Thailand tourism: hitting record highs

by Gwen Robinson

BANGKOK: -- The hoardes of tourists flocking to Bangkok’s temples and bars and to island resorts beyond tell the story of Thailand’s remarkable comeback from the impact of devastating floods in 2011 and violent street clashes in 2010.

newsjs

So, too, does the charmed performance of Thailand’s stock market, among the best performing markets in Asia last year, as well as record inward foreign investment, roaring bond market and robust economic growth after a miserable zero per cent growth in 2011.

But the country’s tourism industry has notched up its own distinctive records, including a new high for the total number of tourist arrivals, at 22.3m last year, according to figures issued this week. The number is up 16 per cent from the previous year – and with predictions by the Tourism Authority of Thailand of 24.5m tourist arrivals this year, is set for a fresh record.

The predicted growth in arrivals is “absolutely achievable”, noted Charles Blocker, a director at hotel group Zinc InVision Hospitality and head of the tourism committee of the American Chamber of Commerce. [more..]

Full story: http://blogs.ft.com/...g-record-highs/

-- beyondbricks 2013-01-30

I don't think is true, i live in Patong since 10 years and this year the amount of peoples is really less... Yes there are much more accommodations but none is full and also when you walk you can easy see nothing is really busy. Maybe they count also all peoples in transit

Edited January 30, 201313 yr by batblaster

Thailand the 'hub' of wishful thinking!

I don't think is true, i live in Patong since 10 years and this year the amount of peoples is really less... Yes there are much more accommodations but none is full and also when you walk you can easy see nothing is really busy. Maybe they count also all peoples in transit

Quiet please. Just because you actually live in Patong, are we supposed to believe what you say is true? The government and T.A.T. know where these millions of tourists are. I wouldn't question their veracity.

I don't think is true, i live in Patong since 10 years and this year the amount of peoples is really less... Yes there are much more accommodations but none is full and also when you walk you can easy see nothing is really busy. Maybe they count also all peoples in transit

Quiet please. Just because you actually live in Patong, are we supposed to believe what you say is true? The government and T.A.T. know where these millions of tourists are. I wouldn't question their veracity.

There are 1 or 2 TAT crawlers amongst our posters, surely this report will get them out of the woodwork AGAIN--------------YAWN

Thailand tourism: hitting record thighs

The thigh's the limit!

...made you check the OP I bet

The figures can easily be massaged...its Thailand after all!

One thing i have noticed is the level of Russians in this country is soaring.

I think the only reason for the numbers to go so high is because of all the Russians , millions of them are invading LOS:

I don't think is true, i live in Patong since 10 years and this year the amount of peoples is really less... Yes there are much more accommodations but none is full and also when you walk you can easy see nothing is really busy. Maybe they count also all peoples in transit

Quiet please. Just because you actually live in Patong, are we supposed to believe what you say is true? The government and T.A.T. know where these millions of tourists are. I wouldn't question their veracity.

There are 1 or 2 TAT crawlers amongst our posters, surely this report will get them out of the woodwork AGAIN--------------YAWN

Ohhh but this one is real, because its written by a foreigner , screw the fact that the figures are from the same TAT office

I don't think is true, i live in Patong since 10 years and this year the amount of peoples is really less... Yes there are much more accommodations but none is full and also when you walk you can easy see nothing is really busy. Maybe they count also all peoples in transit

Maybe the tourists are hi-so and not lo-so.

Lots of tragic people on here that just can't bear to see Thailand do well. I've seen a huge increase in tourists walking around Bangkok, compared to the last few years. I doubt many on here can tell difference between an Asian citizen and an Asia Tourist. So they wouldn't be able to spot the huge increase in Chinese tourists.

I think the only reason for the numbers to go so high is because of all the Russians , millions of them are invading LOS:

the only reason it appears that way is because they stand out like a sore thumb, while others just blend in

I don't think is true, i live in Patong since 10 years and this year the amount of peoples is really less... Yes there are much more accommodations but none is full and also when you walk you can easy see nothing is really busy. Maybe they count also all peoples in transit

Maybe the tourists are hi-so and not lo-so.

yeah they stay in Nana in BKK

Lots of tragic people on here that just can't bear to see Thailand do well. I've seen a huge increase in tourists walking around Bangkok, compared to the last few years. I doubt many on here can tell difference between an Asian citizen and an Asia Tourist. So they wouldn't be able to spot the huge increase in Chinese tourists.

What is tragic is people who follow like a sheep without any independent thinking.

I wish numbers were as true as TAT claims, sadly numbers are far from truth. You have seen huge increase of tourists? and you doubt many can tell the difference? so do tell me what makes you so special to be able to determine the difference

You have an x-ray vision, or some laser eyes? or are you one of those "been here for long time, naturally speak fluent thai and naturally know more than anyone else", while in the mean time living in a tiny studio on the outskirts of town, but of course married to a hi so, hard working woman, half your age but in love with you for your personality and attributes

Lots of tragic people on here that just can't bear to see Thailand do well. I've seen a huge increase in tourists walking around Bangkok, compared to the last few years. I doubt many on here can tell difference between an Asian citizen and an Asia Tourist. So they wouldn't be able to spot the huge increase in Chinese tourists.

What is tragic is people who follow like a sheep without any independent thinking.

I wish numbers were as true as TAT claims, sadly numbers are far from truth. You have seen huge increase of tourists? and you doubt many can tell the difference? so do tell me what makes you so special to be able to determine the difference

You have an x-ray vision, or some laser eyes? or are you one of those "been here for long time, naturally speak fluent thai and naturally know more than anyone else", while in the mean time living in a tiny studio on the outskirts of town, but of course married to a hi so, hard working woman, half your age but in love with you for your personality and attributes

Angostura bitters tastes sweeter than comments like that.

Tourism is up year on year.

Live with it.

But as I noted in the other thread AoT has about 18.6 million disembarking international passengers through their airports, who may well be returning Thais and other strange no touristy types [and transit passengers who overnight outside the airport] so there's a gap to be made up there. Also visits to popular allegedly upmarket destinations don't suggest they are heaving with clients/guests.

What about the zero dollar Chinese tours, there maybe numbers but most of the profits often remain "on the mainland".

Edited January 30, 201313 yr by A_Traveller

Lots of tragic people on here that just can't bear to see Thailand do well. I've seen a huge increase in tourists walking around Bangkok, compared to the last few years. I doubt many on here can tell difference between an Asian citizen and an Asia Tourist. So they wouldn't be able to spot the huge increase in Chinese tourists.

What is tragic is people who follow like a sheep without any independent thinking.

I wish numbers were as true as TAT claims, sadly numbers are far from truth. You have seen huge increase of tourists? and you doubt many can tell the difference? so do tell me what makes you so special to be able to determine the difference

You have an x-ray vision, or some laser eyes? or are you one of those "been here for long time, naturally speak fluent thai and naturally know more than anyone else", while in the mean time living in a tiny studio on the outskirts of town, but of course married to a hi so, hard working woman, half your age but in love with you for your personality and attributes

Angostura bitters tastes sweeter than comments like that.

Tourism is up year on year.

Live with it.

No doubt when you do 15 day visa runs.

Oh but wait you own a factory and compete with china, have too many staff etc.

Oh oh there goes credibility to anything you post

I don't know why people are arguing.

This stat is but 30% of the whole story. Hotel occupancy rates, length of stay, daily estimated spend are the really valuable numbers.

I mean, there is supposedly a flood of rohingya coming, maybe that boosts it too. What are the tourism arrivals for Las Vegas or Paris by the way?

Lots of tragic people on here that just can't bear to see Thailand do well. I've seen a huge increase in tourists walking around Bangkok, compared to the last few years. I doubt many on here can tell difference between an Asian citizen and an Asia Tourist. So they wouldn't be able to spot the huge increase in Chinese tourists.

What is tragic is people who follow like a sheep without any independent thinking.

I wish numbers were as true as TAT claims, sadly numbers are far from truth. You have seen huge increase of tourists? and you doubt many can tell the difference? so do tell me what makes you so special to be able to determine the difference

You have an x-ray vision, or some laser eyes? or are you one of those "been here for long time, naturally speak fluent thai and naturally know more than anyone else", while in the mean time living in a tiny studio on the outskirts of town, but of course married to a hi so, hard working woman, half your age but in love with you for your personality and attributes

Angostura bitters tastes sweeter than comments like that.

Tourism is up year on year.

Live with it.

No doubt when you do 15 day visa runs.

Oh but wait you own a factory and compete with china, have too many staff etc.

Oh oh there goes credibility to anything you post

Sad that you cannot do better than that..........

But not surprising.

How's business and occupancy these days ??

Edited January 30, 201313 yr by philw

Sad that you cannot do better than that..........

But not surprising.

How's business and occupancy these days ??

do i need to do better than that?

What are the tourism arrivals for Las Vegas or Paris by the way?

Will need to check with TAT

What are the tourism arrivals for Las Vegas or Paris by the way?

Will need to check with TAT

Well i think on memory, they are both bigger than Thailand as a country. So in reality, it's a pissing contest over statistics.

Maybe the French massage the figures like everything in the eu, but i will always trust a casino owners analysis of his statistics.

Or the persons making this report are getting high in record time.

Or the persons making this report are getting high in record time.

well, this particular art piece i believe was created to get some hits to the writers blog.

Sex sells......

It would be interesting to know of Blocker or Mowat, the chaps cited in the blog have any real statistics on how many tourists came to visit temples and elephants and how many came for sex. Everyone knows that the majority of tourist spending is on sex trade and illegal counterfeit goods. Folks at the American Chamber of Commerce , JP Morgan , and other "reputable" sources love to ignore that fact. Does anyone actually have a scientific sense of how to break down that tourist money spend by category? Girls, alcohol spent while shopping for or getting sex, illegal goods procured while in Thailand primarily for sex, food consumed while here on sex, as well as room accommodations primarily while traveling here for sex?

Why would anyone travel here to buy authentic Gucci bags and Rolex watches when they can probably get then cheaper and know they are real in most major world cities? Why would anyone come to Thailand more than once to see a poorly maintained temple or an abused elephant show? When adding up the money that these "hoards" of tourists spend don't forget all those expatriate fathers of half Thai children returning once or twice a year to see their kids and fund mama.

The big question is why would hoards of tourists keep coming here? I think we all know the answer to that. Hat's off to the girls the real stimulation to the travel trade and the hoards of tourists. Yes, hats off to the girls, the real backbone of the Thai tourist economy.

Lots of tragic people on here that just can't bear to see Thailand do well. I've seen a huge increase in tourists walking around Bangkok, compared to the last few years. I doubt many on here can tell difference between an Asian citizen and an Asia Tourist. So they wouldn't be able to spot the huge increase in Chinese tourists.

What is tragic is people who follow like a sheep without any independent thinking.

I wish numbers were as true as TAT claims, sadly numbers are far from truth. You have seen huge increase of tourists? and you doubt many can tell the difference? so do tell me what makes you so special to be able to determine the difference

You have an x-ray vision, or some laser eyes? or are you one of those "been here for long time, naturally speak fluent thai and naturally know more than anyone else", while in the mean time living in a tiny studio on the outskirts of town, but of course married to a hi so, hard working woman, half your age but in love with you for your personality and attributes

Lemoncake, not to say the numbers given are true or not true, or have far they are from the real numbers. What numbers are you going on to determine that these are all incorrect? I cannot speak for Phuket, but when i was recently on the gulf islands, they were all busier than I have ever seen, Pattaya has a huge increase in the number of coaches on the road seemingly- and this guy in the article who works for a hotel group seems to be fairly positive.

There seems to be a lot of people disbelieving of these figures, what are the reasons for this, and how do people know the numbers are not a fair reflection?

Lots of tragic people on here that just can't bear to see Thailand do well. I've seen a huge increase in tourists walking around Bangkok, compared to the last few years. I doubt many on here can tell difference between an Asian citizen and an Asia Tourist. So they wouldn't be able to spot the huge increase in Chinese tourists.

What is tragic is people who follow like a sheep without any independent thinking.

I wish numbers were as true as TAT claims, sadly numbers are far from truth. You have seen huge increase of tourists? and you doubt many can tell the difference? so do tell me what makes you so special to be able to determine the difference

You have an x-ray vision, or some laser eyes? or are you one of those "been here for long time, naturally speak fluent thai and naturally know more than anyone else", while in the mean time living in a tiny studio on the outskirts of town, but of course married to a hi so, hard working woman, half your age but in love with you for your personality and attributes

Lemoncake, not to say the numbers given are true or not true, or have far they are from the real numbers. What numbers are you going on to determine that these are all incorrect? I cannot speak for Phuket, but when i was recently on the gulf islands, they were all busier than I have ever seen, Pattaya has a huge increase in the number of coaches on the road seemingly- and this guy in the article who works for a hotel group seems to be fairly positive.

There seems to be a lot of people disbelieving of these figures, what are the reasons for this, and how do people know the numbers are not a fair reflection?

Not sure what Pattaya you visIted but Pattaya i live in was deserted for most part of the year and i seriously doubt the last 2 months made the 22 million

Lots of tragic people on here that just can't bear to see Thailand do well. I've seen a huge increase in tourists walking around Bangkok, compared to the last few years. I doubt many on here can tell difference between an Asian citizen and an Asia Tourist. So they wouldn't be able to spot the huge increase in Chinese tourists.

What is tragic is people who follow like a sheep without any independent thinking.

I wish numbers were as true as TAT claims, sadly numbers are far from truth. You have seen huge increase of tourists? and you doubt many can tell the difference? so do tell me what makes you so special to be able to determine the difference

You have an x-ray vision, or some laser eyes? or are you one of those "been here for long time, naturally speak fluent thai and naturally know more than anyone else", while in the mean time living in a tiny studio on the outskirts of town, but of course married to a hi so, hard working woman, half your age but in love with you for your personality and attributes

Lemoncake, not to say the numbers given are true or not true, or have far they are from the real numbers. What numbers are you going on to determine that these are all incorrect? I cannot speak for Phuket, but when i was recently on the gulf islands, they were all busier than I have ever seen, Pattaya has a huge increase in the number of coaches on the road seemingly- and this guy in the article who works for a hotel group seems to be fairly positive.

There seems to be a lot of people disbelieving of these figures, what are the reasons for this, and how do people know the numbers are not a fair reflection?

Not sure what Pattaya you visIted but Pattaya i live in was deserted for most part of the year and i seriously doubt the last 2 months made the 22 million

Well i have found driving around a nightmare particularly the last 4 months. On South Pattaya road in the evenings, there are literally coach after coach after coach of Chinese tourists getting delivered to restaurants etc there. Anyway Pattaya aside, can you answer my question regarding where you are getting your overall information on tourists from?