Tourism operators praise Thai govt for shepherding industry from crisis to growth

[webfact]

Tourism operators praise military govt for shepherding industry from crisis to growth
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- COMPANIES and their support associations in the tourism sector commend the military regime for turning the industry around, but have urged the junta to seek more "quality" tourists and maintain safety standards.

Key tourism bodies say they are pleased that since seizing power a year ago, the administration has brought the tourism sector out of the crisis it was suffering during the political chaos in Bangkok early in 2014 into growth since the final quarter of last year.

Amanda Hyndman, general manager of one of country's luxury hotels, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, said the tourism sector this year |was becoming as vibrant as in 2013. The sector is also much improved from last year, especially the first half.

"It's about domestic issues, and that is not about tourists. Life is good here and business is running as usual. Travelling in Thailand is safe," she said.

Supawan Tanomkieatipume, vice president of the Thai Hotels Association, said the tourism sector had returned to near-normal levels after taking a further plunge last May when the military took power from an elected government.

According to figures from the Tourism and Sports Ministry, international arrivals increased to 7.8 million in the first quarter of 2015, up by 23.5 per cent from first three months of 2014 at the time of the political chaos. The country welcomed about 2 million fewer visitors last year, a 10-per-cent drop from 2013 (see graphic).

In the first 13 days of this month, 929,000 foreigners visited the country, a surge of 24 per cent compared with same period last year. Key source markets were China and Malaysia. These numbers, particularly from China, are expected to increase as AirAsia prepares to operate flights between U-tapao Airport and China.

"Tourism in 2015 is very good [so far] because of political stability and good signs, including the lifting of martial law. These factors are drawing tourists back to the Kingdom. I hope the sector will continue to grow in the second quarter of this year," Supawan said.

To keep Thailand on the global travel map, she urged the government to continue promoting |and supporting the industry by attracting more quality tourists, business travellers and niche markets in order to increase tourism revenue.

The government has also been advised to be ready for unpredictable issues, such as aviation-safety problems and natural disasters, which could have a big impact on the travel industry.

Charoen Wangananont, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), said the government should expend more effort on tourism, especially attracting big spenders and maintaining security.

"Tourists need to feel confident when planning to come to Thailand. Safety and security are needed if we want to foreigners to come back," he said.

ATTA also wants the government to tackl aviation-safety problems as soon as possible because this has been hurting the entire sector.

"The private sector needs the government to approve multiple-entry visas for tourists, to take advantage of those who travel to Thailand regularly. Such a scheme could boost the number of visitors, particularly families, free individual tourists and business travellers," he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Tourism-operators-praise-military-govt-for-shepher-30260407.html


-- The Nation 2015-05-19

[Inn Between]

I think a lot of "quality" tourists may think twice about visiting a country that is being run by a military regime.

That's not a criticism of the government, nor an endorsement. It's just an opinion.

[tsigane]

Quality tourists go to quality destinations.... Duh!

[Lupatria]

"Travelling in Thailand is safe,"

If I were a board member of the Mandarin Oriental Group I would urge her to seek a career in Ikebana or Herbal Cuisine after this statement.

[emilymat]

A pretty toe curling endorsement of the issue.

The only sentence that makes any sense is the last one, which I am confident will be ignored.

[quandow]

"COMPANIES . . . have urged the junta to seek more "quality" tourists"

So, go into other countries, weapons drawn, and "urge" folks to visit the land they run?

1. Remove glasses (if necessary).

2. Look at palm.

3. Smack forehead.

[madmitch]

Key source markets are China and Malaysia. Big tour groups that spend all their time on buses and overnighters coming over the border for reasons we all know.

And as more Asian tourists arrive to replace the dwindling number of Westerners, in the process driving small tourism operators out of business, the Government and associated tourism organisations will be congratulating themselves.

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

Who caused the tourist to stay away in the first place ?

[heybruce]

I'm sure tourism number look good compared to the times with protests, the coup, curfew, and martial law. How do the numbers look compared to two years ago, before the anti-democracy protests and military rule?

[Lupatria]

Congratulations!

Shepherding- you couldn't possibly find a more precise term.

[Fat Haggis]

I flew back into swampy on Saturday and it was pretty dead, the flight itself from Turkey wasn't even full, immigration was empty at 0945 it took me all of 3 minutes to get through.

Even internal flights seemed empty and most of the people waiting were mostly Chinese.

Departures upstairs were quiet too.

[trogers]

Who caused the tourist to stay away in the first place ?

QE and unemployment... Same phenomena worldwide.

[Emster23]

"Shepherding"??? Baaaa.....

[impulse]

The government has also been advised to be ready for unpredictable issues, such as aviation-safety problems and natural disasters, which could have a big impact on the travel industry.

Hard to lump those 2 under the category of "unpredictable".

[Srikcir]

Instead of thanking the military for beginning to get tourism back into Thailand at pre-2013 levels, it should be adminshing both the PDRC and the miiltary for causing more than 60% loss of tourism in 2013 and 2014.

2013

- "Yuthachai Suntornratanavej, the president of Inbound Tourism Association said since the start of anti government rallies, the number of tourists has plunged by 30 per cent from December 2012. If the rallies last longer than next week, the number will decline by as many as 40 per cent."

2014

- "Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, president of ATTA, said the drop in tourist arrivals was mostly due to the martial law and that many tourists were choosing to travel to other countries."

-"ATTA also predicted that the number of arrivals this year would drop by 15 to 20 per cent judging by less bookings in the high season. If the prediction comes true, then the country stands to lose 20 to 30 per cent in revenue from tourism."

Chanin Donavanik, managing director and chief executive officer of Dusit International, warned that the one major item bothering tourists was the political scene saying, "It should be made sure there are no mistakes arising from this political [environment]"

I wouldn't bet on the Junta not making those mistakes. For example, if the Junta fails to allow a referendum on the NCPO draft constitution in 2015/2016, political conflict will again escalate to 2013/2014 levels. And tourism will again drop drastically.

[EnglishJohn]

Instead of thanking the military for beginning to get tourism back into Thailand at pre-2013 levels, it should be adminshing both the PDRC and the miiltary for causing more than 60% loss of tourism in 2013 and 2014.

2013

- "Yuthachai Suntornratanavej, the president of Inbound Tourism Association said since the start of anti government rallies, the number of tourists has plunged by 30 per cent from December 2012. If the rallies last longer than next week, the number will decline by as many as 40 per cent."

2014

- "Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, president of ATTA, said the drop in tourist arrivals was mostly due to the martial law and that many tourists were choosing to travel to other countries."

-"ATTA also predicted that the number of arrivals this year would drop by 15 to 20 per cent judging by less bookings in the high season. If the prediction comes true, then the country stands to lose 20 to 30 per cent in revenue from tourism."

Chanin Donavanik, managing director and chief executive officer of Dusit International, warned that the one major item bothering tourists was the political scene saying, "It should be made sure there are no mistakes arising from this political [environment]"

I wouldn't bet on the Junta not making those mistakes. For example, if the Junta fails to allow a referendum on the NCPO draft constitution in 2015/2016, political conflict will again escalate to 2013/2014 levels. And tourism will again drop drastically.

You failed the test of being able to see past the end of your nose.

The PDRC and the Military were the effect not the cause. The cause was the amnesty bill and the government sponsored terrorism against the subsequent protestors.

Always someone else's fault isn't it ?.

[heybruce]

Instead of thanking the military for beginning to get tourism back into Thailand at pre-2013 levels, it should be adminshing both the PDRC and the miiltary for causing more than 60% loss of tourism in 2013 and 2014.

2013

- "Yuthachai Suntornratanavej, the president of Inbound Tourism Association said since the start of anti government rallies, the number of tourists has plunged by 30 per cent from December 2012. If the rallies last longer than next week, the number will decline by as many as 40 per cent."

2014

- "Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, president of ATTA, said the drop in tourist arrivals was mostly due to the martial law and that many tourists were choosing to travel to other countries."

-"ATTA also predicted that the number of arrivals this year would drop by 15 to 20 per cent judging by less bookings in the high season. If the prediction comes true, then the country stands to lose 20 to 30 per cent in revenue from tourism."

Chanin Donavanik, managing director and chief executive officer of Dusit International, warned that the one major item bothering tourists was the political scene saying, "It should be made sure there are no mistakes arising from this political [environment]"

I wouldn't bet on the Junta not making those mistakes. For example, if the Junta fails to allow a referendum on the NCPO draft constitution in 2015/2016, political conflict will again escalate to 2013/2014 levels. And tourism will again drop drastically.

You failed the test of being able to see past the end of your nose.

The PDRC and the Military were the effect not the cause. The cause was the amnesty bill and the government sponsored terrorism against the subsequent protestors.

Always someone else's fault isn't it ?.

Gee, and I thought it was the anti-democracy protesters under Suthep that disrupted the February election, among other crimes. Of course there are many reasons to believe the military wanted a new, royalist government, didn't trust elections to provide one, and were waiting for an excuse to stage a coup.

I assume you have proof that the government sponsored terrorism against the anti-democracy protesters.

Edited May 19, 2015 by heybruce

[Anthony5]

In the first 13 days of this month, 929,000 foreigners visited the country, a surge of 24 per cent compared with same period last year.

Now let me think which tourist event happened during the same period last year.

Got it, a curfew was announced followed be a coup. That is a tourist attraction, NOT?

[Strangebrew]

You should drop the quality term and run with the quantity one. If you get 1 quality tourist who spends 5,000 baht and 10 quantity tourist spending 2,500 baht each which produce the most return?

[heybruce]

You should drop the quality term and run with the quantity one. If you get 1 quality tourist who spends 5,000 baht and 10 quantity tourist spending 2,500 baht each which produce the most return?

We're not talking five times as many tourists, and I hope Thailand never has to endure that..

Realistically your numbers would be: If you get 10 quality tourists who each spend 5000 baht a day or 12 quantity tourist each spend 2500 baht each a day, which produces the most return?

[Fat Haggis]

doesn't matter if you have 10 million tourists enter the Kingdom every month, they have to be spending whilst they're here to have any impact on the economy.

A bit like a car showroom, there's potential for a sale if 1,000 people view the car, with a view to spend, as opposed to 1,000 people just "window shopping" with no intent in spending.

What you need to have is a showroom with 100 cars, and after 1,000 visits, have no cars left to sell, and have the next batch ready for sale.

If you have had 1000 visitors and still got 100 cars left... well not much to brag about really is there?

[impulse]

doesn't matter if you have 10 million tourists enter the Kingdom every month, they have to be spending whilst they're here to have any impact on the economy.

Partially true, but just by virtue of the fact they have paid to fly in, and they have to eat something and sleep somewhere, and get from where they eat to where they sleep- they will spend money. Maybe not as much as others.

And if you did have 10 million a month, the hotel occupancy rate would skyrocket, as would the price to sleep somewhere in Thailand.

Unlike a stroll through a car showroom, it's virtually impossible to visit Thailand and not spend anything.

[toybits]

Yes, we need more tourists willing to spend 2,000 + Baht for a meal at the Seafood Restaurant along Sukhumvit road. Especially those that don't post their bill on social media and complain about it.