ATTA figures: A reality check

19 Sep 2014  2038 | World Travel News

BANGKOK Association of Thai Travel Agents’ member companies handled 1,710,608 international tourists at Suvarnabhumi Airport during January to August, representing a decline of 42.66% from 2,983,139 visits during the same period last year.
ATTA released its data, Tuesday, based on fees member agencies pay Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport to provide a meet-and-greet services for international clients. It is considered an accurate barometer for the tourism industry but is limited to a single airport gateway.
During the first eight months of the year, China recorded a decline of 53.05% from 1,061,961 to 498,633 visits.
Russia followed in second place with 320,895 visits, down 23.83% from 421,266 during the same period last year.
The next top five markets were: India (95,578; -29.50%); Japan (64,866; -66.93%); and South Korea (58,210; -49.91%).
ATTA president, Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, hopes the new minister of tourism and sports will understand tourism and tourist behaviour to introduce plans to reach target groups as well as to improve tourist attractions across the country.
“Further talks with other agencies should be held to discuss tourism-related strategies and activities to restore tourist confidence,” the president said.
But unfortunately the new minister has no tourism background and her one-year term is likely to be over before she grasps industry fundamentals.
In August, there were 227,406 foreign tourists who used the services of association members down 35.89% from 354,698 visits during the same month in 2013.
China led with 93,416 visits, a decrease of 29.46% from 132,425 during the same month last year.
Russia followed with 17,960 visits, down 36.01% from 28,067.
Showing a decline of 19.14%, India ranked third with 12,705 visits compared to 15,712.
Japan was fourth with 8,106 visits, down 71.22% from 28,165, while South Korea in fifth place with 8,017 visits decreased 40.76% from 13,533.
The next top five markets in August were: Vietnam (7,963; -52.35%); Hong Kong (6,135; -59.34%); Taiwan (5,171; -60.44%); UK (3,183; -30.46%); and Italy (2,604; -26.40%).
For the first time, the association also reported there were 42,785 tourists using member company services at Don Mueang Airport in August, an indication that even low-cost airlines that shied away from using travel agencies are are now tapping travel agents to supplement bookings through the internet.
The top 10 markets, although dominated by China (mainly AirAsia flights) included some differences from what was recorded at Survarnabhumi Airport. They were: China (37,650); Indonesia (1,874); Vietnam (1,306); Malaysia (432); India (413); Hong Kong (131); Singapore (91); Japan (56); South Korea (50); and Myanmar (43).
ATTA opened its second office at Don Mueang Airport, 1 August, to offer meet-and-greet services for member travel agents, so it was only able to collect data in August from that airport for the first time.
ATTA figures are more reliable than those of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports as they are based on genuine tourists buying travel services from travel agents.
Ministry figures are based on cross-border immigration data for people who stay longer than 24 hours in the country to comply with UNWTO’s definition of a tourist arrival.
But the figures will include foreign residents who are on long-term visas and make numerous trips in and out of the country, workers, students and traders who stay in Thailand overnight and return to a neighbouring country.

sourced:ttrweekly.com 

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