webfact Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 TOURISTAnother tough year ahead for tourism if martial law stays: TCTSuchart SritamaThe NationBANGKOK: -- The tourism industry is expected to face another tough year if the government maintains martial law, the head of the Tourism Council of Thailand said yesterday.Meanwhile, the TCT has drafted several strategies aimed at providing relief to the tourism and travel sector in the current quarter."There's only one condition that will really help prevent the tourism industry from even worse circumstances, and that is the lifting of martial law. If the government continues enforcing the law, the country's tourism and travel business may face harder times through the coming year," said Ittirit Kinglake, president of the council.The number of international arrivals at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport from January to September dropped by 19 per cent compared with the same period last year. Arrivals during the nine months came in at 9.1 million, against 11.3 million a year ago.Other key tourism associations such as hotel and inbound bodies have also predicted that the sector will post a sharp decline this year, in the region of 15-20 per cent.The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) earlier lowered this year's target for foreign-tourist arrivals from 28 million to 25 million, while the number is forecast to rebound to 28 million next year."Martial law is definitely hurting tourism, and there is still no sign of it being lifted," Ittirit said.He said many countries had kept in place travel advisories issued after the military coup in May. As a result, travel operators overseas have shifted to selling other destinations such as Vietnam and the Indonesian island of Bali, as well as emerging countries like Myanmar.To boost foreign-visitor numbers and relieve the industry in the current high season, the TCT has prepared three strategies, which are focused on tourists' safety, marketing, and a special plan to restore Koh Tao's image after the murder of two British tourists on the resort island last month.On the safety front, the council will ask the Tourism and Sports Ministry and other official bodies to draw up safety measures not only on Koh Tao, but at all major attractions, Ittirit said.More investment in closed-circuit television cameras and manpower is also needed, while local people will be invited to join teams of officials from Bangkok with a view to boosting safety and security at holiday locations, he added.The council also plans to join forces with the private sector in launching attractive promotions to boost tourism in Bangkok and other key destinations during the peak season, because of slow bookings for the October-to-December period.One of the short-term marketing strategies is to attract tourists from neighbouring countries during weekends. The TAT last week launched a martial-law tourism measure called "24-Hour Travel" in a bid to draw repeat tourists from the region.In regard to a special plan aimed at rebuilding Koh Tao's image, the TCT chief said operators in the island and local administrative bodies would offer incentive packages to attract tourists, while major events are also being prepared.However, detailed image-restoration plans may be extended from the originally planned period through to November, as the murder case is still at the investigation stage."The murder case has been drawing great attention, so providing information on the issue is the best that can be done at this stage," Ittirit said.Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Another-tough-year-ahead-for-tourism-if-martial-la-30245984.html-- The Nation 2014-10-22 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Somtamnication Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 "The murder case has been drawing great attention, so providing information on the issue is the best that can be done at this stage," Ittirit said." The tuk tuks, jet skis, gem stone sellers, double pricing and taxi fees have all been "re-educated". It's Prozac time!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatOngo Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 Martial Law or political chaos.........take your pick. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mosha Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 Just wait until TAT's Martial Law tourism tales off. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post NongKhaiKid Posted October 21, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 21, 2014 Just wait until TAT's Martial Law tourism tales off. Let's not forget the ' Ebola Free Thailand ' pitch too. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Thailand Posted October 21, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 21, 2014 Martial law is not the problem simply a result of the problem. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NongKhaiKid Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 A negative view of tourism so we can expect TAT to ride to the rescue with a positive outlook. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noitom Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 How about a quick fix clever catchy marketing slogan from TAT. Something that will capture the attention and "lure" tourists. Thailand, the goldmine of love and happiness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chooka Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 Martial law is not the problem simply a result of the problem.are numbers up or down since martial law? If numbers were higher before the coup then it must be the post coup that is to blame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post SteveFong Posted October 22, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 22, 2014 Thailand doesn't seem to understand, Other than the sex trade, they do not have a reputation in the world, for anything other than unstable governments Has no one bothered to tell them that? 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whybother Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Martial law is not the problem simply a result of the problem.are numbers up or down since martial law? If numbers were higher before the coup then it must be the post coup that is to blame. You can blame the coup for cancellations that happened at the time, but you can't really blame it 6 months on while martial law is still ongoing. If martial law had been scrapped after a couple of months, tourism probably would have improved ... except for the possibility that without martial law, protests would have kicked off. Bottom line ... you can't just say the coup didn't happen, but martial law can be scrapped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerry123 Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 say for instance a plant/ tree /bush shows signs of dying one might naturally take stock and try for a cure but if these efforts of rehabilitation were obviously in vain the only sure fix is to dig it up destroy the complete plant roots and all and start all over again with a new and stronger plant along side a revamped plan for new development Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post whybother Posted October 22, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 22, 2014 Thailand doesn't seem to understand, Other than the sex trade, they do not have a reputation in the world, for anything other than unstable governments Has no one bothered to tell them that? No one has bothered to tell you that most tourists come to Thailand for more than the sex trade. Unless you're suggesting that all the families that come here with kids are ... well ... I don't think you are suggesting that. You just don't know what you're talking about. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ramrod711 Posted October 22, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 22, 2014 Martial law is not the problem simply a result of the problem.are numbers up or down since martial law? If numbers were higher before the coup then it must be the post coup that is to blame. My son and his girlfriend were I Thailand last year and enjoyed their vacation. I spoke to them last week, they are far more concerned about the murders in Koh Tao than who is currently in government. They also didn't enjoy being booked for a bus trip and then half way through the trip told that they were being shifted to a van which then proceeded to pick up passengers along the way until there were 17 people crammed into the van. My point being that tourism was being affected by greed long before the Junta. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveFong Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Thailand doesn't seem to understand, Other than the sex trade, they do not have a reputation in the world, for anything other than unstable governments Has no one bothered to tell them that? No one has bothered to tell you that most tourists come to Thailand for more than the sex trade. Unless you're suggesting that all the families that come here with kids are ... well ... I don't think you are suggesting that. You just don't know what you're talking about. what families do you refer? mixed marriages of Thai and foreign? Chinese who come once only? what families? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveFong Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Martial law is not the problem simply a result of the problem.are numbers up or down since martial law? If numbers were higher before the coup then it must be the post coup that is to blame. My son and his girlfriend were I Thailand last year and enjoyed their vacation. I spoke to them last week, they are far more concerned about the murders in Koh Tao than who is currently in government. They also didn't enjoy being booked for a bus trip and then half way through the trip told that they were being shifted to a van which then proceeded to pick up passengers along the way until there were 17 people crammed into the van. My point being that tourism was being affected by greed long before the Junta. Shifted to a van, that then became a local shuttle? I can just see the people doing that too, smiling the entire time Thainess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chainarong Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Whether Thailand likes it or not most tourists could not give a flying fart as to why there was a coup, all they know is that a military government sized power and that's that, lets go some place safer with the kids and spend our money, end of story. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnsen Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 I think somebody might want to tell both the red and yellow shirts that protesting and violence in the streets of BKK is not a good look either. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Haggis Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Martial law annuls travel insurance and that's a big deal for many tourists especially if they an accident in such a country. Most Foreign offices advise against such destinations too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilcopops Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 A negative view of tourism so we can expect TAT to ride to the rescue with a positive outlook. No, they've downgraded their expectations too....and have already real eased year on year figures down 10.8 percent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry001 Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 LOS...what does that slogan stand for????????? Land of ...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utley Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Do you really want to increase tourism? Then legalize prostitution and allow public nudity - duh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCruncher Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Just wait until TAT's Martial Law tourism tales off. Let's not forget the ' Ebola Free Thailand ' pitch too. Come to Thailand, where everything but Ebola will get you killed 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whybother Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 (edited) Thailand doesn't seem to understand, Other than the sex trade, they do not have a reputation in the world, for anything other than unstable governments Has no one bothered to tell them that? No one has bothered to tell you that most tourists come to Thailand for more than the sex trade. Unless you're suggesting that all the families that come here with kids are ... well ... I don't think you are suggesting that. You just don't know what you're talking about. what families do you refer? mixed marriages of Thai and foreign? Chinese who come once only? what families? OK. You don't know anything about Thailand tourism. Next. Edited October 22, 2014 by whybother Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whybother Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Do you really want to increase tourism? Then legalize prostitution and allow public nudity - duh. Do you really want to see fat farangs walking around nude? Good way to scare off everyone, not just the tourists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrtoad Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 I'm not sure what quick fixes they can do to really change the current poor image. I think 90 day visa on arrival for certain countries would be an option, and lifting martial law. Still not sure if it would make a massive impact. As opposed to just hollow words, TAT and all the others involved need to get off their assess and put some hard work in, and also look at offering good deals through accommodation, flights and tourist attraction prices. Clamping down on scams would also be good. Live in hope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utley Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Do you really want to increase tourism? Then legalize prostitution and allow public nudity - duh. Do you really want to see fat farangs walking around nude? Good way to scare off everyone, not just the tourists. Do you really think I was referring to fat farangs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balford Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Silly me! I thought TAT was going to miraculously convert martial law into a tourism experience or was that just another daily 'Hub' of anything and everything announcement? This agency really needs the cleaners put through it and a competent team that actually knows what it's doing put in place. One that can also have the clout and the guts to be able to get the funding to develop tourist sites without desecrating their significance and/or allowing greed and corruption to take over... Obviously wishful thinking though. Bob A. Relaxed in Lampang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCruncher Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Do you really want to increase tourism? Then legalize prostitution and allow public nudity - duh. Do you really want to see fat farangs walking around nude? Good way to scare off everyone, not just the tourists. Do you really think I was referring to fat farangs? Is that a picture of you in your avatar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpeg Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 (edited) Martial Law or political chaos.........take your pick. Your thinking is very short term, perhaps you've gone native. What do you think the end game to all this will be? It must be that martial law stays in place, forever, orrrr, the push back against such a dictatorial regime will be so great that 'political chaos' will be like nothing you've seen yet All that will have happened is that a bad situation has been made potentially much worse. Edited October 22, 2014 by jpeg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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