Tourism Council of Thailand projects a decrease in number of tourists due to protests

[webfact]

Tourism Council of Thailand projects a decrease in number of tourists due to protests

BANGKOK, 25 February 2014 (NNT) – The Tourism Council of Thailand estimates that if the demonstration continues, there will be a constant decrease in tourists. The council projects a decrease of 1.1 million tourists, resulting in a loss of revenue for of the entire year of more than 90 billion baht.

Mrs. Pornthip Hirankate, Vice President of Marketing Department, Tourism Council of Thailand, said the political demonstrations, which have been going on for four months, have impacted tourism especially in the central areas of the city including Ratchaprasong, Pathumwan and Sukhumvit because they are rally sites and the traffic were closed so foreign tourists have avoided those areas.

The occupancy rates in the hotels situated in those areas have dropped to only 20-30 percent. Before, during a typical high season, the occupancy rate was 70-90 percent. It is expected that at the end of the first quarter, there will be a loss of revenue of about 50 billion baht. The decreased in tourists mostly come from China, Hong Kong, Korea and Japan.

Mrs. Pornthip Hirankate added that now the number of foreign tourists travelling to Chiang Mai or Phuket has increased by 30 percent and some avoid staying in the center of Bangkok by turning to hotels close to the airport. Meanwhile, hotel and restaurant business sectors have started to adapt themselves in order to attract more customers.


-- NNT 2014-02-25

[meatboy]

how the hell do you project that the tourist no's will decrease.

you will be in line for a BLUE PETER BADGE.

you should have been a brain surgeon.

[noitom]

"Turning to hotels close to the airport rather than Bangkok." Girls, listen up. Here is an opportunity to hedge your business with a temp location near the airport. Thai big men in Bangkok listen up. Here is a business opportunity to start up a quick airport close entertainment venue and complex. Capture those extra nights of transit cash flow.

[chooka]

The Tourism Authority already beat you to this media release.

[chainarong]

This information is startling, given that tourists sometimes have junior family members and like their health too much, I would have thought they would have been frothing at the mouth to join in a protest or two , regardless of Thailand ancient rules, to miss out on being attacked by M16, grenades , men in black , popcorn sellers and attacked by mobs dressed in red shirts, this decrease is of concern , guess you could go down to sedate Singapore , read a book and get run over by a Taxi , no fun it that , please come back all you adventure loving Tourists , "It's an adventure everyday The Thai Way", TAT new slogan.

[chiang mai]

FWIW we see that the Chiang Mai tourist industry seems to be faring quite well.

We just returned from a couple of days in Sukhothai, en-route we stopped off in Tak for a coffee and were greeted by ten coach loads of American military from Cobra Gold. Whilst waiting in line to be served we asked where they were headed and the answer came back, Chiang Mai, the brass declared BKK off limits apparently and Pattaya had become unwelcoming, or so it seems.

BTW ever noticed how hard it is to have a conversation with a young, newly arrived US squaddie in Thailand, questions such as " where are you headed" seem to translate into, "tell me the US battle strategy for Asia/Pacific"! I do understand that it's all in the training etc, but...!

[ShannonT]

Send the 90 billion Baht bill to Suthep, please.

[Somtamnication]

No sh1t Sherlock!

Wait a month, then those numbers will creep back up.

[whoisyourdaddy]

I wonder if any of the people in that council, looked past their nose.

It is already empty. Empty in comparison to last year. As of next month it's a low season , coupled with an ongoing problem and there is no other way but down

[ikurauni]

The protests do not discourage the tourists to enter Thailand but the explosion on the street is a real concern for the tourists.

Only for the tourists who really know about Thailand might continue to come but many of the first time tourists might cancel the tour.

They don't have to stay in Bangkok. They can go north or where there is no protest. Pattaya might be a good place to enjoy.

[tomyummer]

Geniuses.

[fab4]

Well done suthep. Another triumph for self before country.

[Yunla]

a decrease of 1.1 million tourists, resulting in a loss of revenue

The people hit hardest by this are the struggling small businesses run by working and lower-middle class families. The "casual family tourist" market who only visit Thailand maybe once or twice in their lives, will typically spend big at small authentic Thai shops, buying traditional products to take home as gifts and mementos. These families like to relax and mingle with normal Thais in street markets and smaller non-corporate shops. Also these families are the ones who would never visit a risky area where there are shootings and bombings. This is a huge loss for smaller Thai retailers who look forward to welcoming tourists with the traditional and legendary Thai friendliness and courtesy, and selling beautiful local items which the tourists will often cherish as memories to the end of their days.

More serious hardcore travellers without families are less affected by danger, and will go where they want and take it all in their stride. But typically they will not buy the expensive local souvenirs and so forth, which the family tourists buy. This adds up to a terrible blow to the small businesses in the popular tourist areas. It is heartbreaking really.

Edited February 25, 2014 by Yunla

[Ricardo]

"a decrease in tourists due to protests"

Give sell the man a coconut, there !

Why do Thai poo-yais feel the urge, to state the glaringly-obvious, as though it's a cutting-edge insight ?

[chiang mai]

Why do some posters feel the news has to be written solely for their benefit based on what they alone understand and that everything else is nonsense!

[fredob43]

Well done suthep. Another triumph for self before country.

I know that Suthep hasn't done every thing right but someone had to stand up for Thai people.

Maybe he should have let the mob that's in at the moment 'that's being run by a convicted criminal' carry on and bankrupt the country with all it policies.

Lesser of to evils ???

[unanimosity]

Send the 90 billion Baht bill to Suthep, please.

[unanimosity]

Well done suthep. Another triumph for self before country.

I know that Suthep hasn't done every thing right but someone had to stand up for Thai people.

Maybe he should have let the mob that's in at the moment 'that's being run by a convicted criminal' carry on and bankrupt the country with all it policies.

Lesser of to evils ???

Stand up for the Thai people? Which Suthep are you talking about? The one that brought down the Leekpai government in 1994 by championing a scheme to award land in the South to poor farmers then redirected some of the land to rich cronies?

[chooka]

No sh1t Sherlock!

Wait a month, then those numbers will creep back up.

Their opposition, TAT are still expecting record numbers of tourists this year 28 mil up from 26 mil last year.

[PREM-R]

Well done suthep. Another triumph for self before country.

I know that Suthep hasn't done every thing right but someone had to stand up for Thai people.

Maybe he should have let the mob that's in at the moment 'that's being run by a convicted criminal' carry on and bankrupt the country with all it policies.

Lesser of to evils ???

"I know that Suthep hasn't done every thing right but someone had to stand up for Thai people."

Or Suthep could have let the elections take place and the "Thai People" could have stood up for themselves. It's called Democracy

[ginjag]

"a decrease in tourists due to protests"

Give sell the man a coconut, there !

Why do Thai poo-yais feel the urge, to state the glaringly-obvious, as though it's a cutting-edge insight ?

When you have 1 joke agency TAT why have a sister one in the name of Tourism Council. ??? how many billion budget do they have per annum.??

This entire government is made up of useless agencies-sub agencies-chairpersons deputy chair persons, How many deputy PMs are there ???

All excuses to claim attendance monies, but to cap it all what good decisions are they coming up with. Just reasons to fill pockets.

There is no wonder urgent reform is necessary.

[chiang mai]

Well done suthep. Another triumph for self before country.

I know that Suthep hasn't done every thing right but someone had to stand up for Thai people.

Maybe he should have let the mob that's in at the moment 'that's being run by a convicted criminal' carry on and bankrupt the country with all it policies.

Lesser of to evils ???

"I know that Suthep hasn't done every thing right but someone had to stand up for Thai people."

Or Suthep could have let the elections take place and the "Thai People" could have stood up for themselves. It's called Democracy

Paying rural people THB 500 a time to vote for a specific candidate is democracy? I believe that's called corruption, nobody pays the democrats to vote for them.

[Fullstop]

Tourism Council of Thailand projects a decrease in number of tourists due to protests

These "Einsteins" aren't being paid enough!

[alant]

Well done suthep. Another triumph for self before country.

I know that Suthep hasn't done every thing right but someone had to stand up for Thai people.

Maybe he should have let the mob that's in at the moment 'that's being run by a convicted criminal' carry on and bankrupt the country with all it policies.

Lesser of to evils ???

"I know that Suthep hasn't done every thing right but someone had to stand up for Thai people."

Or Suthep could have let the elections take place and the "Thai People" could have stood up for themselves. It's called Democracy

Paying rural people THB 500 a time to vote for a specific candidate is democracy? I believe that's called corruption, nobody pays the democrats to vote for them.

Nobody pays the Democrats? I have my doubts. The question may be "has democracy had its day?"

[MaxLee]

Tourism Council of Thailand projects a decrease in number of tourists due to protests

Yep, Silom, Ratchaprasong, the heart of the shopping areas are already under Bomb attacks,.... more to come in bangkok-ONLY-Bangkok on account of two groups who fight for what they believe in ANARCHDEMOCRACY.

Innocent children have already died, and their losses were treated as just another few victims less, while a group of red shirts cheered in joy somewhere in Thailand....

BUT,... the TAT will just create another slogan in

"Amazing Thailand, it only happens in your imagination...."

Edited February 25, 2014 by MaxLee

[bigbamboo]

how the hell do you project that the tourist no's will decrease.

you will be in line for a BLUE PETER BADGE.

you should have been a brain surgeon.

Maybe they've been watching the promotional adverts for other ASEAN countries, in particular Malaysia, which are generally far more enticing that the hackneyed old home produced stereotypes of temples and Thai smiles.

[ikke]

A loss of 90 Billion Baht, Thanks a lot Suthep, the rice could have be paid easy with that money !

[Emster23]

I must say I was shocked and surprised by this release. I thought they would project an increase in tourism due to a couple of factors: hotels dropping rates and so many empty rooms. "Come visit Thailand: Plenty of room at the inn!" sort of promotion.

[diehard60]

Once again suthep stikes. Good going suthep you for sure going to kill Thailand.

[diehard60]

Well done suthep. Another triumph for self before country.

I know that Suthep hasn't done every thing right but someone had to stand up for Thai people.

Maybe he should have let the mob that's in at the moment 'that's being run by a convicted criminal' carry on and bankrupt the country with all it policies.

Lesser of to evils ???

The Thai people???? I gues you think that BKK is the only place with Thai people. And what about suthep's criminal behaviour???? He is bankrupting the country that has always had high tourism at this time of the year. GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT>

Edited February 25, 2014 by diehard60