Thailand’s tourism drops

15 Oct 2014 2097 | World Travel News

BANGKOK International tourist arrivals to Thailand posted a decline of 10.28% during January to September, this year, according to Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ data.
Released Monday, the ministry data reported 17,558,999 visits to the country during the first nine months, down from 19,571,685 over the same period last year.
Tourism and Sports Minister, Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, expects a measured recovery by the end of the year due to improved tourism confidence.
inside no 1However it will not be enough to offset losses earlier in the year. Visits from China, Thailand’s top source market, are again showing a positive trend mostly due to political stability and to a smaller degree the waiver of visa fees, a provision that will end 8 November. It saved a traveller THB1,000 in visa fees.
In September alone, foreign travellers recorded 1,855,626 visits a decrease of 7% from 1,995,343 visits during the same month last year.
Visits from all regions, except Africa, a very small market for Thailand, were down on last year.
Africa recorded a growth of 0.16% from 13,241 to 13,262 visits. However, the main market, South Africa , decreased 10.29% from 5,746 to 5,155 visits.
South Asia increased by 0.04% from 102,811 to 102,851 visits. India led the field supplying 77,563 visits down 1.10% from 78,429 followed by Sri Lanka (6,891; +0.88%), Bangladesh (6,614; +1.38%), Pakistan (5,500; -18.28%), and Nepal (2,941; +55.86%).
The Americas dropped 1.34% from 69,404 to 68,473. Brazil and Argentina posted a growth of 14.01% (from 821 to 936) and 11.53% (from 2,550 to 2,844) in the identified markets.
The United States recorded the highest arrivals at 48,305 down 3.58% from 50,098 followed by Canada (11,666; -1.49%).
East Asia (ASEAN included) reported a decrease of 7.34% from 1,346,445 to 1,247,577 visits in September.
The main identified source markets in the region posting declines were: Vietnam (-27.13%); Laos (-26.92%); Indonesia (-25.51%); Taiwan (-21.02%); Japan (-18.96%); South Korea (-13.13%); China (-6.29%); and Malaysia (-1.37%).
The markets that showed improvement were: Cambodia (+39.26%); Myanmar (+30.76%); Philippines (+17.16%); Brunei (+13.97%); Hong Kong (+6.49%); and Singapore (+3.04%).
Europe posted a decline of 7.34% from 313,164 to 289,095. Markets that posted declines: Russia (-19.66%); Norway (-19.18%); Netherlands (-12.48%); Spain (-11.26%); Austria (-11.12%); Denmark (-10.94%); Sweden (-10.58%); Belgium (-8.48%); Germany (-7.05%); Ireland (-1.83%); and UK (-0.30%).
Growth markets: East Europe (+9.06%); Italy (+4.52%); Switzerland (+2.60%); and France (+0.72%).
Travel from Oceania slowed 8.73% from 91,781 to 83,773. The main market New Zealand declined 11.27% (9,127) while visits from Australia dropped 8.45% (74,360).
The Middle East declined 13.51% from 58,497 to 50,595. Israel arrivals led with 11,385 down 31.32% from 16,578. Other main markets were: the United Arab Emirates (8,835; -0.19%); Kuwait (5,599; -11.06%); Egypt (2,435; -14.26%); and Saudi Arabia (1,625; +2.27%).
In addition, the tourism ministry reported international tourists to Thailand at the country’s gateway Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports in September weredown 13.14% from 1,361,191 to 1,182,270 visits.