TAT asks for 79% higher budget

TOURISM

Published: 26/01/2012 at 02:54 AM
Newspaper section: Business

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will ask for 8.6 billion baht from the government to promote Thai tourism in fiscal 2013 beginning this Oct 1, up by 78.9% from the present year.

The sharp rise is aimed at boosting tourism revenue by 12% from both local and international markets.

This year, the TAT projects tourism revenue will reach 1.21 trillion baht, up by 9.12% from last year. Of that amount, 766 billion baht will come from international markets.

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About the author

: Writer: Chadamas Chinmaneevong; Position: Reporter

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cnx_bruce
Post : 4
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Discussion 3 : 04/02/2012 at 01:44 PM3
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There are many reasons why people do not come to Thailand - or do not come back. I would suggest that the fact that they are not aware that Thailand exists is a very minor factor indeed. It's just that throwing money at advertising agencies is the easiest strategy ... and also the most lucrative in terms of kick-backs and junkets.

TAT needs to survey travellers to identify and prioritise the reasons that people holiday elsewhere, and then formulate a whole-of-government approach to putting remedies in place. But first start by reviewing the emails and letters of complaint by those that have come and gone ... that will flag most of the key issues straight away.

Some these - like the Phuket taxi mafia, organised large-scale theft from passenger luggage, and pattaya jet ski scammers - have been around for years. It is an international disgrace that effective action has yet to be taken to eradicate such blights from the Thai tourist landscape. Deal with these ... then you'll really have something that will be worth spending money to tell people about.
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falangsur
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Discussion 2 : 29/01/2012 at 10:20 AM2
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While there are scams and issues of rip-offs, that is not really scaring people away. Other countries have their scams, rip-offs, crimes. Mexico, Jamaica, India all have issues. PLaces like Japan, Hawaii, United Kingdom I know are devoid of problems - but are very expensive and not really competition for Thailand (a cheaper paradise to go to). Problem I read is for such a big increase. There is already a HUGE budget for TAT - and now to ask for increase like this seems like asking for more slush fund. They need money to clean beaches of pollution, to care for forests, to repair Ayyutaya from floods. This is long term what will keep toruists coming.
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sibley
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Discussion 1 : 26/01/2012 at 03:33 AM1
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I am sad to say but many people joke about the use of the term the land of smiles, they say it should be changed to the land of scams,

Maybe if the Thais treated the tourists with a bit more respect in stead of trying to rip them off then maybe people would start coming back to the country, I know many people who say they would not consider coming back to Thailand until it is more farang friendly, to be honest if you live in Thailand nealy everything you do is hard work, The immigration officials are very rude, double pricing, taxi scams tuk tuk scams, ect the TAT has enough money, just sort the corruption out if you want the tourists back.
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TAT asks for 79% higher budget | Bangkok Post: business