TAT keeps its focus on Asean market amid uncertainty of Western economies

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TAT keeps its focus on Asean market amid uncertainty of Western economies
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION
NAY PYI TAW

BANGKOK: -- THE Tourism Authority of Thailand will continue focusing on Asean markets out of fear of the continuing economic instability in Western economies.

"Travel from long-haul markets, especially Europe and the United States, plunged last year and is expected to stay slow this year, mainly due to their economic downturns. Asian markets, in fact, were in the same situation last year but now are bouncing back," Pongsathorn Kessasamli, deputy TAT governor for marketing in Asia and the South Pacific, said yesterday.

Although the implementation of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) was shifted to December, the agreement has already helped Thailand cash in on its advantages - not only its strategic location in the centre of the region but also some new talks on bilateral agreements.

The Thai tourism agency has already worked with Myanmar to launch a campaign tagged "Two kingdoms, one destination" to promote tourism from third countries.

Thailand and Cambodia have also introduced a similar campaign aimed at other regions. A pan-regional campaign is also lined up for this year to encourage people in the region to take their weekend holidays in Thailand thanks to the AEC, which is expected to increase traffic from neighbouring countries within three to four hours flying time.

"The government is positioning the tourism industry as one of the top economic priorities. It has introduced and enforced a series of measures and development for safety issues and clearing out illegal businesses to improve the experience of travellers while visiting the Kingdom," Pongsathorn said.

The first 10 months of last year saw the number tourists from other Asean countries drop by 10 per cent to 5.3 million from the same period of 2013. TAT now targets a 13-per-cent improvement to 8.8 million this year, while income from the region is projected to rise 16 per cent to Bt225 billion.

Positive trends include better air accessibility. Qatar Airways boosted frequencies to Bangkok to four a day last month. Etihad Airways launched direct service from Abu Dhabi to Phuket in October. Air Astana inaugurated two flights a week from the capital of Kazakhstan to Bangkok last quarter.

Airports of Thailand, the operator of six international airports, will soon start expanding Suvarnabhumi Airport to accommodate 60 million passengers per year, up from 45 million.

Phuket International Airport will also be doubled in capacity to handle 12.5 million instead of only 6.5 million.

Last year, Thailand welcomed 24.7 million visitors - 6.6 per cent fewer than the previous year. Tourism revenue was Bt1.1 trillion. Asean helped the situation by sending 6.6 million visitors, or 26.7 per cent of the total market.

This year, the authority targets 28 million international visitors dropping Bt1.3 trillion into the economy, and 151 million trips from the domestic market contributing an estimated Bt800 billion.

Source markets that are coming on strong are mainland China, India, the Philippines, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, France, Italy, Britain, Brazil and Eastern Europe.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/TAT-keeps-its-focus-on-Asean-market-amid-uncertain-30252961.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-30

[NeverSure]

"Travel from long-haul markets, especially Europe and the United States, plunged last year and is expected to stay slow this year, mainly due to their economic downturns."

The US economy is running in overdrive, growing faster than it has in more than a decade. You need another excuse for the US.

Try martial law, corruption and maybe even the new fame of a certain island. Try too many unexplained deaths of tourists.

[chainarong]

Well TAT you just keep focused on the ASEAN market only their is nothing to say that market is anything but stable ,did I forget to mention Singapore devalued its dollar 10 % two days back, did you get that message. TAT.

[Strangebrew]

TAT gets it's stat's out of there "WAHZOO" the US market is growing stronger daily, china is slowing, Europe is stumbling, as the adjust to Greece and Spain's troubles. Philippines have stalled but will recover The Baht is on roller coaster ride going up and down dailey. Thailand took a huge hit on rice scam And another in the works on rubber scam which I don't see them bouncing back from LOL play on words. You got a lot of scams being exposed mass of deaths said to be suicides, Guess one thing is for sure Thailand is a hub of Suicides. Corrupt police Human traffiking, Ivory trade, tiger parts,Drug hub, need I say more? This is your problem Plus the coup the list goes on and on. And TAT still woe's the Chinese The only thing they want is to turn Thailand to communism. Think about it would you invest in a railroad system that is always in the RED? BTS doesn't make money Rice Scam Didn't make money Rubber thing Won't make money. And now expand swampy who even TAT said had less passengers the past few years? Listen Supply and demand. Then your flood issues I for one think instead of re routing the river maybe dredging it to allow greater outward flow would solve it less impact on surrounding communities. Just saying but That's me.

[upena]

TAT is only focused on promoting Thailand to Thais. It is all they know.

[Ruud4u]

Sometimes it is better to say nothing than to make a wrong analyse.

The western market plunged last year especially by the polital uncertainity.

I think you must take another way of thing.

Normally by the situation between Russia and the world, Russian people will be less welcome in Europe even muslim population,so they will search other destinations. Asia !
But the Russian valua is 50% LOWER

[Lupatria]

uncertainty and economic instability...

Maybe I'm too ignorant, but I would have expected uncertainty and instability much much closer than in Western Countries.

[Caveat Emptor]

Lots of quality tourists coming from China to take up the slack ?

[madmitch]

So, which market will TAT be targeting next week? It's a different focus every time they announce something, which they do with unnecessary regularity.

Edited January 30, 2015 by madmitch

[MJP]

"Travel from long-haul markets, especially Europe and the United States, plunged last year and is expected to stay slow this year, mainly due to their economic downturns."

The US economy is running in overdrive, growing faster than it has in more than a decade. You need another excuse for the US.

Try martial law, corruption and maybe even the new fame of a certain island. Try too many unexplained deaths of tourists.

Same in Blighty right now, economy fine thanks, TAT.

Look again.

[Ruud4u]

TAT focus on the quantity not the quality of the tourists and indeed every month they change their focus, but never think about what kind of attractions they can offer to their tourists.

It is a pity their experience with other tourist countries is so low. Look how the western countries set up their tourists attractions. Thailand has a long way to go.
But the tourists industry can grow when they attract professional foreigners. Sorry i have to make this conclusion.

[PepperMe]

TAT as usual putting their scapegoat in place before the 2015 decline in tourism brought on by nothing other than Thailand itself.

[wabothai]

Madam Popcorn looked in her christal ball and saw sanctions from the West (no more Ferraris, no more Lamborghinis, no more Microsoft, no more Apple stuff, and so on).

Best to lick the heels of the Chinese and become a province of China.

It will be best for all to close your office for a few years,

[BillyBobThai]

TAT should be limited to one, 100 word announcement, per 3 month period.

[Paulc01]

The US economy is doing well. Whatever decline in American tourism, it has nothing to do with the US economy. Frankly, I just never see that many American tourists here at all. Except for the cultural experience, nothing Thailand offers can match the price, comfort, and ease of travel available to Americans within America or into neighboring tropical countries. As for the coup, that is one thing that actually might make Thailand look more desirable to Western tourists. Now that the bombs and shootings and arson on the streets have stopped, Thailand is a safer, more stable place. I doubt many people in the West worry about a tourist destination's form of government. They do care about their safety and security. On that score, things have improved since the Shins were shown the door.