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PussyLover 69
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Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 12 February 2007 :-
More tourist infrastructure needed
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The Thai government must promote investment in basic infrastructure and facilities related to tourism in order to induce more foreign tourists visiting the country over the long term, sources at the Finance Ministry said.
More hotels, restaurants and tourism attractions must be built to cater to the rising number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand in the future, the sources said, adding that service businesses such as spas must also be promoted.
The government and concerned agencies must also launch a proactive strategy in countries whose people visit Thailand in large numbers with substantial spending, the sources said. A study of foreign tourists visiting the kingdom has found that European tourists on average spend 36 per cent of the total tourism revenue followed by the Japanese at somewhat more that 11 per cent, Koreans at 9 per cent and North America at 8 per cent and the Middle East at 3 per cent.
The study said that tourism revenue plays an important role in the Thai economy. For example, if the number of tourists declines by 100,000 persons, tourism revenue in 2007 would fall by about Bt3.7 billion while current account would fall US$100 million and the national economy growth would shrink by 0.15 per cent. It said if the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) could achieve its tourism target, current account would rise to US$3.9 billion and real economy, excluding inflation, would expand to 4.5 per cent.
TAT has set as its target that 14.8 million foreign tourists visit Thailand this year, up 8.4 per cent from 2006, and the country would earn Bt5.47 trillion. Positive factors including the opening of Suvarnabhumi airport last September and campaigns launched by TAT are expected to encourage more foreign tourists to have a stopover in this country.
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Posted on: 7:50 pm on Feb. 11, 2007
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PussyLover 69
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Report from Bangkok Post dated Sunday 25 February 2007 :-
Attacks fail to dent tourist revenue
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Thailand’s income from foreign visitors this year should be on course to hit the 900-billion baht target, Tourism Minister Suvit Yodmanee said Saturday – the same day three western nations and Japan warned of possible terror attacks in the Thai capital.
Australia, Canada, Britain and Japan warned of possible terror attacks in Bangkok and urged their citizens to stay away from crowded places such as the city’s new multimillion-dollar airport, sky-train network and shopping malls.
While admitting that mass-casualty attacks in the deep south have kept foreign visitors away from the restive region, the tourism minister believed that prospects for the overall travel market remained strong.
Mr Suvit expected the tourism industry to generate a revenue of 900 billion baht this year, growing from 800 billion baht in 2006. He said most visitors would come from Malaysia, Japan, Korea, Germany, Britain, Sweden and Norway.
Fresh campaigns were announced Saturday to draw visitors to destinations in the south, including a football tournament in the five southernmost provinces which have borne the full brunt of insurgent attacks in recent years.
Meanwhile, he said the government would set up a one stop service centre at Bangkok’s new international airport to help tourists who are cheated by dishonest traders. The centre will have multi-lingual staff.
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Posted on: 5:41 am on Feb. 25, 2007
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PussyLover 69
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Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 28 February 2007 :-
Unprepared tourists can pay heavily for their holiday
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Some tourists themselves, whether through cluenessness, carelessness or stupidity, make their Thai holiday a disaster and wind up in hospital, in prison or even dead.
Thailand is a top tourist destination, and no force majeure seems able to stop that - not even the 2004 tsunami, nor the bomb blasts in Bangkok around the turn of 2006.
But the list of pitfalls is long. It includes overindulgence in alcohol and sex, and inadequate insurance coverage for accidents or illness.
In addition, many tourists are unaware that smoking marijuana on the beach or in their hotel room is just as illegal as overstaying their visa.
Visitors who break the law and fail to pay the ensuing fine will end up in jail faster than they think. And those lacking funds cannot expect a gift of money from their country's diplomatic mission in Thailand.
Bangkok-based foreign diplomats and physicians in tourist centres such as Bangkok, Phuket, Ko Samui, Chang Mai and Pattaya are often astounded by tourists' carelessness.
"A lot of people are less inhibited while on holiday than they are at home," noted Olivier Meyer, a Swiss physician who practices in Pattaya.
Older men with fragile health are particularly at risk.
"Someone with heart problems who thoughtlessly plunges into Thailand's pleasures is endangering his life," Meyer said.
His colleagues agree - the heat on the beach, several shots of hard liquor, a Viagra and then vigorous sex with a bar girl is "a life-threatening cocktail."
Heart and circulatory failure, and diseases common in old age generally, are the most frequent causes of death among German tourists, according to the German embassy in Bangkok. Traffic accidents, often involving motorcycles, come next.
Some 160 Germans died in Thailand last year, many of them because of careless behaviour. The figure was about 120 in 2000, when fewer Germans travelled to the south-east Asian kingdom of palm-fringed beaches, Buddhist temples and elephant parks.
The German Foreign Ministry in Berlin said that its embassy in Bangkok registered about 120 arrests of German tourists every year, usually because they committed fraud or remained in the country longer than permitted.
Visitors spending more than four weeks in Thailand require a visa. Missing deadlines and failing to pay fines can result in arrest and deportation.
"We urge people to read and follow our safety tips on Thailand and other countries before their trip," a German Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
The tips are constantly updated, as they were for Thailand in early January following a series of deadly bomb blasts in Bangkok.
Overall, however, tour operators regard Thailand as a safe destination, especially its traditional resorts. Attacks on tourists are seldom.
Motorcycle rentals are probably cheaper at Thailand's popular tourist spots than anywhere else.
Motorcycles with engine sizes of 700 cubic centimetres and more can be had for less than 20 euros (27 dollars0 per day. Mopeds cost as little as 5 euros per day.
Rental firms often do not ask to see a driving licence, and the vehicles are rarely insured, so tourists carry the full risk, often without knowing it. And sometimes they have no health insurance that covers them while abroad.
Helmetless holidaymakers wearing T-shirts and shorts, their hair blowing in the wind, can be seen zipping along the shore on motorcycles, particularly in Pattaya, sometimes even with a bottle of beer in their hand.
Motorcycle rental firms also do good business in lesser-known places such as Hua Hin and on the island of Koh Tao.
"You're not so reckless in Europe. Why are you here,?" Thai tour guide Veerasak Cham asked.
The Bangkok-based Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) wants all tourists to obey the country's laws and customs.
"Fortunately, only a fraction of our guests get into trouble," said Satit Nillwongse, executive director of TAT's Europe department. "For people who look out for their health and safety on trips just as they do at home, the risk in Thailand is very small."
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Posted on: 1:55 am on Feb. 27, 2007
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don5252
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found this on another forum, I can't get it to connect for you w/o typing in (maybe another member can) http//www. iht.com/articles/2007/03/20/news/thai. php
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Posted on: 12:42 pm on Mar. 25, 2007
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PussyLover 69
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Report from Bangkok Post dated Thursday 5 April 2007 :-
Asian tourists vote with their feet
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Official statistics show that tourists from the region have begun turning away, prompting concern the neighbours are avoiding Thailand because of continuing insecurity and political woes.
The number of tourists arriving from East Asia dropped by 7.3 per cent in the first two months of the year, compared to the same period in 2006, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said.
"Sensitive Asian tourists, from Japan for example, have been scared away from Bangkok due to security concerns," said Pornthip Samerton, managing director of travel agent Destination Asia.
The TAT numbers showed a general drop-off in February among tourists from around the world, as overall arrivals fell six per cent from January. Arrivals were still slightly up from the year before.
Pornthip said that many tourists may have reconsidered their travel plans following the deadly New Year's Eve bomb blasts in Bangkok that killed three and injured dozens.
Since then, several foreign embassies have upgraded their travel warnings for Bangkok, citing the threat of more blasts.
Meanwhile, a separatist insurgency in southern Thailand has sharply escalated, and the military that took power in a coup last September has threatened to invoke a state of emergency in Bangkok over political protests.
"After the bombs, the political situation and the insurgency in the south have added to tourists' concerns. Meanwhile, changing regulations regarding foreign investments have had an impact on business arrivals," said TAT spokesman Chattan Kunjara na Ayudhya.
Foreign investment has dropped off since the Bangkok of Thailand imposed tough currency controls in December, and the government in January proposed tightening foreign business rules.
"Those factors led to a decline of arrivals, and those from Asia fell short of our targets," he told the AFP news agency.
Tourism is a key money spinner for Thailand, generating about six per cent of gross domestic product.
Las Vegas-based tourism consultant Globalyis said that Thailand could still expect to see an 8.0 per cent increase in overall arrivals this year to 14.9 million -- assuming there is no more political turmoil.
"Any further incident in the country's capital or another popular tourist destination could trigger panic and drive away many tourists who may be concerned for their safety," the consultancy said in a recent paper.
"Traditionally in the region, tourism revenues are directly correlated with political stability," Globalyis warned.
"Reduced foreign investment could see Thailand lose out on tourism development in the coming years in favor of its competitive neighbours in the region," it added.
Southeast Asia has seen increasing competition for tourist dollars, especially among Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Tourism groups have also warned that Thailand could see its annual expected tourism earnings of 800 billion baht ($22.85 billion) slashed by 10 per cent because of a proposal to tighten rules on alcohol sales.
The new bill, which is awaiting approval from the military-installed parliament, bans alcohol sales within 500 metres of schools, temples and government offices.
That would prevent many bars and restaurants from selling alcohol, which means tourists might spend less money or just pack up for a neighbouring country, the Federation of Thai Tourism Associations said.
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Posted on: 6:34 am on April 8, 2007
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PussyLover 69
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Report from The Nation dated Tuesday 17 April 2007 :-
Sharp fall in Japanese visitors predicted - Association cites baht, negative news
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The Thai Travel Agents Association has estimated the number of tourists from Japan will drop by 10-15 per cent this year due to the stronger baht and negative news from Thailand.
TTAA president Anake Srishevachart said Japanese tourists are now getting a lower exchange rate, 1,000 yen buying only Bt280 compared to Bt380 a few months ago.
Meanwhile bad news, particularly of bombings and political unrest, is making Japanese choose alternative destinations where they feel safer.
As a result, Anake said, Japanese arrivals this year will decrease by 10-15 per cent from initial projections. Japan is the biggest market for the Thai tourism industry, with one million visitors last year.
Anake urged the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the government to do more marketing, specifically promotions to maintain this market. He added that a campaign by TAT to commemorate 120 years of Thai-Japanese relations had already failed as advance bookings from Japan were very slow for March and April.
One suggested strategy is to organise sporting tournaments in Thailand in the second half of this year to attract more Japanese.
TAT organised a road show in Japan as part of this year's marketing plan and expects that Japanese tourists will return to Thailand as a result.
In 2006 the number of tourist arrivals at international airports in Thailand reached nearly 10 million. East Asia was the highest contributor with over four million, with Japan topping one million. Arrivals from the Middle East and Africa represented the biggest increase.
According to TAT statistics, the top three countries on the international arrival lists at Bangkok's airports from January to December 2006 are all in East Asia.
Japan was top with 1,124,784, followed by China with 843,342 and Korea with 784,721. Growth rates for the Middle East and Africa were significant, with increases of 32.76 per cent and 23.15 per cent respectively.
The statistics show the total number of international visitors at the end of 2006 was 9,799,993, an increase of 15.41 per cent over the previous year.
The biggest growth was Russia with a 93.61-per-cent increase to 145,930 arrivals and Saudi Arabia with 88.13 per cent.
A slight drop was also recorded in arrivals from Nepal, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Singapore, Laos and Brunei.
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Posted on: 3:06 am on April 17, 2007
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PussyLover 69
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Report from The Nation dated Sunday 29 April 2007 :-
Decline in Japanese tourists
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The number of Japanese tourists arriving in Thailand fell 7 per cent during the first quarter, because of negative reactions to the New Year's Eve bombs in Bangkok, but the number of visitors from Russia is increasing.
Tourism and Sports Minister Suvit Yodmani yesterday said Japan had long been one of Thailand's most important tourism markets. Before the tsunami on December 26, 2004, the Japanese tourists visiting the country numbered about 1 million per year.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) predicts a return to that level as a result of activities this year marking the 120th anniversary of Thai-Japanese relations.
The TAT has held seminars in Japan aimed at enticing tourists back to Thailand.
Despite the effort, Japanese visitors were down 7 per cent in January, February and March. The decrease is lower than the 10-15 per cent drop predicted by the Thai Travel Agents' Association, which saw the baht/yen exchange rate as an obstacle to increased Japanese visitors.
Suvit said his ministry and the TAT would add more strategies to their campaign in Japan, including a focus on the more than 6 million retired Japanese living in the country's major cities. Two new tourism products will be employed to make Thailand more attractive: long-stay holidays and medical treatment.
Meanwhile, tourism authorities plan to attend a travel mart in the Middle East in hopes of attracting "high end" tourists, and Suvit says tourist arrivals from the new market of Russia are growing.
As well as promoting Thailand in international markets, tourism authorities are also planning to encourage locals and expats to travel within the country.
Tomorrow, the ministry will announce the Kingdom's overall tourism performance in the first six months of the current fiscal year (September to March).
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Posted on: 11:50 pm on April 28, 2007
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PussyLover 69
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Report from The Nation dated Monday 7 May 2007 :-
Iranians buy ticket to health - Wellness trips to Kingdom on the rise
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Thailand has become one of the most popular destinations among tourists from the Middle East, particularly Iran, as they look for healthcare and medical services that promise international standards but lower costs than Western countries.
The Thai Trade Centre in Tehran reported that the number of Iranians applying for entry visas had soared 61.3 per cent to 17,487 in the first quarter.
Commercial counsellor Nopadol Thongmee said last week that visitors from the Middle East were satisfied with Thai hospitality services.
"Thailand is a top-three destination among Iranians for their holiday choice," he said.
Many leading local hospitals have upgraded their services to meet international standards in support of the government's policy of promoting Thailand as a medical and healthcare hub in Asia.
The wellness services have a great potential to draw more high-end patients from Iran, he said.
Iranian visitors last year spent an average of Bt4,000 per day per person and stayed at least five days a trip, generating a total of Bt835 million for the tourism industry.
Service businesses such as spas and Thai traditional massage parlours as well as retail businesses like Thai restaurants enjoy good custom from Iranians.
To attract more Iranians, the service sector should conduct market research into customer demands to develop their service quality, Nopadol said.
Tourism Authority of Thailand statistics showed that the top three countries on the international arrivals list at Bangkok airports last year were mainly in East Asia. Japan led with 1.24 million tourists followed by China with 843,342 and South Korea with 784,721.
However, travellers from the Middle East and South Africa surged 32.76 per cent and 23.15 per cent respectively.
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Posted on: 1:01 am on May 7, 2007
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