Ministry upbeat on target of 18.3m foreign arrivals
Despite the flood crisis, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports believes that the number of foreign visitors this year will be at least 18.3 million, with Bt703 billion in receipts, respectively a 15-per-cent and an 18-per-cent increase from last year.
Meanwhile, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said it would launch a “Beautiful Thailand” campaign to restore tourists’ confidence during the first quarter of next year.
Suwat Sidthilaw, permanent secretary for the ministry, said yesterday that in the first 11 months the country saw a 21.7-per-cent surge to 17.1 million foreign tourist arrivals, generating at least Bt650 billion in revenue. With the flood crisis declining, he believes that the country will be able to achieve its target of 1.5 million tourist arrivals in December.
“Thus we strongly believe that Thailand can achieve its revised target of 18.3 million arrivals,” he said.
TAT calculates that tourism business losses during the flood crisis from October to November will add up to between Bt21 billion and Bt24 billion because of cancellations by 600,000 foreigners, while domestic travel faced Bt13.5 billion in losses from cancellations by 6.9 million Thais. So the agency last month lowered its full-year target from 19.5 million foreign visitors and Bt746 billion in receipts.
The Department of Tourism expects that 175 tourist attractions were affected by the flooding and need investment of at least Bt560 million for recovery. This budget is now under consideration by the government. All tourist sites should be fully restored within a couple of months after getting the green light from the Cabinet.
TAT governor Suraphon Svetasreni said that as the marketing and public relations body for the tourism sector, it would focus on restoring foreign tourists’ confidence in the first half of next year through its “Beautiful Thailand” campaign.
The authority will conduct aggressive marketing activities such as organising roadshows, supporting key travel agencies in key destinations, and arranging media familiarisation trips from main markets.
“Mainland China, Japan, Hong Kong, India and Vietnam are key target markets for the first quarter because travel agencies and chartered-fight operators anticipate positive bookings until April,” the TAT governor said.
TAT projects 19.55 million international tourist arrivals and Bt766 billion in receipts in 2012, while domestic travel is estimated to see 93.65 million trips, generating Bt453 billion.
