TAT happy with October recovery

BANGKOK A 67% surge in arrivals from China helped Thailand record an overall growth of 6.14% in visits in October, the first month of positive growth this year.
Tourist arrivals reached 2,180,601 in October including 501,043 trips from China, giving it a market share of 23%. The upturn raised arrivals in January to October to 19,736,600.
An analysis by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports said that the main reason for the growth in Chinese arrivals was temporary suspension of a visa fee over three months ending 8 November.
Inside no.5The visa-fee waiver, applicable for both mainland China and Taiwan was a short-term tactical measure to raise arrivals during a peak holiday period for Chinese in October.
Three specially assigned “Chinese lanes” and five “premium lanes” were added at the main gateway Suvarnabhumi Airport. Chinese-speaking translators were also stationed throughout the airport to assist travellers.
Tourism Authority of Thailand governor, Thawatchai Arunyik said: “We are pleased that the visa-fee waiver produced results. It is the first positive upturn in arrivals this year, and we are optimistic that the growth will continue in both November and December.”
Other highlights of visitor arrivals in October 2014, with comparative figures over October 2013:
Malaysia was the second biggest source market with arrivals of 262,803, up by 11.05%.
Inside no.5-1Singapore recorded arrivals of 79,564, up by 4.92%.
Arrivals from some of the neighbouring ASEAN countries showed good growth; Myanmar (+48.65%), Cambodia (+16.40%), the Philippines (+4.60%), and Brunei (+0.99%).
Arrivals from Israel were up 78.7% to 14,475, also due to a long holiday in that country.
Travel from India, the biggest source market in South Asia, rose 9.14% to 87,990.
Bangladesh showed a growth of 12.87% to 10,330.
Visitors from Sri Lanka grew by 0.93% to 7,378.
For 2014, TAT has set a target of 25.5 million visitors and foreign exchange earnings of THB1.20 trillion.

sourced:ttrweekly.com