Thailand Visitor Arrival Numbers Remain Strong

[george]

Thailand visitor arrival numbers remain strong

BANGKOK: -- Thailand continues to attract record visitor arrival numbers. In the latest figures released by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, tourist arrivals recorded through Bangkok’s international airport from January to October 2006 soared 15.97 per cent over 2005, to 7.92 million arrivals.

Australia recorded 301,767 visitor arrivals compared to 259,121 in 2005, up 16.46 per cent.

The top six countries in arrival visitors to Thailand Jan-Oct 2006 were:

1) Japan

2) China

3) Korea

4) UK

5) USA

6) Singapore

The top three generating countries remain unchanged from last year. The largest European market for visitors to Thailand was the UK recording 540,401 visitors, an increase of 7.96 per cent.

Sixth place Singapore arrivals fell by -4.36 per cent, with the fall attributed to the “Thaksin Effect” and the sale of Shin Telecom to Singaporean company Temasek Holdings in a controversial deal that lead to demonstrations both in Bangkok and overseas.

Russia posted the largest percentage gain, rising to 99,247 arrivals in the first 10 months, a healthy 108 per cent increase over the same period last year.

The unrest in southern Thailand does not appear to have affected cross border traffic with Malaysia, with arrivals surging 16.35 per cent.

Thailand is becoming more popular, not only with Europeans, but also with visitors from the Middle East. They appear no longer keen to travel to the USA / UK in great numbers and feel more welcome in Asia. The arrival figures from the Middle East increased 33.43 per cent, with Saudi Arabia showing an increase of 86.47 per cent and Egypt increasing 48.60 per cent.

--impactpub.com.au 2006-12-01

[brahmburgers]

Could be so, but it's not difficult to skew the numbers. For example, each time there's a 'visa run' by a pseudo resident farang, is that counted as an additional tourist? My personal survey, which consists of simply looking around at the number of foreigners walking the streets compared to previous years - indicates the numbers are slipping. ....but that's just up here in C.Rai, - which may not be indicative of more popular destinations further south.

[Mid]

got rid of the backpackers ,

and replaced them with more upmarket clients ,

problem ......

the replacements tend to stay in their ' resort / spa ' and so does the cash .................

[londonthai]

the same text, but with a different (misliding) title was already posted many hours ago

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=95098

yes, package tourists stay in resorts by the seaside/on the islands and even if they go on a tour it's only a 1 or 2 daysbus tour of the province they are staying in. Backpackers tend to travel more and off the beaten track

[Cyberstar]

Wonder what "visitor arrival" means? I know a few persons (Europeans) that arrive to BKK, just to catch the next plane to Vietnam. Are they included?

Edited December 1, 2006 by Cyberstar

[sonthaya]

Wonder what "visitor arrival" means? I know a few persons (Europeans) that arrive to BKK, just to catch the next plane to Vietnam. Are they included?

If those people are in transit they would not be counted, only passengers who check through immigration are counted, or at least that is the normal way.

[mongoose]

Thailand visitor arrival numbers remain strong

How long are they staying and how much are they spending? Without that information, the arrival numbers only show how busy the immigration officers have been stamping passports.

I recall that the length of stay and amount spent had declined in recent years, but am not sure. Does anyone have recent stats?

[jumnien]

The top six countries in arrival visitors to Thailand Jan-Oct 2006 were:

1) Japan

2) China

3) Korea

4) UK

5) USA

6) Singapore

I think it is obvious that if visa runners were counted multiple times, the statistics would not read as above. Regardless statistics are statistics, not to be confused with reality.

[baboon]

Bear in mind also that holders of Non Imm O or B visas also count as visitor arrivals in Thailand so even businessmen fall into the category of "visitor."