Data To Be Collected On Local Tourists

[george]

Data to be collected on local tourists

BANGKOK: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will next month implement a new system to collect and analyse information in an effort to better track tourism.

The system would provide a more in-depth database of information that would strengthen Thailand's competitiveness in attracting tourists, the TAT said. Designed to track local tourists only, the new programme will collect data monthly from every province in Thailand.

In the past, data collection has been sporadic, resulting in inaccurate information.

The TAT devised the new system after Thailand failed to reach its tourism goals last year.

Governor Juthamas Siriwan said yesterday that the new system would improve the TAT's operations.

The public will also be able to access the data, which could benefit tour operators.

Juthamas said that this was the first time the TAT had co-operated with other government agencies and the private sector to collect and statistically analyse industry information.

The system aims to collect data only from Thai tourists. Information will include the number of overnight stays, day trips and longer tours. It will also track spending per day and the average income of tourists.

Juthamas said TAT had to focus on Thai tourists because their lack of numbers were the main reason Thailand missed its tourism target.

--The Nation 2004-03-23