Thai tourism: Travel agents look to trade fair for revival

[webfact]

TOURIST
Travel agents look to trade fair for revival
BAMRUNG AMNATCHAROENRIT
THE NATION


A Thai works on a Bangkok construction site yesterday. The prolonged political crisis could cost the country Bt30 billion-Bt40 billion in lost tourism revenue this year, but the Thai Travel Agents Association hopes the coming 14th Thai International Travel Fair

BANGKOK: -- The Thai Travel Agents Association is pinning its hopes on the 14th Thai International Travel Fair running from February 20-23 to show the strength of the tourism industry, which has been battered by the prolonged political tension, and to rebuild confidence abroad.

A Thai works on a Bangkok construction site yesterday. The prolonged political crisis could cost the country Bt30 billion-Bt40 billion in lost tourism revenue this year, but the Thai Travel Agents Association hopes the coming 14th Thai International Travel Fair will boost the market.

The annual event at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center is expected to entice at least 250,000 local visitors into spending more than Bt300 million. It will also serve as an indicator of the health of the tourism industry this year, both inbound and outbound.

About 780 booths, including those of tourism promotion agencies from 16 nations, will showcase products and services at the event, which will later move to Chiang Mai, Udon Thani and Phuket.

TTAA president Suthiphong Pheunphiphop said yesterday that the political turmoil was casting a shadow on the event. The spending projection has been revised down from Bt400 million to Bt300 million, while the number of booths is down from 1,000. Some tourism promotion agencies, especially from the Middle East, have backtracked from participating due to fears of political violence.

However, he was confident in achieving its goal. It may be against the political backdrop at present, but what the association will do is ease tensions among Thais and also prove to the world that Thais will continue travelling abroad, reflecting the good prospects for the country's tourism.

However, if the political turmoil continues, it will hurt the overall industry with foreign tourists, especially from Asia, declining 25-30 per cent. Last year welcomed about 26 million arrivals and this year is expected to see 28.01 million.

If the chaos ends next month, the industry can match last year's performance, thanks to a quick recovery.

However, advanced bookings with travel agencies from abroad for the Songkran Festival are not encouraging. So far, its bookings have been about 25 per cent, against more than 50 per cent year-on-year. Even the weaker baht cannot convince them to come here.

Outbound tourism is expected to be similar to last year, with 4.89 million Thais going abroad. Especially over Songkran, several tour agencies reportedly placed Bt24 million to book charter flights to serve projected rising demand, especially to Japan and South Korea.

Of the 4.89 million, 80 per cent are short-haul travellers spending Bt20,000 per head, while 10 per cent are medium-haul spending Bt40,000 and 10 per cent long-haul spending Bt70,000 per head.

However, Thai Airways International will cancel its direct service from Bangkok to Sendai by the end of next month due to the low season. It was launched in early December to test the market, with three flights per week. The operation will be resumed by the end of this year during the winter season. Hokkaido may also be reduced from daily flights at present. Despite the political chaos, most Thais have continued travelling one or two times per year. Middle-income earners, aged 25-35, and families still keep travelling, while high-income people have started to delay trips because they are obsessed with political participation.

Although Thai outbound travellers declined 25-30 per cent during Chinese New Year, that was not an ill omen for the tourism outlook for the whole year.


-- The Nation 2014-02-05

[NongKhaiKid]

If the Suthep protests continue and the rice farmers increase their activities it will take more than a travel fair to convince tourists to return but Thais clutch onto the tiniest of straws and these suddenly become a saviour.

Years ago a heard a travel consultant taking about the aftermath of an airline strike and apart from the obvious financial aspect he spoke of the unseen problem of ' Customer Loyalty ' in that people forced to look for an alternative later may not see their usually first choice airline, hotel, destination etc in the same light and he stressed that a lost customer can often be very difficult to win back.

I'm sure people like TAT will expect that the day after the protests end the tourists will be flocking back - more straws.

[madmitch]

"It may be against the political backdrop at present, but what the association will do is ease tensions among Thais and also prove to the world that Thais will continue travelling abroad, reflecting the good prospects for the country's tourism."

Can someone explain how the fact that Thais will continue to travel abroad has any affect whatsoever on inbound tourism? Or is it just a poor translation?

[belg]

a fair will make tourists forget that soon all roads might be closed nationwide???????

[DoctorG]

"It may be against the political backdrop at present, but what the association will do is ease tensions among Thais and also prove to the world that Thais will continue travelling abroad, reflecting the good prospects for the country's tourism."

Can someone explain how the fact that Thais will continue to travel abroad has any affect whatsoever on inbound tourism? Or is it just a poor translation?

You are right Mitch. Inbound and Outbound have no real relevance to each other. I can only assume that this Fair is a combination of Inbound and Outbound operators, and they are therefore trying to cram all the information into this one article.

[draftvader]

A travel fair....that'll go well with our political circus!

[kotsak]

Related to the photo in the OP.. Did they really check if he person is Thai?

[upena]

Even in the best of times, travel conventions are an old-school way of promotion. Thailand needs to join the 21st century and do more online.

[LarryBird]

Even in the best of times, travel conventions are an old-school way of promotion. Thailand needs to join the 21st century and do more online.

They don't like transaction records.

[WhizBang]

a fair will make tourists forget that soon all roads might be closed nationwide???????

With all the blocked roads, turnout at the fair could end up being rather low.

[Yunla]

I always admire the Thai entrepreneurial spirit at times like these, normal working people fighting to hold on to their livelihoods in the face of a relentless corrupt political crossfire. People here in the city keep trying to make it all work out, despite all the race-to-the-bottom political madness in the streets and the corridors of power. Obviously tourism is suffering, and small shops are losing so much tourist trade, taxi drivers and so many other professions are all being crushed under the circus of coups, protests and upheavals. But they keep working and trying to stay afloat, and I am humbled to witness their spirit.

Edited February 5, 2014 by Yunla

[noitom]

Thailand has a Think Tank ? i know it has a lot of thick tanks but a thinking one ? hmmm a novelty

It ranks with ' Military Intelligence ' as the biggest oxymoron in the English language.

Thais are great at thrashing about.

[mightyatom]

They also hope that Valentines Day will pick up for tourism... I almost split my sides laughing. How many times have you celebrated Valentines with a holiday?....lol

Hoping for a resurrection in tourist confidence from 20th to 23rd feb is asking a lot really. They are days in the lead up to the next attempt at advance voting when i expect bullets will be flying around BBK and protests will once again be stepped up.

Summary...... Dream On.

[mightyatom]

"It may be against the political backdrop at present, but what the association will do is ease tensions among Thais and also prove to the world that Thais will continue travelling abroad, reflecting the good prospects for the country's tourism."

Can someone explain how the fact that Thais will continue to travel abroad has any affect whatsoever on inbound tourism? Or is it just a poor translation?

You are right Mitch. Inbound and Outbound have no real relevance to each other. I can only assume that this Fair is a combination of Inbound and Outbound operators, and they are therefore trying to cram all the information into this one article.

The reason that outbound tourism has a bearing is that this is not a TAT event, it is the Thai Travel Agents fair.

This covers everything concerning Thai travel agents and a lot of their revenue comes from Thai tourists booking group tours, and a lot of the profits are fed to Thailand.

I would say that a substantial drop in disposable income for Thai people over the coming years (especially farmers) will have an impact on this sector of the market.

You have to remember that by far the majority of Thais use group tours. Lots from the south go to the north and from the north to the south. The ones who go abroad pay the Thai company and use mostly Thai owned businesses in the foreign destination. My wife's friend works in this sector. Even when they organize a tour to the UK they use Thai owned businesses wherever they can.

[VINCENT2012]

now it is a big waste of time, they have to wait the politic huracan goes by first.......and normality comes back.hopefully....i don't think big travel agency and tour operator will be patient for edges anyway.if they decide to take an alternative route for their demand and customers, thailand will have then a big problem to convince them to come back. When money from tourism will cease, and people leaving then they will realise what they did by killing the only chicken giving golden egg,perhaps naming and shaming will be then tolerated to show with the finger the responsable one

good day and good night

[diehard60]

Wow! Oh! This will surely bring in the tourists, but then if suthep finds out he and his gang of thugs will stop that also.

[oldthaihand99]

If the Suthep protests continue and the rice farmers increase their activities it will take more than a travel fair to convince tourists to return but Thais clutch onto the tiniest of straws and these suddenly become a saviour.

Years ago a heard a travel consultant taking about the aftermath of an airline strike and apart from the obvious financial aspect he spoke of the unseen problem of ' Customer Loyalty ' in that people forced to look for an alternative later may not see their usually first choice airline, hotel, destination etc in the same light and he stressed that a lost customer can often be very difficult to win back.

I'm sure people like TAT will expect that the day after the protests end the tourists will be flocking back - more straws.

Historicly tourists have returned after problems such as the present protests & other types in the kingdom of Thailand. Even in ever increasing numbers. About 50% of visitors are returnees, compared to like 3% for Vietnam.

[oldthaihand99]

"It may be against the political backdrop at present, but what the association will do is ease tensions among Thais and also prove to the world that Thais will continue travelling abroad, reflecting the good prospects for the country's tourism."

Can someone explain how the fact that Thais will continue to travel abroad has any affect whatsoever on inbound tourism? Or is it just a poor translation?

A strong belief in karma in Thailand. Also much superstition.

[oldthaihand99]

I always admire the Thai entrepreneurial spirit at times like these, normal working people fighting to hold on to their livelihoods in the face of a relentless corrupt political crossfire. People here in the city keep trying to make it all work out, despite all the race-to-the-bottom political madness in the streets and the corridors of power. Obviously tourism is suffering, and small shops are losing so much tourist trade, taxi drivers and so many other professions are all being crushed under the circus of coups, protests and upheavals. But they keep working and trying to stay afloat, and I am humbled to witness their spirit.

They seem to be quite fun loving & positive thinking/speaking.

But don't mention anything like you might die today. It will spook them.