|
|
| • EXCH RATES |
|
Baht/$ 34.50/55 (Bid/Ask)
|
GOLD |
13,250
|
|
TOURISM
CHATRUDEE THEPARAT
Thailand's tourism industry is forecast to lose 32 billion baht, or about 5% of the year's estimated earnings, if the current political standoff is prolonged into the fourth quarter of this year, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
The damage estimate is based on the worst of three different scenarios.
According to Surapol Svetsreni, a TAT deputy governor, in the worst case the number of foreign visitors from Aug 29 to the end of the year could drop by 841,029 from 5.23 million in the same period last year if anti-government protests lasted into the fourth quarter. Revenues are forecast to drop to 167 billion baht from 199 billion baht a year ago.
The damage could be much lower, at 12 billion baht, if the political conflicts could be settled by Sept 20. The second estimate is based on a decrease in foreign visitors by 318,054 between Aug 29 and Oct 1 from 1.17 million in the same period last year. The tourism industry earned 44.75 billion baht in the period last year but revenue this year would be 32.7 billion baht.
Under the third scenario, according to the TAT, an estimated 9.4 billion baht would be lost if the protests ended by tomorrow. It is based on tourist numbers dropping by 247,438 over a shorter period of conflict from 824,792 last year. Revenue would drop to 21.9 billion baht from 31.3 billion in this case.
According to Mr Surapol, the projections were based on a 20% fall in foreign tourist arrivals via Suvarnabhumi Airport between Aug 29 and Sept 4, and a fall of between 22% and 25% between Sept 1 and 4 after clashes broke out and the state of the emergency was declared.
The calculation was also based on average spending of 38,000 baht per trip per head by foreign visitors. The projection also took into consideration warnings and travel advisories by 23 countries as of yesterday.
Surapol Sritrakul, an executive of the Thai Travel Agents Association, said reports from its members showed the number of foreign visitors had significantly decreased between Sept 1 and 6.
Vietnamese visitors to Thailand, for instance, fell 90%, followed by Malaysia and China (80%), Hong Kong (60-70%) and South Korea and Singapore (50%).
According to Mr Surapol, the ATTA delivers updated information to foreign agents every day in the hope they will not cancel clients' travel plans to Thailand.
Phornsiri Manoharn, the TAT governor, said the agency planned to spend 25 million baht to revive the image of the Thai tourism industry both in the domestic and foreign markets.
The agency plans three roadshows in eight cities across three regions including China from tomorrow to Friday, and Vietnam in November. It will also join the pre-WTM (World Travel Mart) 2008 roadshow in Sweden from Nov 4-6.
She said the agency would still participate in 13 international tourism trade fairs in the fourth quarter this year.
Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
Next
