TAT: Prolonged protests to cost 90 billion baht in tourism income

BANGKOK, 20 February 2014 (NNT) – According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Thai tourism sector will lose up to 90 billion baht worth of revenue and 900,000 foreign tourists if the political impasse drags on until April.

TAT Governor Thawatchai Aranyik said the agency had assessed that the political situation in Thailand was turning for the worse and its outlook on tourism revenue had to be adjusted accordingly. It is projected that if no improvement is seen in Thai politics by April, there would be a loss of 90 billion baht in income during the first and second quarters of this year while the number of tourists would also be 900,000 less than it should be.

The TAT has, therefore, conferred with eight tourism-related organizations, including the Tourism Council of Thailand, the Association of Thai Travel Agents and the Thai Hotels Association, about possible measures to restore tourist confidence and stimulate the market. Mr Thawatchai was hopeful that foreign visitors would return to Thailand in the last two quarters of the year, citing that the Thai tourism business could recover quickly from past crises.

President of the Tourism Council of Thailand Piyaman Techapaiboon revealed that cooperation might be established with hotels and resorts, especially those in Bangkok and nearby provinces that were affected by political unrest, in launching promotional campaigns to draw in more customers. She believed a clear strategy would take shape next month.


-- NNT 2014-02-20

No worries, because TAT's underwater and elephant-back marriage campaign on Valentaines day has raised 300 gazillions baht. And 50 billion people interviewed worlwide expressed their interest in coming to Thailand to celebrate Songkran.

So Rip Van TAT have just wakened up and assessed the political situation is turning for the worse which is about as profound as their tourist arrival figures.

No worries, because TAT's underwater and elephant-back marriage campaign on Valentaines day has raised 300 gazillions baht. And 50 billion people interviewed worlwide expressed their interest in coming to Thailand to celebrate Songkran.

gazillion ...

No worries, because TAT's underwater and elephant-back marriage campaign on Valentaines day has raised 300 gazillions baht. And 50 billion people interviewed worlwide expressed their interest in coming to Thailand to celebrate Songkran.

gazillion ...

Must be a typo. Should have been a googleplex 10^(10^100).

A googleplex have more zeros than there are atoms in the universe.

"launching promotional campaigns" - I am hoping to see some significant discounts, but so far even the most affected businesses are only offering a paltry ~25% discount off the theoretical rack rate (which nobody pays). A 5* hotel I was interested in has even closed some of its restaurants and curtailing dinner service - while at the same time saying that "things are normal in their vicinity".

And air ticket prices have not come down much yet either.

So I will wait a little longer for the pain to bite deeper before making bookings.

is it really because of the protest ? could it be also for the great welcoming and different scams that people come less to Thailand ? I could see dozen of other reasons ...see the Russian bashing here ? the Indian bashing ? etc ....

a voucher for a free massage with happy ending for every day of your stay, would that erect new tourists ?

what about the wedding on lotus pond,i wonder how they are going,or prehaps a new angle wedding at protest sight,you can for a special price pose with Suthep,just a thought.

TAT: Prolonged protests to cost 90 billion baht in tourism income

No worries, they will come up with the next slogan

Amazing Thailand, it's Thai-Rak-Thai Pheu Thai (for the people)

What's the problem? The government has no intention to pay the THB 130 billions, shovel THB 90 billions into TAT's corner and keep the rest. At least that's the way things worked in the past

will go on longer than songkran,thats for sure

is it really because of the protest ? could it be also for the great welcoming and different scams that people come less to Thailand ? I could see dozen of other reasons ...see the Russian bashing here ? the Indian bashing ? etc ....

why are you so obsessed with russians all the time im curious...but on a brighter note 900.000 less people to be ripped off and laying in a hospital bed after the driver decided to have a little nap at the wheel.