. Therefore the Chinese and other asians are not regarded as farangs, there is another word for them.

[Tiffer]

Thailand hates foreigners, Thailand loves money and its getting more and more visible. I think enough reason to go somewhere else where the sun shines!

When are you leaving then?

[Tiffer]

Could it have anything to do with the rip off prices of Thai tourism these days? I honestly cannot recommend my friends to come here for a holiday any longer.

Tell them to visit London or the South of France. The prices are so much lower there.

Quite right. London is so much cheaper and so much more welcoming not to mention the safety factor if you get lost at night

[Tiffer]

I wouldn't think the average Thai would give a toss about Chinese and Korean package tourists staying away: They stay in hotels owned by the rich, eat in restaurants owned by the tour operators nephew and go out on stage managed day trips to places owned by the tour operators neice! The average Thai benefits much more from Farang tourism whith independent minded tourists choosing for themselves where they want to stay eat and visit.

Absolutely.

I see them pass trough here and there. They come and go in those coaches. A very well oiled machine. They are well herded by the guide(s) and always stay concentrated in group never less than 10 per sqm.

I wonder if they even carry THB cash (except some small change for the occasional Chaa Yen or Saa Paper fan) as it seems everything is taken care off at the Seoul or Beijing Agency already....

They also don't stroll around the Night Bazaar in the evenings or restaurant area's. It seems they are kept away from it and are tucked away at the Kantoke places that are outside the city.

Posters don't need to be a tourism specialist to understand market and destination life cycles....

American package tours to the UK/Europe or Brits abroad... fully inclusive packages in the early years for the less sophisticated consumer...

The main reason "farang" tourists are more indepedent (FIT) is years of travel experience/knowledge in their markets plus of course a much higher propensity to travel.

We should embrace the "pioneer" package tourists because they represent tomorrows indepedent visitor.

[Jimi007]

I read this in the news today: " The TAT and Toyota Motor (Thailand) Co plan to organise caravan tours into flood-hit areas to help restore domestic tourism."