Tourism to hit the skids if it can't overcome crises
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TOURISM stands to be the big loser if the country cannot overcome the aviation safety crisis and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak ahead of the high season, industry leaders said last week.
Tourism may face tough competition as Surveillance conflicts are spreading in Tunisia, France and Italy. The problems many reflect on outbound tourism.
“Thailand will soon enter the high season starting in October and ending up in late March or early April.
“We should now be receiving new forward bookings from overseas. This year, European tourists are still taking a wait-and-see attitude, like the Japanese and Australians, who are keeping an eye on our problems,” said Ittirit Kinglake, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand.
The government should do something about the aviation safety crisis and Mers outbreak by the third quarter or before entering the peak season in order to gain the confidence of foreign partners and tourists and convince them to return to the country.
“The coming high season is now at risk, as the aviation crisis may need to take four more months,” he said.
Despite the government’s assurances that it would not revise down the tourism targets of 28.8 million arrivals and Bt2.2 trillion revenues this year, the private sector has expressed concern that the projections are now being threatened by the twin crises.
Enjoying a boom
Thailand, however, is enjoying a boom in visitors from the China market, who are expected to reach six million this year – accounting for the biggest source.
Travel operators involved in the Asian markets have already cut Bt3,000 per head per trip from the market price to build up business in the low season.
Operators focused on Western markets have also cut packages by Bt5,000-Bt8,000 per trip to draw customers in the off season.
Charoen Wangananon, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, said tourists have still not shifted to other destinations at this stage despite the Mers and air travel issues.
However, if the two problems cannot be solved before the high season, tourism is likely to be hit.
Kittisak Pattamasaevi, vice president of sales and marketing at Montara Hospitality Group, said the group revised its marketing plan by focusing on new emerging markets particularly China.
The group has been mainly handling Europeans and high-spending tourists from Asia.
Kasikorn Research Centre has reported that the aviation safety issue may force inbound tourists to travel with other airlines instead of Thai-registered airlines to avoid worries about safety.
However, arrival numbers should not change much because visitors are still coming to the country. They’re just switching airlines. It’s the airline industry that is expected to run into turbulence.
This week, the Tourism Authority of Thailand will compile annual marketing action plans to seek additional measures to deal with the double whammy – the Mers outbreak and the civil aviation crisis – in order to save the impending high season.
