ATTA data tells the truth

BANGKOK  Association of Thai Travel Agents’ member companies suffered a massive cut in business of 31.19% in 2014 mainly blamed on political discord, a military coup and martial law that remains in place today.
ATTA customers are tourists who have booked a combination of airline, hotel and tour arrangements through international tour operators who in turn use ATTA member companies to deliver local tour content.
The statistics reflect genuine tourism arrivals and the decline in visits in 2014 illustrates the punitive impact political discord exerted on the country’s tourism.
Up until late 2013, when demonstrations to oust the Yingluck Shinawatra administration began, ATTA members were enjoying positing growth in business of around 20% to 30% per month.
inside no 1 In its year-end report, ATTA confirmed its members handled 2,946,919 international tourists at Suvarnabhumi Airport during January to December 2014 representing a decline of 31.19% from 4,282,696 visits during the same period in 2013.
ATTA released its data, last week, based on fees member agencies pay to the airport to provide a meet-and-greet service for international clients. It is considered an accurate barometer for the tourism industry, but is limited to travel through Bangkok.
The association president, Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, said last year the top 10 markets for ATTA’s inbound business closed the year in the red due to the impact of political instability since late 2013.
“Bookings through travel companies slowed down, as overseas clients were concerned about security mainly due to continued martial law.”
He added: “Besides political unrest in the kingdom, the impact from demonstrations in major market such as Hong Kong and the economic downturn in some source market countries such as Russia also had an impact.”
For entire year, visits from China recorded a decline of 25.43% from 1,365,458 to 1,018,173. Russia followed in second place with 479,539 visits, down 28.65% from 672,138 during the same period in 2013.
The next top three markets were: India (153,209; -20.70%); Japan (110,350; -62.00%); and South Korea (95,052; -43.31%).
There were signs of recovery as the year closed, but not enough to cover the losses incurred until the last month of the year.
In December, ATTA recorded 354,972 trips booked through the association’s members, an increase of 17.14% from 303,045 visits during the same month in 2013.
China led the field in December with an increase of 83.88% on 144,750 visits compared to 78,721 visits during the same month in 2013.
However, even in December Russia posted a decline of 39.99% from 87,116 to 52,276. Usually December is a peak month for Russian groups.
India ranked third with 14,789 visits, a decrease of 5.85% from 15,708, while Japan in fourth place supplied 12,381 visits down 46.62% from 23,192.
Fifth placed South Korea recorded 10,695 visits, down 23.27% from 13,938 during the same month in 2013.
The next top five markets in December were: Vietnam (9,340; +55.56%); Germany (6,454; +8.14%); Hong Kong (5,888; +90.98%); Taiwan (5,391; -20.33%); and the United Kingdom (4,120; +3.39%).
The association also reported 71,694 travel clients arrived on airline flights at Don Mueang Airport in December last year.
The top 10 markets were: China (255,645); Indonesia (17,170); Malaysia (7,163); Vietnam (3,912); India (3,483); Japan (1,498); Myanmar (1,184); Singapore (762); Poland (540); and South Korea (396).
ATTA opened its second office at Don Mueang Airport, 1 August, to offer meet-and-greet services for member travel agents. Up until the end the year, ATTA members airport handled 294,644 visitors.
ATTA members handled 3,241,563 clients at both airports in 2014.

sourced:ttrweekly.com