TAT confident tourist arrivals this year to meet target

[webfact]

TAT confident tourist arrivals this year to meet target

BANGKOK, 3 December 2013 (NNT) - The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reports that 32 countries have issued travel advice to warn their citizens about traveling in Thailand. Despite the travel notices, the TAT says it is confident that this year’s tourist arrivals can still hit the target.

TAT Deputy Governor Sukri Sitthiwanit said Romania was the latest country to advise citizens to be cautious when visiting Thailand due to the ongoing political turmoil. Nevertheless, among the 32 countries, none of them had prohibited travelers from entering Thailand or asked them to reconsider their trips, the official said.

Besides Romania, the 32 countries include the US, the UK, China, Japan and India.

As for hotel reservation, the deputy governor said it was likely to decline from December 2013 to January 2014, especially reservations made by customers from South Asia, Oceania, ASEAN and Africa. He revealed the TAT’s next move was to restore tourist confidence while promoting other famous tourist sites in the country, such as Chiang Mai, Samui and Phuket.

Mr Sukri, however, expressed belief that Thailand would be able to achieve the tourist arrivals target set for 2013.


-- NNT 2013-12-03

[chooka]

In the Month of November numbers had dropped 300,000+ These demonstrations are still going on and for how long is any ones guess. They are going to have to attract at least 100K extra per week from now until the end of the year to make up the lost numbers. Personally I don't think they will do it but I am sure TAT will release a statement in January saying that they smashed all previous records.

[PaullyW]

Well, none of us expected that from TAT. I guess none of these guys talk to each other.

yesterday: Hong Kong travel agencies change Thai itineraries after violent Bangkok clashes

last week: Thai tourism doomed by political turmoil

Edited December 2, 2013 by PaullyW

[notmyself]

Why even say this? Why even open their mouths? I will at times stay up late just so I can read the Thai news and go to bed with a smile on my face.

[webfact]

TOURISM PROSPECTS
Forward bookings growth sees decline
Bamrung Amnatcharoenrit
The Nation

TAT deputy governor remains optimistic of reaching 26 million target this year

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's tourism industry has started to suffer from political chaos, with signs of a drop in growth of forward bookings from some overseas markets over the next two months.

Asean, Oceania, South Asia and Africa are among the affected markets. However, a decline in tourists from some African nations might have been triggered by political problems in those countries, not Thailand's.

Australia provides an example of the decline. Normally during this period, its forward bookings grow by double digits, but for this month and January the rate is only 3.6 per cent.

Overall, however, Sugree Sithivanich, deputy governor for marketing communications of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said forward bookings were still positive, with an increase of 2.2 per cent for December and 14.2 per cent for next month.

Despite the escalating political tension, he is still confident that the country will be able to achieve its 2013 projection of 26.1 million foreign tourist arrivals and tourism revenue of about Bt1.174 trillion, thanks to a continuing flow of visitors from Europe - particularly Russia - and the Americas.

Russians are still pouring into the country on chartered fights, but are avoiding Bangkok. They are choosing to go to Pattaya, Kanchanaburi, Hua Hin or Ayutthaya instead.

If the political turmoil drags on into the new year, the country will witness a decline of free independent travellers in the first quarter, the TAT predicts. At present, this category accounts for 30 per cent of total foreign arrivals in Thailand.

So far, 34 governments have issued warnings to their people planning to travel to Thailand. New Zealand was the latest to announce such a warning yesterday, while Romania announced one on Sunday.

The others are the United Kingdom, France, Sweden, Japan, Taiwan, Canada, Austria, Israel, Brazil, Singapore, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, Norway, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia, Finland, Denmark, the Czech Republic, China, South Korea, the United States, Russia, Hong Kong, Ireland, Switzerland, Australia, Luxembourg, Mexico and India.

Only three nations - Russia, Slovakia and Israel - have issued a Level 3 warning, while the others were content with Level 2. A Level 3 message calls for a high degree of caution, while Level 2 just urges people to exercise reasonable caution. So far, no country has issued the highest warning, the Level 5 "no travel" edict, according to the TAT.

Given the unpredictable situation, the TAT is monitoring the unrest closely so as to update its information and prepare and analyse cautionary plans to restore tourists' confidence.

Overall, plans for the December festive season, including New Year countdown parties in key locations, especially Ratchaprasong in downtown Bangkok, are still scheduled.

Piyaman Techapaiboon, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, said that if key countries raise their warnings to Level 5 on the worsening political condition, "we will stand to lose some 500,000 visitors or around 8-10 per cent of tourists coming into Thailand during December. This means that the country could lose up to Bt2.5 billion if the violence continues."

Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, said the outlook for foreign arrivals, especially from Hong Kong, Singapore and mainland China, was still positive this month. However, he expressed concern about people who were in the process of deciding where to take a holiday. Images of political violence have circulated worldwide, which could damage people's perception of the Kingdom.

This worry is especially acute for China. If it raises its warning to Level 4, "reconsider your need to travel", the tourism outlook will get even worse. Chinese tourists will choose to go to other nations instead.

Thailand expects to attract 3 million visitors from China this year.


-- The Nation 2013-12-03

[Ricardo]

The poo-yais at the TAT have spoken, it must be true, Thailand is still the galactic hub of tourism.

And after the protests end, TAT will suddenly need some extra budget, to counteract the temporary slowdown in tourist-arrivals ... the poo-yais have got to 'eat' !

[Bernard Flint]

I do not believe that staement.My wife works in the hotel industry,and her hotel is having cancellations every day,from group bookings of south koreans,russians,singaporeans,and chinese

[Tatsujin]

I do not believe that staement.My wife works in the hotel industry,and her hotel is having cancellations every day,from group bookings of south koreans,russians,singaporeans,and chinese

Indeed. But "reality" and TAT don't often go hand in hand. Every hotel in Thailand could be empty and they would still claim record numbers of arrivals.

We'll get some more accurate figures when they don't just count arrivals, but also exclude immediate departures for other places and those that live here anyway.

[Morakot]

[WhizBang]

Unbelievable. TAT just doesn't get it. I think they must live in an alternate universe.

[noitom]

This guy should be screaming bloody murder that the protests are killing tourism. Once they are over and tourist revenue is down they'll be blaming him because of this statement that nothing is wrong. Another TAT guy was saying that tourists are still arriving and embassy warnings are only "level 2 and 3" whatever that is?

[mrtoad]

Cuckoo

[OZEMADE]

Unbelievable. TAT just doesn't get it. I think they must live in an alternate universe.

This idiot has his head in the sand. How is the tourism industry of Thailand not being affected by these riots and demonstrations? The Thai media have stated that the demonstrations are not confined to the city of Bangkok alone and there are that many countries around the world that have in deed warned their citizens about the dangers in Thailand due to Political unrest.

Of course this is affecting the tourism and once again it will take a long time for people to be confident to holiday there.

[EyesWideOpen]

Well we have been waiting for this , and now we have it..... :-) Another moronic statement by TAT, that basically NO

bad news will affect their bizarre tourism numbers.. It gets to be sort of funny after a while...

[Bender]

i am pretty sure this TAT agency is also run by Suthep, this might explain the amount of nonsense, disillusion, lie and of course sickness we got with

all these articles.

[Ricardo]

I suspect that the outbreak of Global Thermonuclear War would shortly be followed, by a press-release from the TAT, stating that there would be no effect on Thai tourism, and that growth would continue unabated !

[chooka]

Can't wait for next year with the new target that they will set, probably around 27 million. With the 1st quarter of next year expected to be down because of the current political situation I am sure they will still hit the mark in just 9 months.

[Katipo]

Well that's the main thing I guess

[GeorgeO]

Unbelievable. TAT just doesn't get it. I think they must live in an alternate universe.

It doesn't go down quite as bad as the similar statement that they circulated whilst volunteers were still recovering bodies after the tsunami....!! Someone should give their press release guy a slap...!!

[unanimosity]

This guy should be screaming bloody murder that the protests are killing tourism. Once they are over and tourist revenue is down they'll be blaming him because of this statement that nothing is wrong. Another TAT guy was saying that tourists are still arriving and embassy warnings are only "level 2 and 3" whatever that is?

These TAT figures are a symptom of the superstitious culture that names their kids Bright and Lovely and that doesn't work either.

[Yunla]

If the TAT head-office is burnt to the ground by rampaging bloodthirsty mobs, TAT will announce from the smouldering ashes ;

"Thailand is enjoying a spell of hotter than usual climate! Perfect for barbecues!"

Edited December 3, 2013 by Yunla

[DocN]

It's not only the cr@p they spew...but the timing is magnificent!

People are being gunned down in the streets, half the country has an arrest warrant on their head, the Big Birthday is around the corner with an ultimatum by a madman hanging above it...and they care about THIS?

At least they live up to their own "Amazing Thailand" standards!

[upena]

Check out the "Situation Updates" at tatnews dot org website. Great for a laugh

[peterpai]

Welcome to Thailand !

And here a detailed instruction leaflet on which colour shirt to wear in what province! Not following these instructions might get you in serious troubles.

And remember when somebody starts yapping political slogans into your ear say yes with all the enthusiasm you can muster. Not following these instructions might get you into serious troubles !

Exaggerated ? Try wearing a red shirt in Suratthani or a yellow shirt in Chiang Mai.....

[klauskunkel]

Nothing in this universe can shake TAT confidence...

[JulesMad]

Good or bad things happening?!? Mai phen rai, TAT-numbers DO go up, in any and every situation...

They are making themselves more and more unbelievable; They are so full of it

[Jim walker]

TAT Just announce 30m tourist arrivals for 2013 break all previous record we will believe you honest and we wont really care how many people come here on holiday.

[Jim walker]

TAT Just announce 30m tourist arrivals for 2013 break all previous record we will believe you honest and we wont really care how many people come here on holiday.

[mgjackson69]

I arrived here 5 times this year, on a US passport. Do I count as five 'tourists'?

Sent from my Xoom using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Jim walker]

TAT Just announce 30m tourist arrivals for 2013 break all previous record we will believe you honest and we won’t really care how many people come here on holiday