Japanese travel agents seek official assurance of safety

[Lite Beer]

Japanese travel agents seek official assurance of safety
Sasithorn Ongdee
The Nation

Visitors seek information at the Tourism Authority of Thailand

TOKYO: -- Japanese travel agents have urged the Thai government to issue a statement assuring visitors of their safety while martial law remains in force.

Meanwhile, Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul aims to get Japanese tourist arrivals back on target at 1.3 million visitors this year, as part of a short-term tourism-promotion plan aimed at boosting the country's economic growth.

"We've received good feedback from Japanese tour operators, reflecting that Thailand is still a target destination for Japanese tourists," the minister said after meeting with Japanese travel agents and leading tour operators on Thursday.

She added that most tour operators understood Thailand's political situation under martial law. However, they want the military regime to issue an official statement giving an assurance that it would be safe for tourists to travel to Thailand despite the martial law, so that they could send such a message to their clients.

As a new minister under the military-led government headed by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Kobkarn hopes that visitors from Japan - one of the Kingdom's major markets - will return now that the prolonged political conflict has abated and the newly formed interim government is taking the country forward.

"Since the new government was formed, many [tourism-related] problems have been fixed, such as beach encroachment by small-business owners, taxi services at airports, and public transport," she said.

Japanese arrivals fell 20 per cent to 807,909 visitors in the first eight months of the year, double the overall year-on-year drop of 10 per cent to 15.7 million arrivals from all markets.

The sharp decline in visitor numbers was mainly due to the political unrest centred in Bangkok and subsequent coup on May 22.

Before this year's disruption, Japanese arrivals had increased significantly from 993,674 in 2010 to 1.54 million last year.

During her first overseas trip as minister, Kobkarn participated in two annual tourism events - "Amazing Thai Night" and the three-day "JATA Tourism Expo Japan 2014", which ends today - in a bid to restore Japanese tourists' confidence in the Kingdom, despite the decision to maintain martial law.

She said she wanted to send a message that Thailand was ready to welcome more tourists and provide them with safety and convenience, in addition to new products called "hidden charm" cities.

Kobkarn said about 70 per cent of Japanese tourists were repeat visitors who sought a sense of "Thainess", which tied in with the government's policy of focusing more on the "Thai way of living" theme next year.

A number of "hidden charm" cities that have until now been largely unexplored by foreign visitors will be promoted as new destinations and offered to this type of traveller, she said.

They include Phetchabun, Lampang, Buri Ram, Chumphon, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram, Trat, Trang and Chanthaburi.

For next year's tourism-promotion plan, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) gave a number of examples at the Tokyo expo: Lampang will be promoted as the city of Lanna civilisation in the North, Buri Ram as the city of stone castles in the Northeast, Samut Songkhram as the city of waterways in the Central region, Chanthaburi as the city of fruits in the East, and Trang as the city of jade sea and white beaches in the South. "For Thailand, the strong point is its people's way of living and Thai folklore, as well as world heritage," said Kobkarn, adding that this would meet demand for new destinations from repeat Japanese tourists.

The ministry will also be focusing on niche markets, such as long-stay groups and those who visit for beauty and wellness purposes, she added.

The minister expressed her hope that more Japanese travellers, who are rated as "quality" tourists, could be persuaded to stay longer in Thailand and spend more money.

According to TAT data, Japanese tourists stayed an average of 7.74 days last year, with average spending of Bt4,900 per head per day, contributing a combined Bt57.73 billion to the economy.

European tourists typically stay around 15 days, while Asian travellers stay an average of five days.

Meanwhile, TAT governor Thawatchai Arunyik said the authority was now targeting 1.5 million Japanese arrivals next year.

Asian tourists demand weekend destinations where that they can find great food, go shopping and have a beauty make-over, as well as having medical treatment, according to the TAT.

The TAT has set a revenue target of Bt2.2 trillion from tourism this year, as it promotes Thailand as a weekend destination for Asean tourists, Kobkarn said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Japanese-travel-agents-seek-official-assurance-of--30244231.html

-- The Nation 2014-09-27

[MaxLee]

Safety? There's only one type of it: FACE safety

[clockman]

Be careful on any island!

[seabass69]

They should be fine....they don't look Chinese

[MarkCyr]

No issue of safety is likely to change the fact that the Yen has dropped from about 80 to the dollar to now 109 to the dollar in the space of about a year. As risk-adverse as the Japanese are, Thailand can turn Thailand into Disneyland with safety stations every 50 feet and still that's not likely to change things for increasingly cash-strapped Japanese tourists.

[ToddinChonburi]

Have they seen the news lately, what the hell is wrong with people. Of course we can garuntee your safety, Just ask the 2 dead Brits

[ToddinChonburi]

They only attack Chinese Tourist, the Japenese are fine

[USNret]

How can anyone, anywhere, in any country or circumstance issue an "assurance" of safety. This is a pipe dream, and any assurance would be a blatant lie.

[klauskunkel]

Japanese travel agents seek official assurance of safety

Reply from TAT:

Dear Japanese Visitors, it is in your best interest to stay at home and enjoy your safety there. Just transfer your vacation budget to this special TAT account and we will distribute across various venues according to your specifications.

disclaimer: this is a cynical post, it reflects in no way the actual position of TAT on this issue (they are still looking for one, but there are too many numbers in the way)

[robertthebruce]

Japanese travellers are a treat to a lot of other Nations who come to Thaialnd.....

[Lite Beer]

TAT boosts Thailand’s image among Japanese travellers at JATA Tourism Expo 2014

TOKYO: -- Thailand’s tourism operators in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) are participating in the JATA Tourism Expo 2014, held during 24-28 September, at the Tokyo Big Sight (Tokyo International Exhibition Centre) in Tokyo, Japan.

TAT JapanThailand’s Tourism and Sports Minister, Mrs. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul together with TAT’s Governor, Mr. Thawatchai Arunyik led the Thai delegation in updating the Japanese travel agents and tour operators as well as members of the media on the current political and tourism situation in Thailand with the key objective of helping to boost the confidence of Thailand among Japanese travellers.

Mr. Thawatchai Arunyik, Governor of TAT said, “Japan has long been one of the most important sources of the tourist market for Thailand. Now that the country is quickly recovering from the economic setback, we will be putting more emphasis to work on promoting the wide range of Thai tourism products and services to encourage more Japanese tourists to visit Thailand.”

TAT has set a 90-square-metre Thailand booth at the JATA Tourism Expo 2014 to promote Thailand and provide updates on new products and services as well as infrastructure projects. The mission is being jointly participated by eight travel-related business operators from Thailand, who are also taking part in face-to-face business meeting sessions with travel operators in Japan.
On 24 September, an Amazing Thai Night was organised and successfully welcomed more than 300 representatives from both the travel-related public and private organisations as well as media members in Japan.

TAT Japan 1The annual JATA Tourism Expo is organised by the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) and is the largest travel trade show in Asia. It is estimated there are more than 1,000 booths of travel-related business operators from 150 countries all over the world joining the event, which is held at the Tokyo Big Sight International Convention Centre in Tokyo. This year, the concept of the exhibition has been expanded to include both domestic and international travel trade promotions.

According to statistics from the Department of Tourism of Thailand, the number of Japanese tourists coming to Thailand from January to August 2014, was recorded at 807,909.

Mr. Thawatchai said, “We believe that Thailand’s participation at the JATA Tourism Expo 2014 will be a success, and will help in boosting confidence of Thailand among Japanese travellers and stimulate them to choose Thailand as their next destination, either for holidays or for business purposes.”

TAT News
Contact Information
International Public Relations Division
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48
Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.tatnews.org
Facebook: TAT Newsroom
Twitter: TAT Newsroom

-- Samui Times 2014-09-27

[Don Aleman]

T think the Thai authorities have missed the point which was SAFETY. Cleaner streets, fewer jet skis, are nice but they want to be assured they will return to Japan in a seat, not a box and, and return with all their limbs firmly in place.

If Southern Thailand residents, who have, practically 1 security person for every citizen are being slaughtered almost daily who would Thailand have "assure" the safety of these tourists - Rambo ?

[lemonjelly]

lol.... i once met a young Japanese guy that'd been spiked on Khaosaan RD...... apparantly somebody put him in a taxi because he woke up in only his underwear outside the Japanese Embassy minus passport, wallet and expensive Japanese clothes.

[Gee1]

sorry guy's not sure what thread to post this in: I'm in BKK for a couple days over new year, for new years eve. Any advice?

Also what is new years day like, is everything still open?

[MZurf]

It's gonna be hard to assure the tourists' safety when the very organization whose job it is to make this happen (TRP) is so totally, utterly and completely........well, you know.