TOURISM
Ministry unveils plan for sustainable tourism growth
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION


Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, third from left, and hospitality experts say Thai tourism will face challenges in the coming years.

BANGKOK: -- The Tourism and Sports Ministry has unveiled its strategic plan to drive the tourism sector through sustainable growth, even as hospitality experts warn that the travel industry face challenges in the coming years.

Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said her ministry had drafted a one-year plan that aimed to establish fundamentals for long-term growth.

She said the ministry would promote transparency and reduced duplication of work in its departments.

Meanwhile, enhanced cooperation with state agencies and private organisations as well as preparing to deal with crisis and emergency issues will be concerns.

"The ministry has a timeline to work through next year, starting in the first quarter with conducting surveys and obtaining information before kicking off test runs for pilot projects. After seeing the results in the third quarter, we will put them into implementation if the pilot projects have run well," she said.

She added that encouraging young people to understand and be part of tourism development was one of the ideas as this could bring in communities and locals to help preserve their tourist attractions.

Next year, Thailand aims at 25.5 million arrivals - a slight increase from this year's projection - and revenue of Bt1.8 trillion. The number of international tourists is expected to reach 29 million in 2016 and generate overall revenue of Bt2.2 trillion.

Tourism has been accounting for 10 per cent of the economy for years, and Thailand was named the world's best tourist destination in 2013, but many challenges lie ahead.

One of these challenges is tough global competition, since many countries see tourism as a key sector to drive their economies. Moreover, negative images and perceptions that Thailand is a cheap destination need to change. Labour shortages and deterioration of the environment are also considerations.

Opportunities

However, Kobkarn said some opportunities were approaching amid the challenges such as tourism packages catering to the elderly, medical and healthcare tourism, sports training, movie production, and hosting world-class events.

William Heinecke, chairman and chief executive officer of Minor International, said this year's political crisis resulted not only in a big drop in tourist numbers, but business travel and events also plunged. The Europe and United States markets were particularly affected.

He said lifting martial law would help tourism return to normal.

Despite the chaos, however, some super-rich foreigners had continued to come and spend a lot of money in Thailand, he noted.

Panga Vathanakul, managing director of the Royal Cliff Hotels Group, said the political problem had caused tourists to shift to other destinations. MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) business also dropped.

She added that Thailand still attracted a lot of visitors, but needed to improve its infrastructure, especially transport systems. Pattaya, for instance, one of the most popular destinations in Thailand since the 1960s, now experiences many problems, including heavy traffic jams.

"Giving intensive training and education about tourism would be a great part of sustainable development," Panga said.

Chanin Donavanik, managing director and CEO of Dusit International, said Thailand was one of the best destinations in the region, but the tourism sector had been disturbed by the political problems.

He added that to drive the sector in the long term, young people should be given real practice and training to understand tourism.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Ministry-unveils-plan-for-sustainable-tourism-grow-30248699.html


-- The Nation 2014-11-28

They simply don't get it, do they??

Time to realise that the days, where you could deliever a third class product and charge for first class, are well and truly over!!

The visitors have started to vote with their feet!

They simply don't get it, do they??

Time to realise that the days, where you could deliever a third class product and charge for first class, are well and truly over!!

The visitors have started to vote with their feet!

Unfortunately to really overhaul a broken system needs acceptance that major faults / problems exist and since TIT that's not easy to do.

Too much face involved.

I'd say the Marshall law doesn't have a great deal to do with it. I believe in some respects they have been victims of their own success and greed.

Last I heard was that Gordan Ramsey and Jamie Oliver were requested to come Over and " cook" some figures but they declined as they were going to have to take "selfies"

With this kind of quality leadership, Thailand can't miss achieving a big success in revitalizing its tourism trade. Lures, promotions, schemes, double prices, no enforced regulations. Thailand has all the benchmarks of success.

Step One

Close down the only attraction that gets people-happy massages

Step Two

Close down all Go Go bars and bars with hookers

Step 3

Stop issuing tourist visa's and stop allowing border runs

All of the above equals to great success, which will bring quality tourists who will come to shop at exclusive shopping malls paying 200-300% higher prices than back home.

They will also flock the markets to over pay for crap which no one hardly ever buys and low grade fakes.

Those who do not like to shop, will be welcome to visit seaside resorts like Pattaya, where they can take a swim among fresh turds or get run over by a jetski or just get scammed for using one.

On the bright side, prices in Pattaya will fall as town would be a ghost town, among many other similar towns.

All in all, a great plan with great future outlook

Next year, Thailand aims at 25.5 million arrivals - a slight increase from this year's projection - and revenue of Bt1.8 trillion. The number of international tourists is expected to reach 29 million in 2016 and generate overall revenue of Bt2.2 trillion.

I have been reading about "quality tourists" ever since I arrived in Thailand. I always assumed that TAT meant people who were going to stay in nice hotels and spend a lot of money. I wonder how many young backpackers, fresh out of college, with little money, have returned to Thailand years later with the money to spend on high ticket items. As usual, Thailand takes the short term view, encourage the young people to come, make it a safe, welcoming destination and punish the people that prey on them.

"Perceptions that Thailand is a cheap destination needs to change"

A plan of great genius there from the Ministry of Tourism that the can convince more people to come if they think it is more expensive here....

"Perceptions that Thailand is a cheap destination needs to change"

A plan of great genius there from the Ministry of Tourism that the can convince more people to come if they think it is more expensive here....

What could be more pleaseable for people with money than being served by farmer with no class or education and pigeon English, along with inferior products and 300% taxes.

Personally i can not see a better destination for people with money.

They could always also hire a bodyguard, who might assist in kidnapping and extorting.

Thank God, Thailand has high IQ and well educated people running the Ministry and the government.

Its almost as brilliant as limiting foreign ownership and control, but expecting and demanding more foreign investment.

Got to hand it to William Heinecke though, with his "super rich tourists spending a lot of money comment"

Puts my paltry > 2.5 Million baht per annum into the country to shame !! ? I'm sure there's many others here who put even more into the country but don't quite fit into the Thai definition of quality tourist !!

Got to hand it to William Heinecke though, with his "super rich tourists spending a lot of money comment"

Puts my paltry > 2.5 Million baht per annum into the country to shame !! ? I'm sure there's many others here who put even more into the country but don't quite fit into the Thai definition of quality tourist !!

May be he was referring to the bright plugs who paid 2.5 million and 40 million in sinsod.

Though personally, i would not call them super rich, more like super stupid.

I wonder on the honeymoon night, if the groom ran over to 7-11 to get some water as hotel minibar price was little too high

There actually a lot more quality tourist coming to Thailand, I was checking with several hotels to book venues with conference or meeting facilities, to my surprise most of these hotels already have booking until June 2015 with incentives, corporate meeting groups from various countries and they already have 80% occupancy from group bookings. I was calling on behalf of a Singapore based IT company with request for 400 - 500 pax group for several tentative dates but unable to get any rooms until June 2015.

So these are the quality corporate group to Thailand for business meetings staying up to 5 days for each group which most of you guys who make comments about tourist may or may not aware of these quality tourist. So Thailand don't need those bad tourist who give a lot of problems. So quality tourist is coming more and more NOT declining.

On the bright side, prices in Pattaya will fall as town would be a ghost town, among many other similar towns.

All in all, a great plan with great future outlook

Prices in the nightlife areas have just had their annual high season rises.......

I will visit town tonight for the firework festival, and I am certainly not expecting a ghost town, more likely traffic jams as I try to drive in.

And people jams as I attempt to move around on foot.

The place would be busier if they made some effort to tidy it up, it is a scruffy dump. Looks okay under the cover of darkness.

"Perceptions that Thailand is a cheap destination needs to change"

A plan of great genius there from the Ministry of Tourism that the can convince more people to come if they think it is more expensive here....

But that 'I hate Thailand' video made Thailand seem so appealing to the floppy haired, back packery student types. What's with all the mixed messages?

Of course the smart thing to do would be to cater to BOTH markets, budget and luxury, and I guess something in between.

Nice to start the day with a good laugh, keeps me going.

"Next year, Thailand aims at 25.5 million arrivals - a slight increase from this year's projection - and revenue of Bt1.8 trillion. The number of international tourists is expected to reach 29 million in 2016 and generate overall revenue of Bt2.2 trillion."

Forget the figures and targets! Get the place cleaned up and ready for your visitors. Invest in the infrastructure.

IMO, until this happens, they should all be put in a room with crayons and water based paints and be allowed to be creative. They would probably find more realistic paths to follow by doing that than what they have now.

The entire industry from top to bottom is in the wrong hands. Jobs from Hotel Managers up to the TAT and Tourism Ministry are given to family members and those of hi-so status through a patronage system, instead to qualified staff.

With a few exceptions the service quality is of low standard caused by the low education provided and the unwillingness of staff to learn. (You pay peanuts- you’ll get monkeys)

The typical mind set- tourist numbers are decreasing so we better lure the super rich, and to avoid losses we stick to the stupid idea: those who still come have to pay for the no-shows- brings their desperation and incompetence to the surface.

Greed, scams, unsafe transportation on the roads and rails, double pricing, visa issues, increasing crime rates are problems that cannot be solved by meetings, unnecessary and stupid surveys and unsubstantial propaganda. The practice not to point at and tackle the problems in fear someone may lose face makes it all worse.

To make it short: they are killing the goose that used to lay golden eggs.

So a country with a population of 65 million expects over a 3rd increase in terms of numbers over a year?

That basically implies that one in three people you see will be a foreigner. I doubt very much 25 million people holiday in Thailand every year. These figures just don't make sense when you see the hoteliers bleating about the lack of numbers in the main tourist hotspots.

If bullshit was dynamite TAT would blow this place apart......

A whole lot of hot air and chest beating "at the conference".......the place is a scruffy dump....rubbish everywhere...scams.......cold blooded murders of tourists...ripoffs...double pricing.....a police force rotten to the core....traffic jams.......sidewalks where you will break your neck or get run over if you are not careful.......front line staff that would rather pick there nose or tap there I-phones.....as you stand patiently in front of them waiting to be served....and the list goes on...........

There actually a lot more quality tourist coming to Thailand, I was checking with several hotels to book venues with conference or meeting facilities, to my surprise most of these hotels already have booking until June 2015 with incentives, corporate meeting groups from various countries and they already have 80% occupancy from group bookings. I was calling on behalf of a Singapore based IT company with request for 400 - 500 pax group for several tentative dates but unable to get any rooms until June 2015.

So these are the quality corporate group to Thailand for business meetings staying up to 5 days for each group which most of you guys who make comments about tourist may or may not aware of these quality tourist. So Thailand don't need those bad tourist who give a lot of problems. So quality tourist is coming more and more NOT declining.

Yep, hence the reason for Hiton 50% off sale because they all booked out

"Perceptions that Thailand is a cheap destination needs to change"

A plan of great genius there from the Ministry of Tourism that the can convince more people to come if they think it is more expensive here....

But that 'I hate Thailand' video made Thailand seem so appealing to the floppy haired, back packery student types. What's with all the mixed messages?

Of course the smart thing to do would be to cater to BOTH markets, budget and luxury, and I guess something in between.

Because the likes of Jungle Jim doesn't like the grungy look or backpacker despite it not even being his country!!

Thailand needs tourists doesn't matter about their social status it's all about what revenue they spend at the end of the day.

People like Jim forget that they're pretty much nobody's in Thailand but think they're somebody!!

On the bright side, prices in Pattaya will fall as town would be a ghost town, among many other similar towns.

All in all, a great plan with great future outlook

Prices in the nightlife areas have just had their annual high season rises.......

I will visit town tonight for the firework festival, and I am certainly not expecting a ghost town, more likely traffic jams as I try to drive in.

And people jams as I attempt to move around on foot.

The place would be busier if they made some effort to tidy it up, it is a scruffy dump. Looks okay under the cover of darkness.

Well if you coming for fireworks festival for 1 day a year, that should be enough to sustain the city for the rest 364 days

If bullshit was dynamite TAT would blow this place apart......

A whole lot of hot air and chest beating "at the conference".......the place is a scruffy dump....rubbish everywhere...scams.......cold blooded murders of tourists...ripoffs...double pricing.....a police force rotten to the core....traffic jams.......sidewalks where you will break your neck or get run over if you are not careful.......front line staff that would rather pick there nose or tap there I-phones.....as you stand patiently in front of them waiting to be served....and the list goes on...........

This guy said it all. They only need to focus on what was said here. Correct these problems and all the over building going on and Thailand will be paradise.

Young people need training ! Start with yourself.

"Thailand was named the world's best tourist destination in 2013,"

WHO TOLD THEM ???? Ask the parents of Kho Tao victims !!!!

There actually a lot more quality tourist coming to Thailand, I was checking with several hotels to book venues with conference or meeting facilities, to my surprise most of these hotels already have booking until June 2015 with incentives, corporate meeting groups from various countries and they already have 80% occupancy from group bookings. I was calling on behalf of a Singapore based IT company with request for 400 - 500 pax group for several tentative dates but unable to get any rooms until June 2015.

So these are the quality corporate group to Thailand for business meetings staying up to 5 days for each group which most of you guys who make comments about tourist may or may not aware of these quality tourist. So Thailand don't need those bad tourist who give a lot of problems. So quality tourist is coming more and more NOT declining.

Yep, hence the reason for Hiton 50% off sale because they all booked out

Have u called them?? But I know I did. All ballroom is fully book for groups. They allocated certain room for 50% discount which is normal even on high season any where in the world.

"Perceptions that Thailand is a cheap destination needs to change"

A plan of great genius there from the Ministry of Tourism that the can convince more people to come if they think it is more expensive here....

That is the 1 thing they can succeed at.

There actually a lot more quality tourist coming to Thailand, I was checking with several hotels to book venues with conference or meeting facilities, to my surprise most of these hotels already have booking until June 2015 with incentives, corporate meeting groups from various countries and they already have 80% occupancy from group bookings. I was calling on behalf of a Singapore based IT company with request for 400 - 500 pax group for several tentative dates but unable to get any rooms until June 2015.

So these are the quality corporate group to Thailand for business meetings staying up to 5 days for each group which most of you guys who make comments about tourist may or may not aware of these quality tourist. So Thailand don't need those bad tourist who give a lot of problems. So quality tourist is coming more and more NOT declining.

No. Talk to people in the hotel business and you'll hear that they are EXTREMELY anxious. Many 5* properties have been forced to offer mega discounts to groups just to keep occupancy levels reasonable, staff employed and services going. They are not making any money and most profit in previous times has come from 'high end' tourists who do spend high on room rates as well as in house food and beverage. The latter is the sector in decline.

enforce the laws and tourist will be back ... its really not that hard, Thais can only blame themselves for the protests and corrupt police