Thailand’s 2011 annual tourism income rises 30%

[buksida]

Despite experiencing major tourism woes, Thailand earned tourism income exceeding Bt770 billion in 2011, an increase of 31 per cent year-on-year, according to Thanitta Savetsila Maneechote, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Sports.

Despite problems which shook tourist confidence in travel to Thailand and last year’s devastating flood, she said the country still earned Bt776.2 billion, and recorded 19.2 million tourists, an increase of nearly 21 per cent.

Of this number, 12.2 million visitors – nearly two in three, or 63.7 per cent -- were revisiting Thailand, while the remaining 6.9 million tourists, slightly more than one in three, 36.2 per cent, were newcomers.

Regarding their purpose for travel, 8.9 million or 46.76 per cent were on holiday while about three million -- 15.82 per cent -- came for meetings.

The average stay period for foreign tourists was 9.64 days with an average spending of 4,187 baht per day, an increase of 2.66 per cent.

Meanwhile, last year, over 5.3 million Thai tourists travelled overseas, an increase of 1.11 per cent from the same period in the previous year, with average spending of 4,505 baht per day per person. Total spending for their trips abroad amounted to Bt122 billion, an increase of 0.48 per cent.

Source: MCOT

Thought: You wouldn't have thunk it looking at the empty streets, bars and restaurants last year ... maybe they all went to Phuket!

[Roel]

Well I think they did because 2011 was a good year for Phuket. Possibly Hua Hin suffered from the floodings in Bankgkok and the north and on Phuket - being far away from the danger zone - it had a positive effect. Phuket also had lots of visitors from Arab countries in the low season months September/October which are holiday months for them. Obviously these single male visitors prefer Pattaya and Phuket because of the nightlife.
TAT says most tourist nowadays are Chinese. Must admit we hardly see them here but then they like to travel in groups (like the Japanese and Koreans). Tour buses taking them on full day tours: beach - elephant riding - restaurant - spa - shopping mall - another restaurant - hotel. You do not spot them in the streets but you can encounter 80 of them in any of the places on their day program. Guess this is the same in Hua Hin.

[richard]

Seems to be a lot more Ruski money around

[STEVE G]

Don't forget that in these figures, 2011 is being compared with 2010 which is when there was a bit of a war going on in the streets of Bangkok, with "free fire zones" making the worlds news channels which might have put a few tourists off a bit.

[Big Boy]

Seems to be a lot more Ruski money around

That's a very broad statement. Can you substantiate the claim?

[richard]

Seems to be a lot more Ruski money around

That's a very broad statement. Can you substantiate the claim?

General observations and comments. Know 2 property agents here in HH who have told me young Russians are buying properties 20 Million upwards. Ask 'Room to Room' agents near soi 80. Know a teacher who is teaching Russians to speak English. I've met 3 Russians in Binta who are looking to settle here. One condo unit in Condo Chain has been eyeballed by a Russian couple

Yep the Ruskis are coming. Pattaya is full of the young yob ones. The ones with money and wives and family are coming to HH

Heard from a friend Phuket is filling up with them too in terms of tourist visits

[Big Boy]

Well, I'm sure their money will be welcomed, and help to keep the tourist industry above water, while other nations are not so prevalent at the moment. A strong tourist industry must bring benefits for all.