Thai Tourism Minister: "Floods Not Hurting Tourism"

[endure]

"Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Slipa-archa"...

There are more intelligent donkeys on Skegness beach...

[endure]

Can someone explain to me how it's possible to meet 'everyday' Thais who are smart, bright, intelligent and forward looking yet those who run the country can't find their arse with both hands? Thailand throbs with ingenuity and entrepreneurial skills. The only pity is that these skills are mostly confined to those who can't exploit them.

[slapout]

It does seem some the powers that be, appoint/hire those less intelligent than themselves. This may be due to to their not wanting competent competition in the public eye. When those doing the appointing/hiring are not the brightest as they were once appointed/hired, by like thinking folks, the downward spiral continues.

[Gonsalviz]

Given that tourist season doesn't officially start for another 3 weeks, it is unlikely that tourism has been affected yet. Given the latest news I would think that tourism will be affected for a few weeks.

[Soi Sauce]

Tourist numbers are seriously down, regardless of what's being said. You only have to use youer eyes and ears.

Was in Pattaya 2 weeks ago. Vacant rooms and special deals advertised almost everywhere. Sois 7 and 8 just about desreted, and some bars closing early.

Back in Bkk, wlaked from Robinson on Sukhumvit to Pantip plaza last Wedenesday, and saw 19 westerners over the 3-4km.

If the tourists are here, where are they?

On the other hand, if nobody is coming, nobody else coming will not affect the figures.

... why did you stop at 19? Forget what comes next?

Regardless of cheap digs and whoever represents the majority of tourists,Sukhumvit usually has a fair amont of farangs on it in mid-afternoon. I stared counting as I only saw 2 between asoke and nana. You gotta admit this was strange, and i was shocked that over me stroll I only saw 19.

As for Pattaya, a friend who has had a bar there for 10 years has asked me to organise coach parties from Bkk as this is the worst year he has ever had.

No doubt, as you can count to 20 you know more than me, but the front line, ie those dependant on tourism, no doubt know more than you.

Numbers are down and will go further.

[ginjag]

"Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Slipa-archa"...

There are more intelligent donkeys on Skegness beach...

Bracing Skeggy...............is Spalls shop still there it was in 1953?-..................anyway I agree with you, These Tourism people love talking out of their ---rears.

[animatic]

Front page 'Featured' with picture of Ayuthaia on CNN.com.

So it is definitely getting spread about.

And link to CNNGO article.

Thailand floods: Updated info for tourists

http://www.cnngo.com...83113?hpt=hp_c2

Getty images is world wide diffusion.

I think Kuhn Chump ol, is getting reamed in the eyes of people who see things internationally.

Edited October 12, 2011 by animatic

[geriatrickid]

If tourists are not coming anymore, why is Phuket airport still at over capacity and why are private planes obliged to use regional airports because there are no available landing slots or parking spots for the aircraft? Why are load factors on the phuket routes still robust?

[robblok]

If tourists are not coming anymore, why is Phuket airport still at over capacity and why are private planes obliged to use regional airports because there are no available landing slots or parking spots for the aircraft? Why are load factors on the phuket routes still robust?

I thought you were smart, obviously i am mistaken. Nobody here is saying no tourist. People are saying it will affect tourism. Also Thailand is more then just Phuket.

Also many people cant cancel their tickets so it will come with a delay.

[ginjag]

If tourists are not coming anymore, why is Phuket airport still at over capacity and why are private planes obliged to use regional airports because there are no available landing slots or parking spots for the aircraft? Why are load factors on the phuket routes still robust?

Do you think that the reason the airport is busy, is that people are coming to Thailand ??/--------or would it be more reasonable thinking that it is stretched because the tourists already in Thailand are heading for there to get away from the floods.

Are you suggesting that it is so busy with direct international flights ???..........If there is a tsunami---or big landslides --or massive flooding there . all the people would be --say heading for a safe area YES.

[rubl]

Posted Yesterday, 12:12

"NO PROBLEMS"

Thai Tourism Minister Chumpol: Floods not hurting tourism

Anything to not hurt tourism

"" Wed, Oct 12, 2011

The Nation/Asia News Network

Thai floods: No public holidays or emergency rule declared

The Thai govt yesterday rejected the proposal to declare the rest of the week as a public holiday or declare a state of emergency because it might cause panic among tourists. -The Nation/ANN""

http://www.asiaone.com/print/News/Latest%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20111012-304552.html

[richard10365]

I think I understand what the confusion is. Most people don't have an academic business background and don't understand business terms. I will try to help you.

In this case, the Business Sector or Business Industry are synonymous. They refer to the same thing. The overall production of the tourism industry (sector) in Thailand. The bottom line. The total profit that will be made by tourism all over Thailand at the end of the year. He didn't say tourism in the effected areas is not effected, he was referring to the tourism industry as a whole.

Professional businesses plan for hard times. They work hard times into their overall calculations. It's kind of like a buffer stock that you keep on hand in case your supplies get too low.

Now you should be able to understand properly what was said in the opening post, "The wide-spread flooding in many provinces is having no impact on the tourism sector for the moment".

I hope this clarifys things.

[robblok]

I think I understand what the confusion is. Most people don't have an academic business background and don't understand business terms. I will try to help you.

In this case, the Business Sector or Business Industry are synonymous. They refer to the same thing. The overall production of the tourism industry (sector) in Thailand. The bottom line. The total profit that will be made by tourism all over Thailand at the end of the year. He didn't say tourism in the effected areas is not effected, he was referring to the tourism industry as a whole.

Professional businesses plan for hard times. They work hard times into their overall calculations. It's kind of like a buffer stock that you keep on hand in case your supplies get too low.

Now you should be able to understand properly what was said in the opening post, "The wide-spread flooding in many provinces is having no impact on the tourism sector for the moment".

I hope this clarifys things.

Yes it does clarify some things it makes an ass off you.

I got an academic background im an accountant. Lets put it this way my gf is in tourism, she works for a Thai travel operator. 70% of their trips (not with foreigners but Thais) have been cancelled. So tourism is affected, the tv images of Thailand flooded go all over the world now. It has an impact.

You are saying the affected area's are the only ones having a problem but it wont affect the total. Strange reasoning, but then again that might be your academic background.

Some tourist might change their destination inside of Thailand others might just not go at all. saying that all tourists will just still come is crazy.

I am not claiming that i know how big the troubles are but i do know they are there. The people in charge gain by acting like there are no problems. So the news is not trustworthy.

[DocN]

I am working for a tourist company- believe me: tourism IS affected! We have cancellations because of the flood every single day!

[geriatrickid]

Is it ever busy in rainy season?

This is just a small dip. The main tourist destinations are not in a freefall. If that was the case, why are the direct flights from Korea, China, Taiwan etc. still maintaining their historic load factors? None of the airlines has reduced capacity and today, they do it as soon as the loads drop.Look at how quickly the flights were reduced to Japan after the quake.

Yes, some tourist related services such as tours into the afflicted areas are suffering, but most tourists prefer the beach resorts. And I doubt anything short of the complete destruction of Pattaya would keep away most people bound for Pattaya.

Come high season, the tourist destinations will be at capacity.

[robblok]

Is it ever busy in rainy season?

This is just a small dip. The main tourist destinations are not in a freefall. If that was the case, why are the direct flights from Korea, China, Taiwan etc. still maintaining their historic load factors? None of the airlines has reduced capacity and today, they do it as soon as the loads drop.Look at how quickly the flights were reduced to Japan after the quake.

Yes, some tourist related services such as tours into the afflicted areas are suffering, but most tourists prefer the beach resorts. And I doubt anything short of the complete destruction of Pattaya would keep away most people bound for Pattaya.

Come high season, the tourist destinations will be at capacity.

Kid, go play.

Nobody here is saying its a complete freefall. The guy stated its not hurting tourism, while it is minor or not the statement is wrong. Its typical Thai style trying to cover up problems.

Like you i doubt it will affect the high season much, the global crisis will effect it more. But stating this has no effect is totally wrong.

[wana]

if nearly all the embasseys are advising against coming here ,they will lose a decent % of those tourists

not everyone listens to their embassy ,i flew back in on a near empty plane when half the city was being destroyed last time

but famalies with young children are not going to fly into a disaster area and if there is a problem ,the embassey and everyone else will say " we told ya so "

[SAffer]

Most people on here are forgetting that Thailand consists of Bangkok and Bangkok...we're not talking about other countries such as Ayutthaya or Pichit.

Bet you didn't study geography or perhaps you are student of Sarah Palin!

Bet you didn't get his joke

[SAffer]

Well, my friend was traveling from Malaysia to Thailand to Laos to China.

He WAS going to stop and visit with me last week, but based on the reports he was getting, and what he saw in Phuket, he decided to bypass the rest of Thailand altogether.

Hard to imagine he is the only one to do so.

My wife just received the cancellation of the annual company trip from her head office in Singapore.

55 people Nov 3-6 in BKK.

The group will now travel to Bali.

They prefer earthquakes to a little flooding I am sure..., or maybe they can't resist the arak.

[losworld]

Keep drinkin the Kool Aid...

[Thaddeus]

Please excuse this damp analogy.

The problem with most academics is that they tend to blindly trust information delivered to them by other academics about, say, water as an example, especially if it shores up their own opinion, without actually getting wet themselves.

The only numbers that have any credence are those given by people who work at the front-line of the tourism sector, I wouldn't trust a word said by a bag of hot air who works for TAT.

[TAWP]

Moron...I didn't say it wasn't affected, I said it does not affect overall profits for the year. That is what the Ministry of Tourism said. He was commenting about the total tourism industry in Thailand not your girlfriends office.

Cute.

You are welcome to show how a decrease in tourists wouldn't be affecting the yearly take for the tourist industry.

[metisdead]

An inflammatory post has been removed. A post containing a hidden link to a Bangkok Post news article and replies to that post have removed as well.

[rubl]

Q4 arrivals in for a plunge

Suchat Sritama

The Nation

October 14, 2011 3:05 am

International arrivals are expected to plummet 20 per cent this quarter because of the prolonged flooding in almost half of the country.

"Tourists are taking the flooding seriously, and if the ocean tides reach Bangkok, we might lose an even bigger number of tourists," Sisdivachr Chevaratanaporn, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), said yesterday.

Until year-end, 800,000 to 1 million fewer foreign tourists are expected than during the same time last year.

The final quarter of the year is the traditional peak tourist season, with more than 4 million visitors. Millions of travellers also come during the first quarter of each year.

ATTA said many holidaymakers from Europe, Japan, mainland China and Taiwan had cancelled trips to Thailand.

The association also believes that many businesspeople from Japan and other countries will suspend travel to the Kingdom until the flood waters recede.

Aree Hapermpool, sales and marketing manager for Garuda Indonesia, said the airline's executives in Indonesia had been informed of the cancellation of a meeting at a luxury hotel on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok out of fear of flooding.

Anake Srishevachart, president of the Thai-Japan Tourism Business Association, said individual tourists and small groups from Japan had postponed plans to vacation in Thailand to avoid the flood crisis.

Groups with many members were still organising trips to Thailand, but switching from Ayutthaya and nearby provinces to unaffected destinations such as Ratchaburi and Nakhon Pathom.

The association and ATTA said it was too early to estimate the total damage, as the flooding was not yet over.

Anake, who had just returned from Japan, said officials and operators there still believed that the whole country is under water, and that had caused a lot of tourists to wait and watch the situation.

"They heard news reports that many Japanese factories in Ayutthaya were flooded but they didn't know that other provinces are still safe for travel," he said.

Anake's company has received cancellations from a few groups in Japan, but big groups from other countries such as China that travel on charter flights will visit Thailand as planned.

"My Japanese assistant based in Bangkok goes to Taksin Bridge every day to check the water level with no worry. But we have still had postponements and cancellations like other companies," he said.

Sisdivachr and Anake said it would be very difficult to reach this year's tourism target of 17 million arrivals, despite 12 million already coming in the first nine months.

-- The Nation 2011-10-14

[rubl]

2011-10-11 (the OP):

"Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa said he stood by the ministry’s projection that 19 million foreign tourists will visit Thailand this year."

2011-10-11 (somewhat later same day):

"The government has expected to achieve the target of 19 million visitors this year, Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa said."

2011-10-11 (a bit later again):

"Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa is confident that the number of tourists will be able to more than meet the original arrival target."

2011-10-12:

"The Thai govt yesterday rejected the proposal to declare the rest of the week as a public holiday or declare a state of emergency because it might cause panic among tourists. -The Nation/ANN"

2011-10-14:

"Sisdivachr Chevaratanaporn, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) and Anake Srishevachart, president of the Thai-Japan Tourism Business Association said it would be very difficult to reach this year's tourism target of 17 million arrivals, despite 12 million already coming in the first nine months."

Of course the Thai Minister is correct in his projections

[looping]

This must come from bizarre Thai tourism play book. Like a knee jerk reaction, after every disaster the tourism dept comes out and says tourism will not be affected. With hundreds of people dead, and billions of baht lost, it seems a trifle insensitive to be talking about tourism numbers.......

As usual they're not very good at hiding their priorities.

[richard10365]

The Bangkok Post runs a story and quotes Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Slipa-archa who says,

"The wide-spread flooding in many provinces is having no impact on the tourism sector for the moment."

Investopedia defines sector as: An area of the economy in which businesses share the same or a related product or service. Economies are comprised of four sectors. The primary sector involves the extraction and harvesting of natural products from the earth (e.g., agriculture, mining and forestry). The secondary sector consists of processing, manufacturing and construction. The tertiary sector provides services, such as retail sales, entertainment and financial services. The quaternary sector is made up of intellectual pursuits, like education.

Bangkok Post adds the news headline, "Chumpol: Floods not hurting tourism". This is not what was said.

ThaiVisa adds a little more, "NO PROBLEMS", which is no where in the original headline.

People are upset already because of the flood. Incorrectly reporting events does not help. The end result of bad journalism is people get more upset. It's a good example of the power of media and how it gets abused. I think freedom of speech needs to be redefined when it comes to journalism. When it is abused it causes problems. Look at the comments of many people in this thread and how most want to hang Chumpol.

[Awohalitsiktoli]

What a joke Off course tourism is hurt by the floods.

And it appears that you should know a joke when you read/see one Can you even imagine the Japanese govt. taking the stand that tourism is not being hurt by the tsunami and nuclear reactor meltdown? What a freakin' joke this place has become!

Edited October 14, 2011 by Awohalitsiktoli

[hammered]

2011-10-11 (the OP):

"Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa said he stood by the ministry’s projection that 19 million foreign tourists will visit Thailand this year."

2011-10-11 (somewhat later same day):

"The government has expected to achieve the target of 19 million visitors this year, Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa said."

2011-10-11 (a bit later again):

"Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa is confident that the number of tourists will be able to more than meet the original arrival target."

2011-10-12:

"The Thai govt yesterday rejected the proposal to declare the rest of the week as a public holiday or declare a state of emergency because it might cause panic among tourists. -The Nation/ANN"

2011-10-14:

"Sisdivachr Chevaratanaporn, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) and Anake Srishevachart, president of the Thai-Japan Tourism Business Association said it would be very difficult to reach this year's tourism target of 17 million arrivals, despite 12 million already coming in the first nine months."

Of course the Thai Minister is correct in his projections

Old Banharn had to fight hard to get his son this ministerial post after his party got walloped in the election and the PTP apprently didnt favour the post going to the now mini-CTP. And now he faces making ludicrous statements and losing a bunch of face over a decline in tourism. There is irony in there somewhere. The Silapa-archa's are also not exactly flavour of the month due to flooding and who and who doesnt suffer too

[Payboy]

Old Banharn had to fight hard to get his son this ministerial post after <snip>

Chumphol is Banharn's brother - just a minor detail, otherwise your post is spot-on.