Inbound tourism likely back to normal by Feb
Inbound tourism is expected to achieve a full recovery from the floods crisis by February, according to the Association of Thai Travel Agents.
ATTA president Sisdhivachr Chevarattanaporn yesterday said international arrivals had dropped sharply since October, when the flood water began to reach Bangkok. The decline is expected to continue until February, but should get back to normal during that month.
“In December, which is the peak month for Thai tourism with a regular 1.8 million visitors each year, the number [of arrivals] is expected to remain at only 1 million. And although we are now seeing new bookings, tourists in many countries are still worried about the flooding,” he said. Sisdhivachr added that arrivals from many key markets had plunged during the worst of the crisis in October and November.
Taiwanese visitor numbers dropped by nearly 100 per cent, while Hong Kong was 90 per cent down. Arrivals from South Korea and Japan had fallen more than 80 per cent, while those from China had declined by about 80 per cent.
Anake Srishevachart, president of Thai-Japanese Tourism Business Association, said the association would invite executives from 10 high-yield Japanese travel agents to Thailand this month in a bid to rebuild confidence. It will also hold a “Kam Pa Te [Fight Fight]” campaign until December 15 in a further attempt to regain confidence from the high-end market in Japan.
Meanwhile, the Tourism Authority of Thailand yesterday reviewed its rehabilitation plans for the sector.
It will start by focusing on closer, quick-return major markets such as China, Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong by encouraging tourists back to the Kingdom during this month and early next year.
Long-haul markets, particularly the United Kingdom and Russia, will be next in line after Asia, as tourists in these countries need more time to prepare for trips.Moreover, the TAT will organise mega-fam (familiarisation) trips to rebuild the country’s tourism image and restore confidence among foreign tourists. However, TAT governor Suraphon Svetasreni urged operators to avoid cutting the price of packages and hotel room rates, as the cost of travel and accommodation in Thailand is already very competitive.
He said the authority had revised downward this year’s inbound-arrivals target to 18.3 million-18.6 million, from the previous projection of 19.5 million. It has estimated Bt35 billion in lost revenue as a result of cancellations due to the flooding.
