Chamber calls for master plan for Thai tourism, wellness sectors

[webfact]

Chamber calls for master plan for tourism, wellness sectors
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- BUSINESSES in the tourism and wellness sectors have urged the government to set up a master plan to promote the Kingdom as a prime destination, with an emphasis on the goals of achieving sustainable tourism and the growth of small enterprises.

According to the Thai Chamber of Commerce's committee on tourism and service business, the country should no longer only go after big tourist numbers, but should also focus on how much they spend, which is of greater importance in terms of ensuring sustainable growth.

Chanin Donavanik, chairman of the committee and chief executive of Dusit International, yesterday said the country should have a master plan to promote the long-term growth of tourism, as concentrating solely on the number of tourists would not provide sufficient benefit to the economy.

"Despite strongly rising tourist numbers, the Kingdom's income per visitor rose only 1.35 per cent a year from 2001 to 2013, from Bt3,861 per day to Bt4,616. The growth rate has been lower than the country's inflation, meaning very low travel costs," he said.

The committee wants to see a master plan for tourism that includes an emphasis on attracting "quality" travellers, and the decentralisation of ports of entry for foreign arrivals from Bangkok and a few key provinces. This would create jobs for local people and enable small businesses to grow while ensuring Thailand is a pleasant and safe destination for tourism, said the panel chairman.

The government is also urged to support small and medium-sized enterprises in the tourism sector by drawing up laws and regulations to facilitate their expansion, while more skilled labour should also be promoted to serve the growth of the tourism industry, he said.

From a total workforce of about 38.9 million in the Kingdom, about 6.2 million are in the tourism industry, but the sector requires up to 10 million workers to serve its growth in the next three years after Asean integration, he stressed.

Under regional integration, Thailand should also promote aviation linkage to facilitate expansion of the tourism industry, he added.

Chanin said the industry would play a more significant role in the country's growth, as Thailand has strong potential to become a focal point within Asia, which has a combined population of more than 4.2 billion.

Income from the tourism sector currently contributes 11 per cent, worth about Bt1.44 trillion, of the Kingdom's gross domestic product.

Besides drawing up a master plan to promote tourism, the chamber is also calling for the enhancement of growth in the wellness industry, given its potential to create more income for the country.

Sranyoo Chanate, chairman of the chamber's wellness business panel, urged the government to support the promotion of seven key businesses: SME hospitals, long-term care centres for the elderly, beauty clinics, medical devices, spas, Thai massage and Thai herbs.

The healthcare industry is expected grow by 15-20 per cent this year, he said.

Last year, healthcare tourism generated revenue of about Bt140 billion, up 18 per cent from the 2013 level. About Bt70 billion was earned by private hospitals, and Bt20 billion by wellness businesses, while Bt50 billion was brought in by healthcare-related tourism businesses.

About 2 million foreign patients visit Thailand each year, Sranyoo said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Chamber-calls-for-master-plan-for-tourism-wellness-30262537.html

-- The Nation 2015-06-18

[quandow]

Hubris strikes again. Your "Master Plan" boils down to bringing back a democratic government, getting the PM to retire like he should, and getting the BiB to do their jobs. Try as you might, you can't polish a turd. Remove said turds and tourism will take care of itself.

[Thai at Heart]

How many plan to they need? Every week a new splurge on this and that anyway.

"I know, let's make a masterplan, wahahaha". All very Dr. evil. And now not a hub but a centre point. Times are a changing. Obviously, Singapore has stolen the hub tag once and for all.

Edited June 18, 2015 by Thai at Heart

[Emster23]

"chamber's wellness business panel, urged the government to support the promotion of seven key businesses: SME hospitals, long-term care centres for the elderly, beauty clinics, medical devices, spas, Thai massage and Thai herbs."

When I saw headline, I foolishly thought it might be about wellness of Thai people. The article about Thai mental illness as a major problem seems not to have been on the radar here. Community mental health clinics are vital need, but I guess Thai physicians et al cannot heal thyselves. No money in it, and money still #1.