Consumer research: Europeans not revise planned visits to Thailand despite Koh Tao murders

BANGKOK, 22 October 2014 (NNT) – Most Europeans who have plans to visit Thailand do not rethink their visits after the murders of the two British tourists on Koh Tao, according to consumer research firm Envirosell.

The New York-based firm carried out a survey of European tourists' opinions about visits to Thailand, during October 13 and 16. 1,835 would-be visitors to Thailand were surveyed; 618 were British and the remaining 1,217 were from eight other countries in Europe.

61 percent of the respondents said they would not reconsider their planned visits to Thailand whereas the remaining 39 percent indicated they might review their plan, depending on the developments of the murder case on Koh Tao.

74 percent of the tourists did not doubt the investigation into the murders; 26% cast doubts about the case because they had heard about lack of transparency in the investigation from the media. 85 percent of respondents said they still liked Thailand despite recent developments.

Asked what improvements they would like to see most, the respondents indicated they wanted to see improved tourist safety and more assistance centers for tourists, harsher penalties for exploiters of tourists, and better regulation of tours and taxis.

-- NNT 2014-10-22

61 percent of the respondents said they would not reconsider their planned visits to Thailand whereas the remaining 39 percent indicated they might review their plan,

Wow, that indicates a high percentage of non-refundable tickets these days.

74 percent of the tourists did not doubt the investigation into the murders;

They probably hadn't read about it in the news yet

They should have asked how many of them would be willing to visit Koh Tao...

This news will upset Fred Flintstone.

European tourists still like to visit Thailand despite of the British tourist murders in Koh Tao



BANGKOK: -- The murder of two British backpackers in Koh Tao has no impact on decision making of European tourists as most of them still do not change their minds and will continue to visit Thailand.

Over 80 percent of them said they still like Thailand despite of the recent development, according to the New York-based consumer research firm Envirosell.

The US-based research firm conducted a survey of European tourists’ opinions about visits to Thailand, during October 13 and 16.

A total of 1,835 would-be visitors to Thailand were surveyed.

They are broken down to 618 British and the remaining 1,217 are from eight other countries in Europe.

More than half or 61 percent of the respondents said they would not reconsider their planned visits to Thailand whereas the remaining 39 percent indicated they might review their plan, depending on the developments of the murder case on Koh Tao.

Besides, 74 percent of the tourists did not doubt the investigation into the murders, while 26% cast doubts about the case because they had heard about lack of transparency in the investigation from the media.

However 85 percent of respondents said they still liked Thailand despite recent developments.

Asked what improvements they would like to see most, the respondents indicated they wanted to see improved tourist safety and more assistance centers for tourists, harsher penalties for exploiters of tourists, and better regulation of tours and taxis.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/european-tourists-still-like-visit-thailand-despite-british-tourist-murders-koh-tao/


-- Thai PBS 2014-10-22

To be honest why should they? This happens all over the world, and in my opinion Thailand is a great place and safer than alot of countries people go and visit.

I also have no doubts about the investigation .... it sucks!

The murder of two British backpackers in Koh Tao has no impact on decision making of European tourists as most of them still do not change their minds and will continue to visit Thailand.

So go on boys, no reason to stop the party yet.

Maybe this title should be published on the frontpage of the major Western papers

This company http://www.envirosell.com/ specailises in in-store research and their website looks like something you create on one of these template sites.

Yes - as reliable as dear leader's 93% approval rating. There must be something in the Army manuals these days about using compliant "research" data to counter dreadful real world public opinion. Wasn't data issued yesterday that said the exact opposite of this new "research'?

Edit: oh and here we have Envirosell Thailand: http://indexcreativevillage.com/envirosell-thailand/ Handy if you want to know where to put the cornflakes in your store - not exactly world leaders in market research.

And the methodology used for the survey? Error plus or minus what?? Done where and with whom? Germans? Danish? Who? Another joke of the day in Thailand!

To be honest why should they? This happens all over the world, and in my opinion Thailand is a great place and safer than alot of countries people go and visit.

Nonsense.

While it is conceivable that such brutal murders and rapes can happen across the world, the utterly inept, corrupt and despicable way the BIB handle such cases is not.

To try to imagine it otherwise and say oh this happens everywhere is to willingly avoid the truth and is as far from honest as you can be.

There are are none so blind as those who will not see.

Whoever paid for this survey needs to ask for their money back.

There's a big difference between:

Most Europeans who have plans to visit Thailand do not rethink their visits

and:

The murder of two British backpackers in Koh Tao has no impact on decision making of European tourists

If you have already booked, then of course it's a hassle to change.

But if you haven't made plans and haven't made a decision, I'm pretty sure most families will think twice before visiting the "Land of Smiles" once they have read all the reports about the murders.

Another polling-firm owned by the army??

Almost 40% might consider not going, is in Thailand translated to: All the suckers are coming back!!

Do they have " GHOST" writers writing this stuff,sounds like the brothers GRIMM.

maybe some of 40% have read the recent comments on trip advisor regarding InTouch and AC resort

Just asking the question "Will you still visit Thailand" indicates there is a problem.

Another polling-firm owned by the army??

Almost 40% might consider not going, is in Thailand translated to: All the suckers are coming back!!

All the suckers are already here working in the BJ bars.

Whoever paid for this survey needs to ask for their money back.

No, I expect whoever paid for the survey...probably some "Thai" govt agency/TAT/organization....got exactly what they wanted....a positive survey.

So every things OK then,TAT will be happy.

regards Worgeordie

One of the reasons I don't (or ever have) trust polls is that they can read any way you want them to.

How can the title of the OP

Europeans not revise planned visits to Thailand despite Koh Tao murders

when their own statistics show that

"...whereas the remaining 39 percent indicated they might review their plan, depending on the developments of the murder case on Koh Tao"

61% no problems, 39% might review with no other replies given?

Either B-S or it was the only choices of answers acceptable, which does not show the true feelings of the people.

Whoever paid for this survey needs to ask for their money back.

No, I expect whoever paid for the survey...probably some "Thai" govt agency/TAT/organization....got exactly what they wanted....a positive survey.

Well all surveys do that, but this one is so far from reality that it deserves a refund.

Anyone with half a brain knows this year above all is going to be the litmus test for Thailands tourism with past misdirections and the lastest sad fiasco together with other emerging markets

Which Europeans want to stay in a resort full of rude Russians?

Perhaps it's the "It won't happen to me" syndrome...................

To be honest why should they? This happens all over the world, and in my opinion Thailand is a great place and safer than alot of countries people go and visit.

No it doesn't and in my opinion your opinion counts for squat.

I think it's probably right.

I said the other day that this will be forgotten as time goes on and people will still come to Thailand and koh Tao for their holidays.

Here's an example there has been 1000s of replies concerning the accused Burmese workers and all sorts of detective work carried out by the TVF experts

Well a mother and two children ages 9 and 3 have been murdered over 700 baht and two Burmese 16 year workers arrested .

Total replies to date 22

My point being some people just aren't interested and will carry on with their lives regardless and go on holidays to Thailand and go to koh Tao.

You might boo me but I'm willing to bet now people are already making plans.

IMO this is BS

You ask 1800 "would be tourist's" if they think ever about visiting Thailand, most would probably say yes! Then you ask if the murders on Koh Tao would put them off that visit! The answers would be based on a desire to travel, not on current feeling among those who have or were about to book a holiday.

So they can get the answers they want not the reality of the feelings of those who have cancelled bookings or simply changed their minds about coming to Thailand.

How many calls would they have had to make to find people who are actually coming or seriously thinking about coming to Thailand? Do airlines and tourist companies give out this information?

Pure propaganda BS

I also have no doubts about the investigation .... it sucks!

Not sure what country people come from that is transparent on their criminal investigations. That would be like waving a red flag at a bull. You would just be telling the criminal what to watch out for.

Kind of makes one wonder when the people where they come from are not worried about it. Then again Thailand has been known to attract a certain type people here.

They have no idea of what is happening. They use a news paper with a dodgy reputation for fact checking as the source of their information. Not realizing the paper is out to sell papers and will print what they want to hear so that they will buy it. Just a vicious circle.

61% obviously couldn't care less. Let's hope they don't fall foul to Thainess.