The Thai tourism industry's future 'needs hard look'

[webfact]

The tourism industry's future 'needs hard look'
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION


Ao Phrao on Koh Samet

BANGKOK: -- EXPERTS say the government needs to get serious on the long-term development of the tourism industry, and decide whether quality or quantity - that is, sheer numbers of tourists or how much they spend - is of most importance.

According to Ben Montgomery, chairwoman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association's Thailand Chapter, PATA's latest marketing study suggests Thailand could see 50 million annual arrivals by the end of the decade, double the 24.8 million it welcomed last year.

She said the association was concerned about the possible long-term impacts of such an influx, placing a strain on the country's resources and triggering social problems. Ben and other tourism experts question whether the Kingdom can guarantee that many people a pleasant and safe experience during their stay.

Serious attention to this matter was given last week at a discussion panel hosted by the PATA Thailand Chapter, which concluded that the tourism industry needed critical analysis and careful interpretation.

"Do we still need to have millions of Chinese tourists? Or do we want more tourists coming to Phuket, where demand is more than supply and Phuket Airport is already full? These are some of the problems the government should consider," Ben said.

PATA also suggested that the government decide whether to focus on the number of tourists or their quality before it completes a new national tourism master plan.

John Koldowski, a tourism expert from Thammasat University's College of Innovation, said it must be remembered that demand forecasts may not necessarily equate with actual results because of a multitude of intervening factors during the forecast period.

He added that the implications were very clear as Thailand continues to hold a commanding position as a desirable destination, based on this level of potential demand.

International arrivals to Thailand in the last quarter of 2014 rebounded and brought the year-end total to almost 24.8 million, still a decline of 6.7 per cent year-on-year, but very much better than what was anticipated halfway through the year. Furthermore, that result was still close to 11 per cent higher than the inbound volume received in 2012.

The early results for 2015 are heartening, as daily arrivals into both of Bangkok's airports were 18 per cent above last year's figures for the first six weeks of the year, and the trends currently look to be improving.

During the PATA event, attendees heard about the Tourism Authority of Thailand's plans to focus more intently on emerging Eastern European markets in the future with the planned opening of a TAT office in Prague. Meanwhile, the Tourism Council of Thailand is interested in South Africa as a future growth market for the Kingdom.

A key issue raised at the session was whether the current ways tourism flows into and around Thailand are measured and reported will be sufficient in the future, especially as regional tourism becomes a more recognisable force under the Asean Economic Community.

This generated some challenging dialogue and resulted in some of the suggestions being proposed for deeper consideration and evaluation beyond just an arrivals count and/or profitability.

The panel noted that tourism and related businesses created jobs in under-served and rural areas as well as increasing business opportunities. However, tourism's social, environmental and economic impacts must be effectively measured if it is to be properly managed for the benefit of the people.

Ben said Thailand needed to take a hard look at the tourism industry, not only where it is now but also where it is going and what should be done to strengthen this sector of the economy in a sustainable and ethical manner.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/The-tourism-industrys-future-needs-hard-look-30254632.html


-- The Nation 2015-02-23

[HeijoshinCool]

Well, with the very public statements of officials calling Chinese tourists "undesirables," the PM warning the world that to avoid being raped and slaughtered, "only ugly women should wear bikinis," as well as marketing campaigns promising tourists Thailand is "safer under martial law," I'm thinking all of Ben's concerns are moot.

EDIT: stoopid spellchekker

Edited February 23, 2015 by HeijoshinCool

[chooka]

Well, with the very public statements of officials calling Chinese tourists "undesirables," the PM warning the world that to avoid being raped and slaughtered, "only ugly women should wear bikinis," as well as marketing campaigns promising tourists Thailand is "safer under martial law," I'm thinking all of Ben's concerns are moot.

EDIT: stoopid spellchekker

You forgot increasing tourist prices ten fold

[Toknarok]

More waffle. Month after month we hear these pronouncements from TAT and similar bodies. Talk, talk, talk with little or no action. And when there is a little action chaos reigns supreme. Will you, won't you, will you ban beach chairs?

[shirtless]

Yes quality tourists want to sit in squalor on Thai beaches its high time they wake up and realise the tourism industry has run its course .

[Fiddlesticks]

Let's be honest, there is very, very little in Thailand that would attract 'quality' tourists when compared to most other tropical vacation spots. One would hardly struggle with the decision whether to go to Fiji or Thailand, or the Maldives vs. Thailand. Thailand has so little to offer besides the usual wat visit, or the few beautiful beaches surrounded with squaller. Thailand will have to resign itself to the fact that it is a vacation spot for sex tourism, backpackers and Chinese looking for affordable warm vacations. Thailand is light years away from being a vacation draw to the rich & famous.

[falangjim]

Wow. It actually seems there are intelligent people in Thailand who consider the tourist industry's impact on the environment and society. Then there is the government who are idiots.

[daoyai]

When you rate or judge the "quality" of a tourist (human) by their wealth, you have already lost the plot.

[h90]

Let's be honest, there is very, very little in Thailand that would attract 'quality' tourists when compared to most other tropical vacation spots. One would hardly struggle with the decision whether to go to Fiji or Thailand, or the Maldives vs. Thailand. Thailand has so little to offer besides the usual wat visit, or the few beautiful beaches surrounded with squaller. Thailand will have to resign itself to the fact that it is a vacation spot for sex tourism, backpackers and Chinese looking for affordable warm vacations. Thailand is light years away from being a vacation draw to the rich & famous.

Well it is a question if you want 10 rich and famous or 1000 middle class

[clockman]

They lost the battle along time ago! Greed and corruption. Is the only mantra!

[upena]

Yes, Ben wants upscale tourists. She is an executive at Centara hotels and resorts.

[Mr Somtam]

Let's be honest, there is very, very little in Thailand that would attract 'quality' tourists when compared to most other tropical vacation spots. One would hardly struggle with the decision whether to go to Fiji or Thailand, or the Maldives vs. Thailand. Thailand has so little to offer besides the usual wat visit, or the few beautiful beaches surrounded with squaller. Thailand will have to resign itself to the fact that it is a vacation spot for sex tourism, backpackers and Chinese looking for affordable warm vacations. Thailand is light years away from being a vacation draw to the rich & famous.

I have to agree unfortunately. First came here in 2000, everything looked fantastic and exotic. After numerous visits and now living here a couple of months I am really wondering: where to go for a little holiday? BKK, filthy and complete bored with the place, beach, nice but after a day or two I get bored. Nature, in Thailand 555. A temple, please noooooooo, not again!

Nice place for beach dwellers and party freaks. That' s it...

[ttthailand]

There is a reason why Disney, Universal Studios or other major theme park has not setup here. No consistency in policies, too much corruption, and a questionable future.

[Don Aleman]

What Thai 'TOURISM industry ? They are horse 11 in a 10 horse race !

[Time Traveller]

Chairwoman Ben Montgomery, should learn to shut her mouth if she wants to keep her job

Edited February 23, 2015 by Time Traveller

[SiSePuede419]

Let's do the math:

A backpacker that stays in a family-run home stay, eats meals at a family-run noodle shop and drinks a few beers in a small family-run bar...

Backpacker stays 26 weeks and spends an average of 1000B/day = 182,000B or $6000USD.

Most of that money stays in the pockets of family businesses, and is spread out to other family businesses in the local area.

By contrast, The Ugly Rich Tourist stays in hotels owned by Corporations, which pay their employees little because they should be "grateful" to work in a "resort".

The Rich Tourist eats inside the hotel, because they're "afraid" of eating better food on the street. They hit only a few tourist attractions, enriching the local economy little.

They fly back home in a week or two, because they are "impotent" people with "things to do and places to go".

The Rich Tourist spends far less than the $6000 dropped by the "dirty" backpacker.

DO THE MATH.

[maidee]

will they deceide to finally do something about the rip offs that start at the airport ?

[Thian]

Backpackers have made Thailand into a big holidaydestination. They told their family's back home about their stay and later the big herds came here.

Then Thailand was still cheap and honest. Now it's expensive and full of scams.

It's time Myanmar opens up their beaches in the Andaman sea, can't wait to go there.

[Mooner]

I'm listening to two families discuss why Thailand is so dirty.

There view is why don't they employ people to clean up with so much money coming in?

[JimG]

I watched the English translation of the Prime Minister's speech couple nights ago. He assures everyone that the changes he's making to the beaches, getting those nasty chairs and umbrellas off, restricting eating and forbidding smoking, is viewed positively by both the Thai people and the tourists.

I wonder.......

[ratcatcher]

Backpackers have made Thailand into a big holidaydestination. They told their family's back home about their stay and later the big herds came here.

Then Thailand was still cheap and honest. Now it's expensive and full of scams.

It's time Myanmar opens up their beaches in the Andaman sea, can't wait to go there.

It's time Myanmar opens up their beaches in the Andaman sea, can't wait to go there.

I know how you feel, but do you really want those pristine unexplored beaches and islands in the Andaman to evolve into what we have here in Thailand, in 10 years? Most of the developers and resort owners would be rich Thais merely wishing to expand their small empires to attract even more high-quality tourists.

Backpackers, from my experience, at least have some understanding of the fragility of the environment. Perhaps I'm wrong?

[Saladin]

I think market forces will ultimately determine what happens. But when Thailand gets tourist the government needs to streamline procedures as much as possible and get them to spend their money here rather than in some other y. The logic behind granting three month tourist visas that are only valid for two months and then require extra cost and great inconvenience to extend them completely escapes me.

[Thian]

But what does the General really want? He closed the massage parlours but i bet they are still open today.

He told taxi's to use the metre, again i bet they won't use it when i flag a cab at a touristical spot. And sure not in Phuket/Samui.

Last week i even saw Russian language on the menu of restaurants in Phuket, which western tourist wants to see that?

Look at the Euro/baht, 36 that ain't much! When it was around 50 the Europeans would come, sure not now. Add to that all the doubled prices since last years and it's bye bye to Thailand.

Edited February 23, 2015 by Thian

[wabothai]

Not all that complicated, devaluate the baht if you care to keep tourists coming (and the expats spending their billions).

Chinese tourists is not the answer.

[quandow]

Most folks come for the cold beer and hot women. Change that to your ultimate demise, TAT.

[mok199]

S$%T happens in busy tourist resorts ..but...one easy fix...thailand must start putting its natural resources(beaches and roads(traffic) noise pollution and quality of life) ahead of revenue generated by tour groups...the traffic caused by the tour buses in urban areas has destroyed any kind of familly life most citys once knew..KEEP THE BUSES OUT OF MY CITY....

[Mr Somtam]

I'm listening to two families discuss why Thailand is so dirty.

There view is why don't they employ people to clean up with so much money coming in?

Common sense, you leave it at the airport on arrival... Pfffff...

[iReason]

"Do we still need to have millions of Chinese tourists?"

Wow.

Didn't take long for the inherent Thai stereotyping and xenophobia to rear it's ugly head on that one.

"...experts question whether the Kingdom can guarantee that many people a pleasant and safe experience during their stay."

Of course you can't.

[Expat Brad]

"Let's do the math:

A backpacker that stays in a family-run home stay, eats meals at a family-run noodle shop and drinks a few beers in a small family-run bar...

Backpacker stays 26 weeks and spends an average of 1000B/day = 182,000B or $6000USD.

Most of that money stays in the pockets of family businesses, and is spread out to other family businesses in the local area.

By contrast, The Ugly Rich Tourist stays in hotels owned by Corporations, which pay their employees little because they should be "grateful" to work in a "resort".

The Rich Tourist eats inside the hotel, because they're "afraid" of eating better food on the street. They hit only a few tourist attractions, enriching the local economy little.

They fly back home in a week or two, because they are "impotent" people with "things to do and places to go".

The Rich Tourist spends far less than the $6000 dropped by the "dirty" backpacker."

I completely agree High End is not the way to go, they don't spend where it's needed (locally). I remember in Cairns roughly 2008 (Australia) they local government rallied to get rid of the dirty backpacker types then they realized just how much they actually spent locally.....Oops!!!

IMO the ones wanting the high end tourists are the very ones that own the high end hotels etc & who owns these hotels the elite.......and they could not care less about the ordinary Thai worker or business.

Oh, the rich gods NOT.......I was at a nice cafe in CM dressed clean casual & was just waiting to be served & waiting anyway a couple (USA) then sat down & looked the goods, immediately the waiter charged over to serve them. 1 OJ & 1 Fruit smoothie..........I on the other hand ordered eventually a Burger with the lot, fries & a large bottle of beer........A quality tourist is one that spends money not one that just looks like they could.

[lildragon]

Let's do the math:

A backpacker that stays in a family-run home stay, eats meals at a family-run noodle shop and drinks a few beers in a small family-run bar...

Backpacker stays 26 weeks and spends an average of 1000B/day = 182,000B or $6000USD.

Most of that money stays in the pockets of family businesses, and is spread out to other family businesses in the local area.

By contrast, The Ugly Rich Tourist stays in hotels owned by Corporations, which pay their employees little because they should be "grateful" to work in a "resort".

The Rich Tourist eats inside the hotel, because they're "afraid" of eating better food on the street. They hit only a few tourist attractions, enriching the local economy little.

They fly back home in a week or two, because they are "impotent" people with "things to do and places to go".

The Rich Tourist spends far less than the $6000 dropped by the "dirty" backpacker.

DO THE MATH.

Fantastic post. If they were smart they would appeal to BOTH markets. Not try to force out backpackers to get in rich tourists. Thailand is not the Maldives or Bora Bora. They need to realize this and try their best not to cater to just one niche.