Thai tourism rakes in over THB800bn in first 4 months

[webfact]

Thai tourism rakes in over THB800bn in first 4 months

 

BANGKOK, 17 May 2017 (NNT) – The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has revealed that over 800 billion baht worth of revenue was generated by the tourism sector during the first four months of this year. 

Commenting on the tourism sector’s performance between January and April 2017, Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Sports Pongpanu Svetarunda reported that there were more than 2.8 million foreign arrivals during the period. The visitors brought in approximately 840 billion baht of income to the country, an increase of 4.68 percent compared to the same period of last year. 

Of all the foreigners, 1.8 million came from East Asian countries, mostly China. Although the number of Chinese tourists was found to decline slightly following the clampdown on zero-dollar tours, it was offset by the rising number of European visitors, who contributed to revenue of over 600 billion baht. 

According to Mr Pongpanu, it is expected that arrivals from China will rebound from June onwards after the ministry continues to promote tourist confidence by ridding the Thai tourism industry of illegal practices and scams.

 

-- nnt 2017-05-17

[Dobredin Ghusputin]

10 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thai tourism rakes in over THB800bn in first 4 months

 

In related news, about THB400bn was left behind in taxis, which was then returned to tourists so they could spend it on various services during their holiday.

[saakura]

Oh my, this is going to be hard on our regular thai bashers!!

[Upnotover]

1.8M "East Asians" = THB240Bn

1.0M Europeans (and others?) = THB600Bn

 

Think I'd leave the East Asians at home.

[PatOngo]

I think the ministry should consider purchasing their own submarines with that much revenue. Amazing Underwater Tours.

[IMA_FARANG]

But Thai tourism is NOT the Main revenue earner in Thailand, no matter what we are supposed to believe.

Products assembled in Thailand and exported from  Thailand far exceed tourist revenue each year.

I personally have purchased in Greece packaged frozen Chicken meat  which was labeled as being packaged in Thailand.

It was processed and frozen for Tesco Lotus in a factory just outside of Bangkok.

 

 

 

Edited May 17, 2017 by IMA_FARANG
added a coment

[Nigeone]

Once again some doubt on these figures !! isn't there approx thirty million visitors a year allegedly. So lots of catching up to do the rest of the year !! 4 months and only 2.8 million leaves over 27 million in 8 months ! Is that possible ??

Edited May 17, 2017 by Nigeone

[11223344]

51 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

1.8M "East Asians" = THB240Bn

1.0M Europeans (and others?) = THB600Bn

 

Think I'd leave the East Asians at home.

Unfortunately they are too stupid and focus on number of tourist, not value of the tourists. Lurking more and more Chinese for example

 

Each 1M of tourist from

- Asia: worth THB133Bn

- Farangs: worth THB600Bn

 

ie 1 farang tourist is worth 5 Asian tourists. The country is not a water balloon so increasing the number will decrease number of the wealthy.

But to know that they would need to learn match and some basics of economy and logic.

 

5 minutes ago, Nigeone said:

Once again some doubt on these figures !! isn't there approx thirty million visitors a year allegedly. So lots of catching up to do the rest of the year !! 4 months and only 2.8 million leaves over 27 million in 8 months ! Is that possible ??

very good point... 32.6 million in 2016

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-tourism-idUSKBN14P0QF

 

Edited May 17, 2017 by 11223344

[Nigeone]

Thanks I knew it was around 30 million claimed and actually was looking up figures when you quoted me !! 555 

[geovalin]

40 minutes ago, Nigeone said:

Once again some doubt on these figures !! isn't there approx thirty million visitors a year allegedly. So lots of catching up to do the rest of the year !! 4 months and only 2.8 million leaves over 27 million in 8 months ! Is that possible ??

You are right, this news does not make any sense. Could NNT double check? Probably a typo : 8.2 millions?

[grumbleweed]

54 minutes ago, geovalin said:

You are right, this news does not make any sense. Could NNT double check? Probably a typo : 8.2 millions?

The surprising thing would be if figures coming from this department DID make sense

 

[Emster23]

Now if they would only spend .5% of that sum cleaning up tourist areas....

[Jimbo2014]

2 hours ago, Nigeone said:

Once again some doubt on these figures !! isn't there approx thirty million visitors a year allegedly. So lots of catching up to do the rest of the year !! 4 months and only 2.8 million leaves over 27 million in 8 months ! Is that possible ??

yea I was wondering that - with the transparency of the present administration combined with the widely variable figures published from different sources its impossible to know whats up and down with these figures.

[Usual Suspect]

The popular resort I frequent has just had it's quietest high season ever tourist-wise, & it's now seeing many businesses closing down.

 One thing the 'Eastern tourists' will not have to worry about is the  year-in, year-out poor exchange rate western currencies seem to be stuck with, & also the  high ATM & T/C fees the Thais impose on tourists...for the zero-dollar eastern tourists non of this applies to them seen as they are not spending any cash!...so Thailand is still a cheap place to visit...but for the rest of us..well..?

(As a final note IMO when the TaT issue reassuring tourist revenue figures I for one think they must feel the need to do this in the light of the actual revenue figures being well down).

[tomacht8]

Must be a typo.

600.000.000.000 / 1.000.000 =

600.000 baht per visitor?

I know u can blow a lot of money here away, but 600.000 baht as average, no way.

Edited May 17, 2017 by tomacht8

[Cyclone88]

36 minutes ago, tomacht8 said:

Must be a typo.

600.000.000.000 / 1.000.000 =

600.000 baht per visitor?

I know u can blow a lot of money here away, but 600.000 baht as average, no way.

I was just thinking the same thing.

The figures just don't add up.

[Kabula]

Great, now we need to figure out and find a solution, why most leave after a week or two. When most use to spend a month and many, three months and more with visa runs and extensions.

 

And, why many will never return.

[elgordo38]

3 hours ago, Nigeone said:

Once again some doubt on these figures !! isn't there approx thirty million visitors a year allegedly. So lots of catching up to do the rest of the year !! 4 months and only 2.8 million leaves over 27 million in 8 months ! Is that possible ??

Anything is possible if your in charge of the numbers game. 

[Prbkk]

The hordes of inbound tourists are not coming on Thai International, as reported in the Q1 figures released yesterday..a 12 % decline in passenger numbers, a minuscule profit at a time when most carriers are raking it in, general gloominess around the company ( no pun intended).

So either many of the tourists are on LCCs and probably modest/low spending themselves or are coming from further afield on airlines with a more market-responsive pricing structure than TG. 

Hotel room rates remain at historic lows ( ie, allowing for inflation , same rates as 20/30 years ago). 

If they truly believe Thailand is some kind of magnet for well-healed Europeans, then they are delusional. It is a "cheap and cheerful" warm weather , mildly exotic and colourful getaway for couples and families and independents. And for that market, great value.

[elgordo38]

19 minutes ago, Kabula said:

Great, now we need to figure out and find a solution, why most leave after a week or two. When most use to spend a month and many, three months and more with visa runs and extensions.

 

And, why many will never return.

There you go again did somebody give you a shot of truth serum? I once watched a wrestler called Kabula any relation?

[JayBird]

How do they know how much i spent?

 

Every time we do a border run, does it increase the visitor count by one?

 

So each of us on SETV counts as four?

 

 

[Cadbury]

33 minutes ago, elgordo38 said:

Anything is possible if your in charge of the numbers game. 

Whenever TAT need to come up with a new monumental figure on assorted tourism statistics they just spin the "Wheel of Fortune" and bingo....there's the number; in millions of course. 

[elgordo38]

5 minutes ago, Cadbury said:

Whenever TAT need to come up with a new monumental figure on assorted tourism statistics they just spin the "Wheel of Fortune" and bingo....there's the number; in millions of course. 

You have to rename that to be the wheel of tourism. What will you do with "lose a turn"?

[wakeupplease]

Looks good, just one question why are so many business owners complaining their turnover is down and pawn shops business is up.

Beats me .

[elgordo38]

2 minutes ago, wakeupplease said:

Looks good, just one question why are so many business owners complaining their turnover is down and pawn shops business is up.

Beats me .

To beat the tax man??

[wakeupplease]

36 minutes ago, JayBird said:

How do they know how much i spent?

 

Every time we do a border run, does it increase the visitor count by one?

 

So each of us on SETV counts as four?

 

 

Each time you do a border run, you not only pay visa costs but also for the van/fuel, drinks, food, may buy a shirt/cloths item, tips, and so on it all adds up.

[Prbkk]

3 minutes ago, elgordo38 said:

What will you do with "lose a turn"?

Be sent to Pattaya for 2 weeks.

[wakeupplease]

Just now, elgordo38 said:

To beat the tax man??

good answer

 

[dcnx]

I wonder how much all the prostitutes collectively raked in over the past 4 months?

[tomacht8]

49 minutes ago, dcnx said:

I wonder how much all the prostitutes collectively raked in over the past 4 months?

At the moment is low season. They are noticeably more friendly.
It is possible to spend and life with only 600.000 Baht a month, if you skip all attractions, parks and beaches aka all unnecessary money spendings and fully concentrate yourself in the Nana area.

Edited May 17, 2017 by tomacht8