Political downturn as tourism in Thailand picks up speed
This is certainly high praise and should not be minimized in any way, and it goes to show that there is more to the Land of Smiles than meets the eye.
Thailand and Scandinavia have long established a strong and fruitful relationship, with 378,387 Swedish tourists visiting the Kingdom during 2007, generating around 25 billion baht in revenue.
14.4 million foreign nationals visited Thailand in 2007 alone from more than 45 different countries. Official TAT figures for 2008 have yet to be released, but the mood suggests a slight decline in tourist numbers due to global economic woes.
The recession is clearly a widespread problem, not a fault on Thailand’s part as a major tourist destination by any means. And while businesses in Pattaya, Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai have noted a small drop in profits, business as usual and tourists continue to flock to Thailand’s four favorite tourist regions.
Mike Parry, UK expat bar owner in Phuket, stated: “The island is still the place to be, and visitors from all over the world visit Phuket in droves, spending a lot of money and the vibrant atmosphere remains the same as always. To be honest, we’re starting to notice an influx of visitors from more diverse countries than ever before.”
Most of the tourists come from Western European countries and Australia, but in the last two years there has been a dramatic increase in visitors from the Middle East, China, Korea and Japan. This is an ever-growing market that Emirates Airline is trying to quickly accommodate by starting a new Airbus A380 Megajet service from Dubai to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. Chumpol Silpa-archa, Minister of Sports and Tourism, explained: “This launch reflects how much the airline expects visitors to Thailand to increase.” TAT has projected that visitors from the Middle East will increase by 6.5% in 2009, and Emirates is to be commended for its vigilance and vision.
All the major airlines are also doing their best to combat the global economic downturn by offering cost-effective flights to encourage more people to visit Thailand. For example, Qantas/British Airways are starting to offer special fares on cheap tickets from Australia and the UK to Bangkok. From any major Australian city, British Airways charges as little as BHT 15,590 and BHT 23,650 from London for cheap return tickets.
The American travel market is also receiving discount prices for cheap round-trip tickets to Bangkok. Northwest and Delta Air Lines offer tickets from US cities like San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles, Portland, Las Vegas and San Diego for as little as 20,000bht. Economy class tickets from Salt Lake City to Bangkok are offered starting at 26,500bht for the round trip.
David Phelps, a US citizen who has been visiting Thailand twice a year for the past decade, said: “I wasn’t going to come to Thailand on vacation this year, with the value of the dollar and the economic difficulties. But the airlines and the Thailand itself is trying so hard to lower prices and encourage tourism that I have decided to make my regular pilgrimage to this beautiful country that I love so much.”
Repeat visitors account for more than a third of Thailand’s tourism trade and this is no coincidence. The magnetic charm of the country and its wonderful people is underestimated and is the basis of the tourism industry. Long-term visitors always joke, “No one visits Thailand just once.” This type of repeat visitor already understands how the country works and is not as dependent on vacation packages or hotel reservations.
A 30% decline in hotel occupancy has been reported, but when you consider that so many repeat visitors prefer short-term self-catering villa rentals over hotel accommodation, the industry is still very prosperous.
Pattaya-based holiday home rental company Thailand Holiday Homes has seen its numbers rise 32% over a two-year period, providing fascinating insight into the changing demographics of the tourism industry. Khun Nom, the Thai owner of Thailand Holiday Homes, said: “We have many repeat customers and referrals due to the fact that we provide great value for money, a free car for your personal use and 24 hour service. It seems that modern tourists they prefer the privacy and freedom offered by a luxury self-catering villa rental.”
Whether you are a repeat visitor or a first-timer, Thailand is the quintessential tropical paradise, with a colorful culture and electric atmosphere, where people fall in love at first sight. Many tourists visit the Kingdom for various reasons including beach getaways, cultural excursions, and the amazing diving conditions with beautiful coral reefs.
Many western men fall in love with the country and with the petite, smiling women in particular. The feeling of Thai women is mutual, as a recent survey showed. Women from the rural northeastern province of Isaan have long been famous for marrying Western men. A recent survey covering 484 women from the northern provinces showed that a whopping 61% suggested that they would like to marry a Western man, not only because of their wealth, but also because of the respect and fidelity they offer women.
It really doesn’t matter what your reason for visiting Thailand is, the country has shown tremendous determination in fighting the world’s current economic problems and is fighting against adversity. Thailand will continue to win awards and accolades as one of the world’s favorite holiday destinations for a simple reason. People love this wonderful country and the exotic allure of its culture, its stunning landscapes and the elegant attitude of its people.