Long holidays prompt Thais to travel overseas

BANGKOK, 20 March 2015 (NNT) – Tourism operators will suggest that the cabinet either shorten or delay the announcement of holidays as the extended holidays have been found to contribute to more Thai people vacationing overseas.

According to the Association of Domestic Travel (ADT), the long holidays which the government earlier announced in the hope of boosting domestic spending have instead led to Thai people planning their trips overseas.

The ADT expected over 500,000 Thais to leave for Japan during the Songkran Festival and the Coronation Day’s long holidays. Each of them will likely spend 50,000 baht for the trip, frittering away 30 billion baht.

The ADT attributed theThais' decision to holiday abroad to the stronger baht and cheaper overseas tour packages. It also forecast that around 6.5 million Thais would vacation overseas this year, spending around 350 billion baht altogether. The number of Thai and foreign holiday makers observing the Songkran festival will likely hit 4.4 million, generating 44 billion baht in circulation.

The ADT also cautioned related sectors to brace themselves for the second half of year, during which time consumers are likely to tighten their belts as they remain skeptical in the economy.

Despite the ADT’s gloomy forecast, the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA) has reported that travel agents’ confidence index during the second quarter has risen to 101, up from 99 reported last year, based on the latest survey.


-- NNT 2015-03-25

Maybe if these tour operators offer more interesting and newer tours to the people they would stay home and travel.

Or just maybe it is cheaper to travel outside Thailand now and not get overcharged with double pricing standards the way they do it here

They understand and realise there is much less chance of being scammed by travelling outside the country.

Thais are leaving cos there's nothing to attract Thai tourists in Thailand

"The ADT expected over 500,000 Thais to leave for Japan during the Songkran Festival and the Coronation Day’s long holidays. Each of them will likely spend 50,000 baht for the trip, frittering away 30 billion baht."

"The number of Thai and foreign holiday makers observing the Songkran festival will likely hit 4.4 million, generating 44 billion baht in circulation."

So Thais going abroad is frittering money away but foreigners spending here is generating income?

Oh the power of the word choices we make.

May be this is a good thing, Thais traveling abroad.

It will make them aware as to how other people live and behave and change their minds and habits living in their own small world.

another micro brain at work

so let me get this right, what this plonker is in fact saying is don't tell anyone in Thailand of proposed holiday dates otherwise it will allow them time to plan a vacation - wat T fuQ is that all about, the stupidity in this country is quite frankly astounding

Maybe if the bankers and rich in the country weren't buying up so much foreign currency land property and business interests (because they can) then the value of the Thai baht would be allowed to drop to a proper trade level that supports the economy of the country and makes it more expensive for holidays abroad, I expect it will crash at some point allowing all these foreign investors to liquidate their overseas interests for a tidy profit

Ha ha ha. Sure, have the government close the borders and force citizens to spend vacations at home. Some ideas are beyond idiotic! Tour operators taking lead from TAT?

Edited March 25, 201511 yr by jerojero

Could it be that the Thais have now come to realize that destinations within the own country have been decimated by greed, corruption and ineptness that has ultimately turned once stunning locations into a cesspit?

Of course the rising costs of staying in Thailand doesn't help and it's also nice to get away from marshal law and a welcome break from the Friday national rhetoric report.

This could all come down to the fact Songkran this year allows for a longer holiday. Thais who have the finances to travel may simply be taking advantage of that in combination with a (for now) stronger baht against foreign currencies.

Hmm so you think my gf is lying when she tells me that she is going to her shop.

Prompts me to go check on her,just to see how good she is spending my money.

Well the stolen money has to be laundered

Rate of the baht and Thai don't need a visa for Japan anymore...

Plus Sakura and Thai's like Japanese food ( there are more Sushi restaurants here in Chiang Mai then in Tokyo) a perfect mix to go out for a holiday.

Hope they keep there eyes open, and discover there is more then Thainess...

maybe a lot of people from the north, sick of the haze, go visit their home country when they cannot longer stand the stank ?

Maybe they are sick of visiting wats, half-ass waterfalls and eating the same old Thai food. Come to think of it, I can't blame them! ! ! !

Can't blame them. Songkran is terrible. It seems everyone who goes out leaves their brains at home.

Best place to spend songkran. Anywhere but Thailand.