Package rates slashed in bid to boost outbound Thai tourism in low season

[webfact]

Package rates slashed in bid to boost outbound tourism in low season
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- HUNDREDS of travel operators are cutting overseas package rates by up to 50 per cent in an attempt to boost outbound tourism in the current low season, with Europe, Japan and China expected to be popular destinations for Thai travellers.

Suparerk Soorangura, president of the Thai Travel Agents Association, said operators would offer special deals for overseas strips to Thai tourists at the "Thai International Travel Fair", which is being held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre until Sunday.

He said that among the highlights were half-price packages to Europe, mainland China and Nepal.

A six- or seven-day package to Europe will range between Bt40,000 and Bt50,000 per person, down from Bt70,000-Bt80,000 in other periods.

However, the length of travel under this particular promotion has been cut from eight to 12 days to six or seven days, while site visits have also been reduced, from multi-country visits to just one or two countries, he added.

"Some big airlines, particularly from the Middle East, are launching attractive promotions to boost tourist numbers from Thailand during the low season," Suparerk said.

For mainland China, he said the recent devaluation of the yuan would help attract more Thais to the country, although it might only have a relatively short-term effect if the Chinese currency later appreciated.

Japan popular

Aside from Europe and China, Japan is expected to remain the most popular destination for Thai tourists, as it is endorsing a visa exemption for Thais, said the association chief.

Ittirit Kinglake, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, said the Kingdom should gain more business from the weakening of the yuan, as operators were now able to offer customers greater discounts. However, outbound travel to China may face difficulty due to higher costs, resulting from the strength of the baht, he warned.

"Airlines and tour operators in China should create more packages for Thailand to their customers over the next few months, and not wait until the high season," Ittirit said.

Meanwhile, Nepal is also expected to attract Thai tourists, as travel operators and authorities are putting efforts into restoring the country's economy and tourism after this year's devastating earthquake.

Packages to Nepal at the Thai International Travel Fair are priced at Bt20,000 per person, half the normal Bt40,000. Suparerk said the fair was not only aimed at promoting outbound tourism through new tour programmes, but also at promoting the domestic market.

"Operators are also targeting group travel, students and the incentives market in the current low season," he said.

The fair is expected to attract more than 300,000 visitors and generate spending in the region of Bt400 million.

Suparerk added that outbound business in the coming high season might not be as bright as hoped because of the volatility of major currencies and the continued economic downturn in many countries.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Package-rates-slashed-in-bid-to-boost-outbound-tou-30266467.html


-- The Nation 2015-08-13

[chiang mai]

So a 12 day package that used to cost 70/80k has now morphed to become a 6/7 day package that costs 40/50k. How is that slashing rates by 50%, it looks like an increase to me!

But it's a great marketing concept, imagine, sirloin steak, was 300 baht a kilo, prices now slashed to just 180 per pound!

[Thai at Heart]

Why are TAT helping to market outbound tourism?

[ratcatcher]

Why are TAT helping to market outbound tourism?

Sorry, but where does the article mention TAT, the Tourism Authority of Thailand?

[Thai at Heart]

Why are TAT helping to market outbound tourism?

Sorry, but where does the article mention TAT, the Tourism Authority of Thailand?

Apologies.

But contained below, is also a push for incoming tourism from another authority. Two organisations one pushing for outward, one pushing for inward. My mistake.

TCA and TTA. For once TAT nowhere to be seen

Edited August 12, 2015 by Thai at Heart

[doremifasol]

Right, they are following the same model in the working place as well.

" The company offers a competitive monthly salary of 60.000" but then they slash

your paid holidays and your bonus and you get 6 sick leave days a year instead of 30.

How competitive is that?

Edited August 12, 2015 by doremifasol

[madmitch]

"Ittirit Kinglake, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, said the Kingdom should gain more business from the weakening of the yuan, as operators were now able to offer customers greater discounts. However, outbound travel to China may face difficulty due to higher costs, resulting from the strength of the baht, he warned."

Is it me or does this paragraph indicate that the TCT president needs to brush up on basic economics?

[onni4me]

Yeah...instead of experiencing multiple locations for 12 days or so I will buy a package to see one location.

I think that they are utterly in denial.

I have heard bad stories using Thai travel agencies. I used one years ago when they had cheaper tickets to my regular destination than the airline could provide (?) but that ended when one day they felt that they had been charging me too little and asked for 70% more than normal.

They should learn how many times you can cheat the customer or provide bad service. The answer is two times. The first and the last.

[carstenp]

"Ittirit Kinglake, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, said the Kingdom should gain more business from the weakening of the yuan, as operators were now able to offer customers greater discounts. However, outbound travel to China may face difficulty due to higher costs, resulting from the strength of the baht, he warned."

Is it me or does this paragraph indicate that the TCT president needs to brush up on basic economics?

No but i think he want to say

However, outbound travel to Thailand

Then it is correct

But anyway. This can have a impact on tourist arrival from china. So TAT can have some problems to reach there numbers

Edited August 13, 2015 by carstenp

[impulse]

Is this like one of those up to 80% off sales at the malls?

[elgordo38]

Why are TAT helping to market outbound tourism?

It amazes me that people in this country can afford to travel. Oh sorry I forgot just go to the bank and get a holiday loan see you later alligator.

[elgordo38]

I guess tour prices like currency rates are also in a race to the bottom. I am amazed that the majority of Thai's can afford to travel oh sorry just go to your local bank and get a holiday loan. See you later alligator

[chiang mai]

I guess tour prices like currency rates are also in a race to the bottom. I am amazed that the majority of Thai's can afford to travel oh sorry just go to your local bank and get a holiday loan. See you later alligator

I know a couple of small business owners, people who run successful small two or three branch operations and who have no debt to speak of other than a car and small house loan. Last year, one of them spent six months in Paris, a trip financed out of the revenue stream of her bakery/restaurant business, another did similar but for eight weeks, in London with wife and family, all financed by revenue, not loans. There's sheds more people like that around, even my builder had two tickets to Seoul and spent a week there with his wife, site seeing, when he came back he was hitting me up for work to get income but he never borrowed for the trip.

[Thian]

That sounds far too cheap to go to Europe. 40-50k baht for the flight and hotels? Also they need a coach 24 hrs so it must be a real cheap holiday i guess. No tickets for the highlights included?

7-8 days Europe would cost 40-50k baht for the hotels alone.

[chiang mai]

Bed and Breakfast joints and really bad hotels, can all be had quite inexpensively in Europe hence 40/50k is dooable but it wont be luxury.

[ratcatcher]

Why are TAT helping to market outbound tourism?

Sorry, but where does the article mention TAT, the Tourism Authority of Thailand?

Apologies.

But contained below, is also a push for incoming tourism from another authority. Two organisations one pushing for outward, one pushing for inward. My mistake.

TCA and TTA. For once TAT nowhere to be seen

Your small mistake is quite justified.

We have the

DOT - Department of Tourism --http://www.tourism.go.th/home/content

TCT - Tourism Council of Thailand--http://www.thailandtourismcouncil.org/en/index.php

TAT - Tourism Authority Of Thailand - http://www.tourismthailand.org/home

MOTS - Ministry of Tourism & Sports - http://www.mots.go.th/ewtadmin/ewt/mots_eng/main.php?filename=index01#

ATTA - Association of Thai Travel Agents. - http://www.atta.or.th/HomeUI.aspx

So, it is no wonder that there's little confidence in any numbers coming out of this group of magicians.

[fred Kubasa]

Price incidental as " Packages" are mostly undesirable ! No casinos, no world class sites, ( Niagara Falls, Big Ben,

Eiffel Tower), mainly old temples,and gem stores. Pay anything to spend many hours on bad roads with dangerous drivers to be bored ?

[Jimlove]

Imagine to sit on "monkey-class" for 10-12 hours and then have to fly home after 6-7 days again flying for 10-12 hours ... No thanks

[nycjoe]

I know that Airlines buy their fuel in bulk for a year, the cost of fuel has dropped dramatically and should soon be reflected in the price of airfare. They are starting to get a lot of wiggle room and hopefully I will be flying to see the family soon enough.

[phoenixdoglover]

I have never said the following words, "Honey, let's travel with a group this year."