Home tourism 'to endure Bt30-bn loss if protests affect Songkran'

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Home tourism 'to endure Bt30-bn loss if protests affect Songkran'
Bamrung Amnatcharoenrit
The Nation



Big drop in Thais travelling outside home provinces

BANGKOK: -- The Association of Domestic Travel (ADT) projects that if political chaos continues through the Songkran Festival, the domestic tourism industry will lose more than Bt30 billion in revenue in the first four months of this year.

Already, political protest has had impacts on three players in the industry - hotels, small and medium-sized enterprises, and tour guides. But if the situation drags on into April, the whole industry will be hit hard during Songkran. Thais may spend less than normal, especially cutting their stays from three nights to two.ADT president Yutthachai Soonthronrattanavate said the main problem the overall tourism industry was facing was the announcement of a state of emergency, which has spooked foreign tourists. He urged the government to end the decree to encourage them back. It should also make it clear that the protests have been largely non-violent.

In the local industry, the number of Thais travelling outside their own provinces has posted a big drop. Tourism in the South declined by 60-70 per cent because many people left for Bangkok to participate in political demonstrations. As well, it declined in the lower North by 50 per cent as people lost income because of the financially troubled rice-pledging programme, while the Central region was hit by the Bangkok-centred protests themselves, with a drop of 30 per cent.

The three-day Maka Bucha holiday period, which starts this Friday, is one example. Merit-making tours have been hit, with the number of tour buses expected to drop from 500 to 200-300 during the period.

Yutthachai said tour operators were not confident with the situation and many chose not to spend much on marketing activities for fear of unfruitful results. Some chose to communicate with existing clients by direct mail, a way to save money. He urged the Tourism Authority of Thailand to pay more attention to domestic travel by spearheading a master plan to save the industry after it is hit hard by the ongoing political unrest. The plan should be discussed by operators nationwide to map out an integrated solution. He said he wanted the TAT to continue promoting domestic tourism, but said it should not spend a lot of money on campaigns that would not have a big impact. He also said 30 per cent of the promotion budget should be saved for a recovery campaign after the chaos ends.

Yutthachai is not the first to voice concerns. Piyaman Tejapaibul, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), said recently that the emergency decree had caused lost business opportunities, especially inbound tourism. She urged the government to withdraw it before its two-month deadline to ease the tension.

The decree is for 60 days, but can legally be extended if necessary. If that happens, it will make the situation even worse. After it was declared, tour agencies overseas were not bold enough to organise trips here because travel insurance does not cover damages due to political situations.Because of political chaos, the TCT has predicted that about 1.7 million foreign tourists will disappear, costing Bt82 billion in revenue in the first half of this year.


-- The Nation 2014-02-11

[Red Snake]

just face the facts these protest are destroying the country and it's economy.

[TVGerry]

What's 30 billion baht compared to the hundreds of billion lost on the rice scheme scam? Better to lose a few tens of billion to toss out the Shinawatras rather than allow them to continue screwing up this country and lose trillions instead.

[thesetat2013]

The only need for the SOE is to give the caretaker gov supreme power. They reasons they initiated this SOE were uncalled for and unnecessary. To continue it now that protesting has dwindled ia pointless. In fact this SOE has not dettered any violent acts. YL and her follows can not afford to end the SOE simply for the fact that the media can then make real news reports across the world which would surely show the world just how bad these people are

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[jaltsc]

"The Association of Domestic Travel (ADT) projects that if political chaos continues through the Songkran Festival, the domestic tourism industry will lose more than Bt30 billion in revenue..."

Well, it's nice that they finally put a value amount on all the lives lost during the drunk fest of Songkran

Edited February 11, 2014 by jaltsc

[mightyatom]

So they were lying when they said that the protests had already cost the country 40 billion 2 weeks ago?

Why would it lose any money? the people should not find it any more difficult to travel around the country than it already is at songkran.

From BKK to Korat is already a car park for 2 days either side of songkran.

There are only a few streets in BKK shut down, but it won't stop songkran... I don't see their point. It is just more propaganda that my children wouldn't even swallow, and yet it seems to have fooled a few on here already.

It's early so i will assume some brains are still not fully awake.

Edited to add.... The protests will be over by April 2nd when the government is dissolved under the constitution. Lat time i checked, Songkran is after that date.

Edited February 11, 2014 by mightyatom

[noitom]

Everyone protesting and everyone in the government as well as all pro government supporters are surely doing it for the good of future Thai generations. Everyone knows that Thais care about their future generations. You can tell by the quality of education and the security of the nation.

[alant]

What's 30 billion baht compared to the hundreds of billion lost on the rice scheme scam? Better to lose a few tens of billion to toss out the Shinawatras rather than allow them to continue screwing up this country and lose trillions instead.

Ah the protests are the fault of Shinawatras, now I understand....

[mancub]

The domestic travel market is affected equally by rising costs and less disposable income ,as by the political situation,

[JoePai]

Please, please let the protests continue so we can cancel Songkran

[ThaiTrav]

just face the facts these protest are destroying the country and it's economy.

.....So what!!! The Thais don't give a f...# and its their country .Let them make it what they want !!! Who Cares???

[sonar6ca]

just face the facts these protest are destroying the country and it's economy.

No shit.

[GeckosDiving]

"Red Snake" just face the facts these protest are destroying the country and it's economy.

No shit.

You mean Bull Shit.

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