TAT scrambles for ideas to save high season amid negative factors

[webfact]

TOURIST
TAT scrambles for ideas to save high season amid negative factors
SUCHAT SRITAMA
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE Tourism Authority of Thailand will seek additional measures to deal with the double whammy - the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak and the civil aviation crisis - to save the coming high season.

TAT plans to hold its annual assembly to draw up marketing action plans in Chon Buri's Bang Saen beach resort from Monday to Thursday.

A Tourism Ministry source said some new measures should be forthcoming from the meeting and they should be implemented as soon as possible.

"The government is pushing tourism to drive the economy and the industry should be protected from any bad issues," the source said.

Besides marketing and business strategies to be laid out for next year, TAT and operators involved in tourism are expected to face the challenges and unexpected developments.

TAT has held several talks with key trade associations such as the Tourism Council of Thailand, Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) and Thai Hotels Association to formulate action plans before entering the peak season, which runs from October to March.

Charoen Wangananon, president of ATTA, said travel agents strongly urged the government to overcome the two emergencies as soon as possible.

"Thailand will soon be entering the high season and that should have no problem or threat," he said.

Pornthip Hirunkate, vice president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, called on TAT and the government to come up with more ideas or practices to extinguish the two fires.

However, the council is optimistic that tourism would rebound this year because many travellers, particularly from China, would flock to Thailand.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/TAT-scrambles-for-ideas-to-save-high-season-amid-n-30263137.html

-- The Nation 2015-06-26

[KarenBravo]

"The government is pushing tourism to drive the economy and the industry should be protected from any bad issues," the source said.

In other words, how do we sweep bad news under the rug?

Does the TAT know about this newfangled thing called the Internet?

[NongKhaiKid]

No, No this can't be, it's too early in the morning to take this in..

Are the TAT actually saying there may be the slightest hint of a suggestion of the remotest of possibilities that tourism may have an infinitesimal problem ?

Please. please issue a statement saying this is all a misunderstanding as I need a reason to go on living.

Edited June 25, 2015 by NongKhaiKid

[NeverSure]

"Thailand tourist arrivals soar from Jan-May." Yesterday, Thailand News.

[peterjackson]

I have been in 4 major Chinese cities in the past 2 months and TAT are running a lot of TV ads. in an attempt to lure more Chinese Tourists to Thailand. It's in stark contrast to the minimal airtime being bought in the USA and UK.

It would appear TAT are of the firm belief that China represents some kind of saviour for the Tourism industry. They are playing the numbers game. What they fail to recognise is the money game.

If you talk to local Thai businesses, almost without exception they tell the same story. The Chinese are many but spend little.

Business Economics 101, turnover is good, profit is king. The second element is severely reduced when courting the Chinese tourists to Thailand en masse.

[KarenBravo]

They are also courting the Kazakhs.

Every country they target seems poorer than the last.

[Crazy chef 1]

And the conclusion of the meeting is that next high season will be an increase of 32000000 tourist because of the unbeatable value given here....

[Somtamnication]

Why not think?

MERS for medical tourism

Jet Skis for island tourism

Jewellery scams for stones tourism

Tiger Temple for eco tourism

Deforestation areas for architectural tourism..... I can go on and on.....

[ezzra]

"Thailand tourist arrivals soar from Jan-May." Yesterday, Thailand News.

This was an auto release statement, every few weeks there are some auto press

releases that are being sent out automatically with no relations to what is really

going on,, or, it could the case of the right hand don't know what the left hand is

doing, and in Thailand, all is possible....

[madmitch]

Yesterday MERS was not having any effect on Thai tourism.

Today it is quoted as one of the factors that will have an effect on Thai tourism.

Can't wait for tomorrow's announcement.

[konying]

With current exchange rates and outrages prices, I am afraid even God will not help TAT

[bangon04]

Yesterday MERS was not having any effect on Thai tourism.

Today it is quoted as one of the factors that will have an effect on Thai tourism.

Can't wait for tomorrow's announcement.

"and the civil aviation crisis" Crisis? What Crisis? It was just a small matter of the foreigners misunderstanding our safety protocols, and we have already formed a committee AND produced a roadmap. What more can they want?

[FireMedic]

Scramble for a plan....because trying to make Thailand a safe, clean, and secure place for people to spend their money is not on the table.

[Anthony5]

I assume they are desperately looking for ways to reduce the tourist arrival numbers, since all previous reports claim that the numbers rise indefinitely.

Edited June 26, 2015 by Anthony5

[gk10002000]

No, No this can't be, it's too early in the morning to take this in..

Are the TAT actually saying there may be the slightest hint of a suggestion of the remotest of possibilities that tourism may have an infinitesimal problem ?

Please. please issue a statement saying this is all a misunderstanding as I need a reason to go on living.

He he. I like your choice of words. But the hint of the suggestion was just a rumor

[LomSak27]

Wait!! Nooooooo

Everything was so good, just yesterday, now this shocking news hits not 48 hours after the press release that bookings have 'soared past the Jan-May baseline'.

I'm in a state of stunned paralysis and only on my 2nd cup of coffee. Its going to be a tough weekend..

[sammygood]

they should have a creative writing competition to create a magical illusion to draw tourists

the winner will get .... his idea stolen by the upper management and they will reward those for their brilliant input

[quandow]

Fix the planes, get the BiB's off their butts to enforce laws to keep tourists safe, get back to a democracy, THEN watch the tourists flow back in.

Message for TAT: Once bitten, twice shy. Thailand has now been outed and that genie won't go back in the bottle. Now, see above statement and apply generously.

[Emster23]

"the government to come up with more ideas or practices to extinguish the two fires." pouring from the empty into the void. Not much hope there, as they are clueless regarding real problems: culture of rip off and provide nothing, purposeful destruction of resort areas like Jomtien and Pattaya beaches, corrupt worthless police force, traffic a real roll of the dice... I'm sure others could add more. Plus the game has changed.... Cambodia, Vietnam, Burma all seem to be providing more value and a genuine welcome to tourists. Oh yeah, there is the matter of that coup and repression....

[AyG]

"and the civil aviation crisis" Crisis? What Crisis? It was just a small matter of the foreigners misunderstanding our safety protocols, and we have already formed a committee AND produced a roadmap. What more can they want?

How can they have a roadmap when on Monday Transport Minister Prajin was quoted as saying he had "no idea when DCA able to meet ICAO safety standards"?

(I believe I also recall that he said that they didn't have a plan, but that has seemingly been removed from the newspaper website where I first read the article.)

[kg1947]

THAIS - seem to be too proud to accept recommendations from local EXPAT Advisory Board

about what needed to be done locally to make TOURIST more at ease .

I'm sure the 2 Clubs that meet at Tavern by the Sea and Mercure Hotel can save them

Millions of Baht is " STUDIES " on how to increase Tourist quantity & revenue.

But - NNOOOOOO - they would NOT act on any logical solution/-s , they prever to listen to

a panel WHO. has never lived abroad to understand the psychological make up of a

creature called " FARANG " ..... what a pity .....

[jamie obda]

I doubt there is anybody in TAT who holds something commensurate to an MBA from even a small (FW) university. My guess is preferential placement or bribed in positions. But that's all part of the fun, isn't it?

Sent from my SM-T530NU using Tapatalk

[bangon04]

"and the civil aviation crisis" Crisis? What Crisis? It was just a small matter of the foreigners misunderstanding our safety protocols, and we have already formed a committee AND produced a roadmap. What more can they want?

How can they have a roadmap when on Monday Transport Minister Prajin was quoted as saying he had "no idea when DCA able to meet ICAO safety standards"?

(I believe I also recall that he said that they didn't have a plan, but that has seemingly been removed from the newspaper website where I first read the article.)

well he is only the transport minister, so you can't expect him to know what is going on.......

[thaibeachlovers]

I have been in 4 major Chinese cities in the past 2 months and TAT are running a lot of TV ads. in an attempt to lure more Chinese Tourists to Thailand. It's in stark contrast to the minimal airtime being bought in the USA and UK.

It would appear TAT are of the firm belief that China represents some kind of saviour for the Tourism industry. They are playing the numbers game. What they fail to recognise is the money game.

If you talk to local Thai businesses, almost without exception they tell the same story. The Chinese are many but spend little.

Business Economics 101, turnover is good, profit is king. The second element is severely reduced when courting the Chinese tourists to Thailand en masse.

If they change their mind and target westerners, the answer is simple- 90 day visa exempt entry at all borders, renewable as many times as one wants to leave and re enter.

For expats, one year visas at any border for a suitable sum of money.

[thaibeachlovers]

Fix the planes, get the BiB's off their butts to enforce laws to keep tourists safe, get back to a democracy, THEN watch the tourists flow back in.

Message for TAT: Once bitten, twice shy. Thailand has now been outed and that genie won't go back in the bottle. Now, see above statement and apply generously.

Tourists don't give a monkey's about whether Thailand has democracy or not. Most of them wouldn't know what it has. The coup didn't stop the madness on Phangan at every Full Moon Party.

Tourists ( package and flashpacker ) only care about what the swimming pool is like and if there are enough servile minions to cater for their every whim.

[Jimlove]

TAT (and Thai tourism) are so skrewd but they will not see it nor admit it ever ... TiT, Land of Denial

[Ulic]

I don't think the TAT read there own press releases. Tourist numbers are soaring, record

amounts being spent in the northern parts of Thailand. I am left scratching my head.

[mango66]

99% of willing tourists to come to thailand don't know that there is a military regime just in now,

neither they would fear about it !

99% other reasons are in their mind, why they don't go to Thailand,

or come back !

Cheating, scamming, crime, - and latest lat not least -

they donr want to pay a trip to thailand but found them back in " China "

Terrible terrible experiance last month in a Hotel in Pattaya, packed with Chinese tourists !!

Are they really tourist - or just a hord of some moving meat and bones - recklass and blarring around ??

[madmitch]

I doubt there is anybody in TAT who holds something commensurate to an MBA from even a small (FW) university. My guess is preferential placement or bribed in positions. But that's all part of the fun, isn't it?

Sent from my SM-T530NU using Tapatalk

No MBAs? In my experience this is a positive if you actually want progress!

[magnacarta]

thankyou tv for helping me decide my retirement,been following it for a few years,great that there is nothhing in thailand but the sun.but it has the old gits.i will stay where i am thanks