Thailand tourist arrivals jump 38% in July

[buksida]

More than 2.6 million foreign visitors arrived in Thailand in July, a 38% year-on-year jump that pushed up total tourist visits this year by more than 30% over conflict-plagued 2014.

Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said Thailand welcomed 2,641,998 foreign tourists in July, with Chinese and Malaysian visitors topping the nationality list.

Foreign arrivals via international airports in July accounted for about 80% of total visitors, or 2.16 million people, up 49.37% year-on-year. Don Mueang airport saw the largest growth at 81.3%, followed by Chiang Mai, Suvarnabhumi and Phuket airports at 69.6%, 48.2% and 24.4% respectively.

Ms Kobkarn said from October 2014, the first month of the 2015 fiscal year, until the end of July, Thailand recorded 1.2 trillion baht in tourism revenue, up 23.1% from the previous fiscal year, which was dominated by street protests in Bangkok and then the military coup.

Based on statistics compiled from the Department of Tourism, Thailand saw around 17.4 million visitors in the first seven months of 2015, up 30.1% from the same period in 2014.

Full Story: Bangkok Post

Thought: No idea where they get these figures from, in the last two months I've been to Hua Hin, Prachuap, Chumphon, Bangsaphan, Ban Krut, Ranong, Koh Phayam, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Khanom and it is as dead as a dodo, business owners and managers are full of tales of woe and their establishments are empty.

[HHTel]

Home grown statistics...... nothing changes.

[jumusman]

If you believe these numbers I have some beachfront property I would like to sell you back home in Arizona!!

[GLCQuantum]

They could have at least tried to make it sound believable with a believable figure but, no...

"Let's whack it up to 38%. I've a good feeling about that number", said General Somchai.

They literally think that the rest of the world is stupid.

[Pleng]

Well I don't know... the last couple of weeks the Hilton area has been extremely busy in the day time at lease compared to normal at this time of year. Weather the same people are going in bars at night or not I don't know; seems to be mostly couples or families so probably not.

Also... remember there were probably a lot of people cancelling trips this time last year due to political uncertainly so maybe 38% compared to last year isn't that unbelievable

[GLCQuantum]

An increase in tourist arrivals is certain. Were I to venture a guess, I'd put it at 5-7% based on statistics from other countries that went through the same kind of political turmoil and murder on the streets in one year then glided gracefully into a Military dictatorship the next.

[Bristolian]

There should be a department responsible for tourist departures (maybe called immigration) to compare numbers!

[GLCQuantum]

There should be a department responsible for tourist departures (maybe called immigration) to compare numbers!

That won't account for those who turn up and don't leave though...

Population count with blood and DNA samples is the only way forward.

[Terry]

We've noticed the numbers are up at the Lodge over the last few weeks.

I came through swampy this afternoon and it was heaving - 45 minutes to get through immigration - a bit like old times and there were plenty of immigration staff on...............

Here's hoping

[caller]

I'm in Bkk for the week (again) and the hotel we use is certainly busier this week than it was last week, or even a couple of weeks before that. Oh wait, it's August! There's a fair few family groups of tourists around, both in the hotel and elsewhere. I got collared by one at Siam BTS - I must look like a local, I certainly feel like one - asking the way to erm, National Stadium! They were in luck, I was heading there as well, to go to BACC and I saw more farangs there than I have ever seen before.

[bsdk1960]

I know not arrivals,but I went home sunday at 13.00, and went through Immigration and security in 20 min., never try that before,but I like it

[joelle]

they are mostly Chinese and they do not spend money
was in Pattaya last week and the Walking Street was dead, apart from the Chinese groups following the little flag, all the bars and restaurants were empty

[migrant]

Had dinner last night at Dolphin Bay Resort and all the Dolphin Bay area seemed crowded with Falang

[buksida]

they are mostly Chinese and they do not spend money
was in Pattaya last week and the Walking Street was dead, apart from the Chinese groups following the little flag, all the bars and restaurants were empty

That seems about the size of it, 70% of that 38% are probably Chinese and the other 30% are Malaysians, neither of which are big spenders or visit the 'off the beaten track' places.