Thailand tourism situation

[caller]

I've been in Chiang Mai for a few days and plenty of tourists here, but hardly hordes of them. Mainly Thai and Chinese from what I can tell and apart from a busload of French at Wat Doi Suthep, farangs are definitely very much in a minority. My sister is over from Oz and her hotel outside of the city is virtually empty. We're at a newer city centre hotel and it's hard to guess how busy it is, but I'd say at least 50% full.

[PeteC]

The Chinese week long Autumn Festival ended on October 7, so even the Chinese tourists will be decreasing going forward.

[stretch]

The tourist slump has a lot to do with the over valued baht and the thai department of silly ideas.

[dundrillin]

Bangkok seems very busy to me

[oakdale160]

Bkk is very busy as there are many Thai people who live there.

[dundrillin]

True but possibly not in the Millennium Hilton

[J.J.B.]

True but possibly not in the Millennium Hilton

[buksida]

A capital city is no way reflective of the rest of the county - all capital cities are busy!

European tourists decline against strong baht, competition
The number of European tourist arrivals in Thailand this year is expected to decline by 1.5 per cent year on year to around 6.66 million, according to the Kasikorn Research Centre.

Their projected spending in Thailand is Bt468 billion, down 1 per cent year on year, due to the tourists adjusting their holiday budgets in response to the baht strengthening against their home currencies.

For the last four months of this year, Centre expects the number of European tourist arrivals to be about the same as the same period in 2018.

According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, some 4.44 million European tourists visited in the first eight months of this year, a 1.9-per-cent drop. The decline was seen mainly in the markets of Russia, Germany, Sweden, and France.

This year’s high season was challenging for the sector as the country faced both a stronger baht and tougher competition as other destinations stepped up tourism marketing campaigns.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30377310

[handdrummer]

For bragging rights on a stronger baht, they are willing to have fewer tourists and lower exports. Typical Thai "thinking."

[Gregjam]

Could they not have used 6.659 million, I thought they were superstitious. The devil has their number...

[lomuamart]

20 odd years ago, when I came to live here, tourists weren't that important - or so they said. If I remember correctly, tourism was reckoned to account for some 5% of GDP - maybe less, I forget.

Now, people are saying that the %age is up to... whatever. Hugely higher than before.

Now, all those who have relied on the tourist trade are starting to get a bit jittery. They throw out billions of baht valuations for tourism and needless to say, they don't see that money coming in again.

Wow, maybe some have overstretched themselves building concrete? I don't know.

I don't think that the potential backlash of "no tourists, no money" situation has arrived yet but once you take money away from anyone and they can't do the things they're accustomed to, well then..

[Nereus]

Where should this be posted? It includes a reference to TM30:
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Cabinet OKs new perks for tourism

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/17 ... or-tourism

The economic cabinet on Friday approved a new round of tourism measures, aiming for the number of foreign visitors to reach 39.8 million and generate 2.04 trillion baht this year.

Kobsak Pootrakool, deputy secretary-general to prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha for political affairs, said the new tourism stimulus measures cover both short-term measures for this year and some for 2020. They will be submitted for cabinet approval next week.

The government also set a target to attract 41.8 million foreign visitors and generate 2.2 trillion baht in tourism revenue next year.

Mr Kobsak said the short-term measures include free re-entry visas for foreign tourists who visit neighbouring countries by land, increased value-added tax (VAT) refund agents, more downturn VAT refund venues and VAT refunds in cash on the spot.

A measure to make it easier for the 150,000 expatriates in the country to travel nationwide without reporting to the authorities as required by Section 37 of the 1979 Immigration Act, also known as TM30, will also be introduced.

The rule requires foreigners who receive a long-term visa to report within 24 hours to authorities when they travel to other provinces that are not their residence.

Expats are also required to report their whereabouts every 90 days to the authorities.

Thailand charges 2,000 baht for single-entry visas lasting three months.

Companies will also be allowed to claim deductions of up to two times expenses if they organise seminars in the country.

Mr Kobsak said the government will open checkpoints with Laos and Malaysia around the clock during weekends and long holidays. This measure is to last three months.

The Amazing Thailand Grand Sale is planned for three months -- from Nov 1 to January -- with discounts of up to 70%, Mr Kobsak said. Some 400 shops are expected to participate, up from 200 last year.

The event helped raise the spending of foreign visitors to 2,800 baht per day per person last year from normal spending of 1,250 baht per day.

For medium- and long-term measures, Mr Kobsak said the government aims to improve the standards of accommodation and safety, as well as increase the number of world heritage tourism spots.

Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said his agency and related agencies will introduce mega events to lure foreign visitors and increase their spending.

These events include the Ultra-Trail, Amazing Thailand Marathon Series, MotoGP and Super GT races.

Concert events will include Tomorrow Land, Electric Daisy Carnival and the Ultra Music Festival.

[buksida]

You couldn't make this up ... actually yes, you could!

Tourist numbers well on track statistics show
A total of 29,465,732 people visited Thailand between January and September this year generating revenue of Bt1.42 trillion, according to data released this week by the Tourism and Sports Ministry. This was up 3.51 per cent over the same period year with the revenue showing a similar increase at 3.45 per cent.

The highest numbers of visitors were from China, making up 8,518,031 people, up 1.71 per cent, and generating revenue of Bt426.88 billion. They were followed by Malaysia with 2,960,896, an increase of 5.56 per cent, spending Bt75.62 billion, up 6.69 per cent; India with 1,471,218, up 25.60 per cent, generating Bt62.03 billion, up 31.14 per cent; South Korea with 1,399,440, up 4.87 per cent, generating Bt55.61 billion, up 5.23 per cent and Laos with 1,383,410, up 12.16 per cent, generating Bt39.61 billion, up 12.70 per cent.

Tourist numbers from Europe dropped to 4,698,239 people, down 1.83 per cent, generating revenue of Bt324.75 billion, down 2.03 per cent, of which 970,696 people were from Russia, down 2.95 per cent, generating Bt66.37 billion, down 3.94 per cent, the United Kingdom with 719,599, up 0.84 per cent, generating Bt55.66 billion, up 2.20 per cent and Germany, 601,916 people, down 3.69 per cent, generating Bt37.70 billion, down 3.10 per cent.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30377735

Where the fck are they all then? TAT definitely counting its own people now. Just done a seven province road trip and the only other tourists I saw were Thai.

[buksida]

Baht vexes tourism groups
A strong baht presents the most pressing challenge for tourism this high season after the currency reached its highest level in six years, say tourism business leaders.

The currency surged to 30.22 baht per US dollar on Friday, with some analysts expecting the baht to rise past 30 per dollar next year.

Vichit Prakobgosol, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (Atta), said the tourism sector could lose a crucial opportunity to attract tourists to Thailand during the peak season from November to December, falling short of the government's target for this year.

"We have no control over external factors like the US-China trade spat, but the government and the Bank of Thailand can help solve the problem by lowering the interest rate to help operators in both the tourism and export sectors," Mr Vichit said.

He said the extension of 2,000-baht visa-on-arrival fee waivers is helping to maintain the number of Chinese tourists at a healthy level this year, even as the yuan weakens.

The baht rose from 33.13 baht per dollar on Oct 29, 2018 to 30.22 a year later, according to the central bank.

"If the baht breaks 30 to the dollar, the tourism sector will be affected, with lower inbound tourists and more Thais travelling abroad," Mr Vichit said.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/17 ... ism-groups


Blah blah, we know the story ...but why does TAT keep asserting they're still getting record numbers.

[Big Boy]

I'd never considered the reverse effect with Thais travelling elsewhere, but of course, it has to happen. I've noticed one of our Thai neighbours doing more and more foreign trips - it makes sense. Hopefully the weekend Bangkokians will soon follow suit.