BANGKOK, 28 January 2020: There are definitely devils lurking
within the particulars of Thailand’s vacationer arrival statistics for 2019.
On the floor, welcoming 39.79 million vacationers and
clocking up a four.24% enhance as well deserves an okey-dokey slap on the again
for the Ministry of Tourism and Sports activities. However does it?
Whether or not you have a look at the 39.79 million visits rising four.24%,
or the income bettering three.05% to achieve
THB1,876,136.90 million, there are some alarming tendencies as soon as you progress
previous the headlines.

Sure, China stays the highest producing market with 10.9 million visits up four.36% and income hitting THB543,707.33 million up four.78%, and there are one other 10 nations delivering 1 million visits every to Thailand’s border checkpoints. Transfer to the main points and uncover that of all of the 11 prime nations on the 1 million a yr plus listing solely two are situated outdoors of Asia — Russia (1.48 million) and the USA (1.16 million).
Among the many prime 5 provide markets, China dominates with
nearly 11 million visits, and if the novel coronavirus retreats throughout the
first quarter of the yr, Chinese language visits to Thailand might prime 12 million by
the top of the yr.
Malaysia is the second-largest provide market after China
with four.16 million up three.64% adopted by India in third place with 1.9 million
visits up by a outstanding 24.85%. Korea in fourth place delivered 1.88 million
up 5.09%, and Laos in fifth place gathered 1.84 million visits an
enchancment of 10.86%.
As for the satan within the particulars, annual vacationer arrival and
income information lately confirmed a gradual nearly unrelenting declines in
journey from Europe and the Center East.
Europe’s 6.71 million visits to Thailand slipped but once more in 2019 this time by zero.61% and income declined 2.43% estimated at THB461,478.75 million.
On the floor comparisons with China’s nearly 11 million visits and THB543,707.33 million income look forlorn however dismiss the arrivals and focus simply on the income. The hole shrinks significantly. By bettering journey arrivals from Europe by just a few share factors, Thailand would earn a beneficiant upswing in earnings. Simpler stated than achieved.
Thailand’s tourism planners and trade leaders most popular to take refuge within the Asian journey increase and took their eye off the ball in Europe. Browse the statistics listed below Europe. Russia is the one European nation delivering optimistic progress in tourism earnings with 13 different European markets reporting detrimental income. Checking the vacationer arrivals facet of the chart out of 14 nations, recognized by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports activities, simply 5 delivered optimistic go to leads to 2019.
Prime markets such because the UK as soon as a shiny star for Thai tourism noticed a progress of simply zero.73% in vacationer arrivals. Spain delivered the very best progress fee at three.92%. Germany historically the strongest performer in Europe noticed visits to Thailand drop three.28% and Switzerland all the time a wholesome area of interest market fell 7.88%.
Little is alleged in regards to the declines from Europe clearly evident over the previous couple of years indicating the blame shouldn’t be solely linked to latest overseas trade fluctuations, Brexit or a softening EU financial system.
Additionally, Thai tourism leaders in monetary outlay phrases removed from ignored Europe. The largest promotion budgets and bills have been splashed out on attending ITB in Berlin and the WTM in London together with a number of different journey marts, conferences, TV campaigns and must-attend roadshows.
Regardless of these campaigns and the substantial investments in sustaining an costly community of Tourism Authority of Thailand places of work throughout Europe the large sums spent over the past 5 years did not reverse the detrimental development in arrivals and vacationer spending. Is it time to revisit the annual vacationer arrival information and ask why the story of the tape, so far as Europe and the Center East markets are involved? Do the most recent figures point out an impending freefall?
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