Tourist arrivals in Thailand soar from Jan-Dec 2013

[Colabamumbai]

Figures for the first ten months of the year. It will be interesting to see next years figures.

[ginjag]

Every body likes to take pot shots at anything Thai, but this TAT announcement sounds right .

The report is for the first 10 months of 2013 if I remember correctly the protests did not start until October, so the protests could not have any affect on the first 10 months, further more there is a lag time to any negative affects because people make travel plans an reservation well ahead of time, so the last 2 months of 2013 were probably reserved well before the protests started,

Any loses of the last 2 months could be balanced by a beater than expected first 10 months

Sure there must have being cancellations but many of the people who travel to Thailand travel to areas that are not affected by the protests

I have no numbers to support my assessment but it makes seance, at least to me.

TAT is tourism of Thailand. Tourist entries are different from arrivals, Arrivals have sod all to do with tourism UNLESS their entry card states TOURIST ONLY.

These are the figures TAT should announce.

Why are some fooling themselves into thinking arrivals are tourists so numbers are up. I may be stupid but not that stupid. (do not answer that )

[ginjag]

Not all that bad. Again, I have many friends in the industry and whilst they have less arrivals then budgeted, the hotels are far from empty. I was in BKK last week and the hotel I stayed in was booked out on one of the two nights I was there. I then moved to Hua Hin for a couple of days and the hotel was pretty busy. Not everybody gets scared as easily as say American travelers.

I do wonder how many people here that bash TAT actually work in the industry;-)

I certainly don't have a horse in this race, or in any race for that matter. I have a mule and it is blind and lame too lol.

I live in Bangkok now for six years although I travel for Visas and family and soforth. This is the quietest winter I've seen here. Also I have two Thai friends reporting a ghostly silence in foreigners, one is manager of a large Hotel here, and one is an insurance agent specialising in English-speaking long-term customers. They both report their regular crowd stayed away this winter, and lower numbers of new accounts.

But yes, people will always travel for winter sun, and getting extra baht for your currency is also a bonus. However we did have reports of deaths in the streets, millions of people in the streets, gunshots, etc. and this kind of thing is very off-putting to casual family tourists.

I have no horse in this race either. A GM I know in Hua Hin told me that numbers are down this month compared to last year, from 80% to 70%. Certainly lower but not exactly panic stations yet.

I have worked in 4-5 stars in SE Asia for 20 years and there is always a lull after the first weekend of December to just before Christmas. I work in SIem Reap and we have seen no drop in arrivals (most of our guests come through BKK).

I am not denying that the protests will affect some (over cautious) travelers; I just have a problem with the instant Thai and TAT bashing by people that have no clue (and no Yunia, I do not mean you).

If you class arrivals as tourists then you don't have a clue. It is not THAI bashing my friend it is being honest about tourist arrival marked cards only.

[rebelplatoon]

Right....keep dreaming....numbers are clearly way down. Not just by the looks. Ask any Hotel.

[Thaddeus]

I have worked in 4-5 stars in SE Asia for 20 years and there is always a lull after the first weekend of December to just before Christmas. I work in SIem Reap and we have seen no drop in arrivals (most of our guests come through BKK).

And TAT count them as tourists in Thailand.

Twice, when they cross back for their return flight,

[tingtongteesood]

TV should really have a feature that links up these bi-weekly conflicting TAT announcements so that we an easily see how they are conflicting and nonsensical.

Aren't they embarrassed?

That is an awesome idea. If they could have pages with archived headlines on similar topics grouped chronologically it would be super interesting reading...Extra work for someone though...

[bigbamboo]

So whilst the locals are busy wrecking the country the foreign tourists are busy helping to keep Thailand afloat.

The message should be crystal clear then. Take good care of the tourists, the expats, the ones who spend money and support Thailand and it'd people or else they'll be gone and you'll be left up the klong with no one to smile at.

[PaullyW]

TV should really have a feature that links up these bi-weekly conflicting TAT announcements so that we an easily see how they are conflicting and nonsensical.

Aren't they embarrassed?

That is an awesome idea. If they could have pages with archived headlines on similar topics grouped chronologically it would be super interesting reading...Extra work for someone though...

Yep, the problem is that 'journalists' here won't do the work for us (that they should be doing) as calling attention to all the conflicting, often ridiculous, information could make someone 'important' lose face and put the journalists' jobs and/or physical safety at risk.

Anyway, I would think that this constantly conflicting and illogical statement from officials is a manifestation of an entire populace that was never really taught any critical reasoning/thinking ability. So, it's very possible that these announcements go over well with Thais -- as someone said, as long as the 'right/important' person makes them, they must be true.

[Emdog]

"Not everybody gets scared as easily as say American travelers."

Ah, I was wondering how America bashing could be worked into this. Whines from Euroweenies get so tiresome...

[JSixpack]

TV should really have a feature that links up these bi-weekly conflicting TAT announcements so that we an easily see how they are conflicting and nonsensical.

Aren't they embarrassed?

And a checklist of sneers in response from which our TV posters can choose, so that they don't need to type in the same old thing time after time.

[thailiketoo]

The news that one can get 15 years in jail for picking mushrooms will not encourage tourists to go Thailand...

Right you are. If this thread is any example there are a lot of mushroom pickers posting on Thai Visa.

But what do you expect. TAT on one hand and a guy who thinks 6 hundred thousand is 6 million on the other hand.

[LeeCraker]

"Protests? What protests? Tourism it at an all time high, and tourists are spending like there is no tomorrow. Ho Ho Ho Amazing Thailand" - Bangkok Bob

[sirineou]

can people on this forum not read? the story says 'first ten months of 2013.' the protests started towards the end of that period so clearly did not affect the numbers

Why should they let the facts interfere with a good old fashion Thai bashing after all the article in this thread had no pictures and we all know how challenged some people are with the written word. Perhaps if the article was written in cartoon form......

First 10 months, No protests tourism Up 22%, so even if tourism was down by 95% for the last 3 months of 2013 tourism will still be on pace with last year.

Do you think tourism will be down by more than 95% the last 3 months?if Yes the tourism will be down this year, if not the tourism will be Up this year

Sorry don't know how to put this in cartoon form.

PS: 3 months are 25% of a year

Edited December 24, 2013 by sirineou

[sirineou]

Every body likes to take pot shots at anything Thai, but this TAT announcement sounds right .

The report is for the first 10 months of 2013 if I remember correctly the protests did not start until October, so the protests could not have any affect on the first 10 months, further more there is a lag time to any negative affects because people make travel plans an reservation well ahead of time, so the last 2 months of 2013 were probably reserved well before the protests started,

Any loses of the last 2 months could be balanced by a beater than expected first 10 months

Sure there must have being cancellations but many of the people who travel to Thailand travel to areas that are not affected by the protests

I have no numbers to support my assessment but it makes seance, at least to me.

TAT is tourism of Thailand. Tourist entries are different from arrivals, Arrivals have sod all to do with tourism UNLESS their entry card states TOURIST ONLY.

These are the figures TAT should announce.

Why are some fooling themselves into thinking arrivals are tourists so numbers are up. I may be stupid but not that stupid. (do not answer that )

so it's not the numbers that are in dispute, it is the TAT methodology? Fair enough, what are the evidence that their methodology for arriving at these numbers is wrong. (anecdotal evidence and opinion is no evidence at all)

I will admit I really don't know what methodology TAT used to arrive at it's numbers, but I suspect that the ones bushing TAT don't either.

I have seen nothing other than anecdotal evidence and opinion on any of the criticisms yet.

I personally don't care one way or an other, it is what it is , and so far based on this article, what I said in my assessment is what it is. ( first 10 months tourism up 22% last 2 months comprise less than 20% of 10 months ) unless my math is wrong, in which case I be willing to re asses my position.

Edited December 24, 2013 by sirineou

[indyuk]

Today is Christmas Eve, I was shopping in Central Festival early this evening. I could have driven along the aisles in a Humpy with out bumping into anything.

Has Suthep swelled his throng of thugs with our tourists?