Thai Tourism council still upbeat on 2014 foreign arrivals

[webfact]

Tourism council still upbeat on 2014 foreign arrivals
Bamrung Amnatcharoenrit
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Despite the ongoing political tension, the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) is still optimistic about next year's performance and projects 29.92 million foreign tourist arrivals, against an estimated 26.69 million for this year.

Broken down quarter by quarter, the council's forecast is for 7.6 million, 6.84 million, 7.39 million and 8.09 million foreign arrivals next year, with the hope that the total could even top 30 million.

Tourism revenue, meanwhile, is projected to grow 18 per cent to Bt1.35 trillion, from this year's estimate of Bt1.16 trillion.

Income will be boosted by rising room rates and more spending on tourism activities, especially on shopping, thanks to the growing number of "quality" tourists. Room rates are expected to increase by between 5 and 15 per cent over the course of the year.

The forecasts, part of Thailand's Tourism Index, were made by the TCT in cooperation with the Faculty of Economics at Chulalongkorn University. The numbers were released yesterday.

However, TCT president Piyaman Tejapaibul said the projection was based on there being no eruption of political violence during the period. Also, travel warnings from countries should be kept at no higher than levels 2 and 3. Level 2 is "exercise caution", while level 3 is "high degree of caution".

The TCT does not regard its forecast for next year's arrivals and revenue to be excessive, she said, adding that the tourism sector had showed it was capable of continuous growth in the past decade, even though the Kingdom had faced many serious problems during the period.

She called for all players to help create a good tourism atmosphere in the country in order to achieve the expectations for the sector.

"Thailand is so amazing. Anything can happen. Take a look back to a previous situation, when the police used tear gas to disperse protesters, but the next day the situation changed and the picture was one of people giving roses to soldiers,'' she said.

However, tourism operators have still have less confidence about prospects for the first quarter of next year, due to the political gloom and the country's troubled economy.

Thailand's Tourism Index for the first quarter is 100, a lower level than for the same period during 2011-2013, when the index stood at 107, 112 and 106, respectively.

The index for the current quarter is 102, the highest level in three years.

Meanwhile, the council yesterday raised questions over an initiative by the Immigration Bureau to revise its visa-fee policy, with a plan to collect them from visitors from 17 up-to-now free-entry nations.

Visitors from mainly European nations, the US and Australia would be affected by the planned change, which - should it go ahead - would undoubtedly damage the tourism industry.

The TCT strongly opposes the plan and will write to the bureau, urging it to reconsider.

Tourists from the 17 countries in question are high spenders, with an average outlay of Bt4,500, and stay in the Kingdom for an average of 10.5 days. Most are also repeat visitors.


-- The Nation 2013-12-21

[casindonet]

Her words are so true, thailand is so amazing that just about anything can happen.....

Sent from my GT-I9200 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[soi41]

Just have to love the way those supposedly in charge of tourism here are throwing numbers around!!

Probably haven't got anything to do with reality, but nevertheless entertaining!!

[harada]

More creative statistics .

[Lupatria]

I was probably day dreaming when i read: Tourism counsel beat up over prediction for 2014.

[ginjag]

I was probably day dreaming when i read: Tourism counsel beat up over prediction for 2014.

They ought to be beat up,

[Chupup]

Do they actualy believe this crap, does ANYBODY ??

[belg]

TAT really loves those returning CUMMING SEXPATS

whatever disaster, flood, political protest, they will be comming back year after year

for the rest of the world, economics come in play... let them implement 500 b per person for health insurance and 3.900 b for a visa on arrival that will not be free anymore

[Jack007]

Keep dreaming !

When the tourist activities don't be better and there is such many tourists who die on a ferry or traffic accident.
What Thailand have to give beside beautiful beaches ?

I believe they gonna get 40 million visitors next year, especially from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.

But i believe the many accidents with mini-bus and van and the criminal behavior from Thai and farang keep new tourists away.

Maybe you have to make the costs for a visa more difficult and higher, raise the excise on alcohol and raise the minimum daily wages to 400 baht. It will bring more weakness for the Thai baht and it gonna be cheaper for tourists to have holiday in Thailand.

No problem, we find a good reason that the expectations not will be reached.

Good luck TCT

Edited December 21, 2013 by webfact
large font size reduced /Admin

[webfact]

Tourism Council expects 26 million visits this year, 29 million in 2014

BANGKOK, 21 December 2013 (NNT) – The Tourism Council Of Thailand expects foreign arrivals to grow next year and reach 29 million despite negative pressures from the political scene and the global economy.

Council chairperson Piyaman Techaphaibun said he expected next year's arrivals figure to grow 12.1% to 29 million visitors. The figure would translate into 1.35 trillion baht of income for Thailand. According to her, foreign tourist arrivals increased by 21% for the first 11 months of 2013. Total arrivals is expected to be about 26 million for this year, which would translate into 1.16 trillion baht of income for Thailand. Although the global economic slowdown, natural disasters and political rallies affected the tourism scene this year, the tourism sector continued to expand.

The tourism operators' confidence index stood at 102 in the last quarter of this year, making 2013 the first year that the index returned to the normal level, after it consistently dropped below normal for the past 3 years.

Touching on China's new regulation on outbound tourists, Ms. Piyaman disclosed that the number of Chinese tourists arriving in Thailand has been affected since October. 33% of tourism operators in the central and northern regions have been afflicted.

On Friday, she also called on all related parties to help foster a tourism-friendly atmosphere despite the differences in opinion.


-- NNT 2013-12-21

[terryp]

and 555 million in 2015........ its just as idiotic

[andygunther]

TAT really loves those returning CUMMING SEXPATS

whatever disaster, flood, political protest, they will be comming back year after year

for the rest of the world, economics come in play... let them implement 500 b per person for health insurance and 3.900 b for a visa on arrival that will not be free anymore

Let them continue to dream ....

The question is who they trying to fool.

[Thai at Heart]

Tourism Council expects 26 million visits this year, 29 million in 2014

BANGKOK, 21 December 2013 (NNT) The Tourism Council Of Thailand expects foreign arrivals to grow next year and reach 29 million despite negative pressures from the political scene and the global economy.

Council chairperson Piyaman Techaphaibun said he expected next year's arrivals figure to grow 12.1% to 29 million visitors. The figure would translate into 1.35 trillion baht of income for Thailand. According to her, foreign tourist arrivals increased by 21% for the first 11 months of 2013. Total arrivals is expected to be about 26 million for this year, which would translate into 1.16 trillion baht of income for Thailand. Although the global economic slowdown, natural disasters and political rallies affected the tourism scene this year, the tourism sector continued to expand.

The tourism operators' confidence index stood at 102 in the last quarter of this year, making 2013 the first year that the index returned to the normal level, after it consistently dropped below normal for the past 3 years.

Touching on China's new regulation on outbound tourists, Ms. Piyaman disclosed that the number of Chinese tourists arriving in Thailand has been affected since October. 33% of tourism operators in the central and northern regions have been afflicted.

On Friday, she also called on all related parties to help foster a tourism-friendly atmosphere despite the differences in opinion.

-- NNT 2013-12-21

If the numbers from China plummet in the start of the new year, they will probably do well to get any growth at all.

[NeverSure]

The following is a list of the sexpats who will be in Thailand next year, broken down by sex and age...

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[Ulic]

Would this new so called reciprocity policy affect those who pay for a single-double-triple entry tourist visa.