Thailand has a positive January

BANGKOK  International tourist arrivals to Thailand posted an improvement of 16.30% in January, according to Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ data.
Released Wednesday, the ministry’s data showed the country closed January with 2,654,634 trips up from 2,282,568 during the same month, last year.
Tourism and Sports Minister, Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, said the improved political situation helped attract more visitors to the country.
“Thailand faced a very challenging 2014… but during the last quarter, the country tourism turned around and the growth continues into the first month of this year.”
inside no 4 However, Europe’s current economic crisis will challenge Thailand’s tourism outlook. Overall, the market declined 14.32% in the first month of this year. From Russia alone the decline was 45.97%.
In January, all market regions recorded increases except Europe and Oceania.
East Asia (ASEAN included) reported an increase of 43.25% from 1,078,975 to 1,545,683 visits.
The markets that showed improvements were: Malaysia (+92.57%); China (+56.96%); Myanmar (+56.56%); Vietnam (+54.56%); Taiwan (+53.85%); Singapore (+49.97%); Brunei (+43.33%); Cambodia (+35.51%); Philippines (+15.43%); Laos (+14.06%); South Korea (+13.06%); and Hong Kong (+5.43%).
Indonesia was the only market that declined; 13.56% down from 41,595 visits to 35,956 visits.
The Middle East gained 31.05% from 42,365 to 55,521 visits. Israel led with 15,282 visits, but decreasing 1.22% from 15,470 visits. Other main markets: United Arab Emirates (7,361; +114.92%); Kuwait (7,080; +92.44%); Egypt (2,319; -10.19%) and Saudi Arabia (1,267; +10.17%).
South Asia represented a 19.14%% increase from 91,860 to 109,440 visits. India supplied 81,716 visits growing 16.62% from 70,072 followed by Bangladesh (9,908; +75.89%), Pakistan (5,834; -1.07%), Sri Lanka (4,988; +1.92%) and Nepal (2,749; +33.51%).
The Americas improved 1.41% from 121,003 to 122,714 visits. Brazil posted a 25.03% increase from 4,927 to 6,160.
The United States recorded the highest arrivals at 82,036, up 0.59% from 81,552 followed by Canada (25,430; +0.16%) and Argentina (3,444; -12.28%).
Africa recorded a slight growth of 0.75% from 11,761 to 11,849 visits. The main market South Africa improved just 3.04% from 5,170 to 5,327.
In contrast, Oceania posted a decline of 6.43% from 87,598 to 81,965 visits. The main market Australia declined 7.11% (72,904) and New Zealand was down 3.47% (8,647).
Europe represented a slowdown of 14.32% from 849,006 to 727,462 visits. The markets recording declines were: Russia (-45.97%); Finland (-12.12%); Sweden (-7.19%); Norway (-5.73%); Netherlands (-2.84%); Denmark and Switzerland (-0.53% each); and United Kingdom (-0.14%).
The markets that showed improvements were: Italy (+11.25%); Spain (+8.14%); France (+7.81%); Ireland (+2.21%); Belgium (+1.73%); Austria (+1.33%); East Europe (+1.21%); and Germany (+0.59%).

sourced:ttrweekly.com