Travel agents prosper in Asian markets

BANGKOK  Association of Thai Travel Agents’ member companies handled 2,136,197 travellers, January to April, this year, at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports representing a 16.48% increase from 1,833,947 during the same period last year.

ATTA released its data, last Wednesday, based on fees member agencies pay to the two airports to provide a meet-and-greet service for international clients arriving in Bangkok.

The association president, Charoen Wangananont, said this year the association targets 6.5 million international travellers booked on member itineraries, compared to 5.2 million last year.

“The top markets of China and ASEAN will play a major role to drive the tourism business…the market share from Asia (travel agency related travel to Thailand), is 80% of …Europe market has recovered but Russia still suffers a slowdown.”

Due to the rapid increase in tourist arrivals, the president urged all related sectors to seriously improve safety and security measures to improve the kingdom’s tourism image.

For the first four months of the year, China led all inbound markets for travel agents with an improvement of 44.73% from 954,383 visits to 1,381,308 visits.

Although showing a decline of 30.28%, Russia ranked second with 107,305 visits compared to 153,914 visits during the same period last year.

The next top five markets were: India (59,786; +6.61%); South Korea (58,748; +9.72%); and Japan (53,713; -13.48%).

In April, there were 367,919 foreign tourists who travelled with association members at Suvarnabhumi Airport slightly decreasing of 0.53% from 369,896 visits during the same month last year.

China was the top source of business in the fourth month of this year with 216,309 visits growing 7.47% from 201,278 visits.

Russia followed in second place with 18,934 visits improving 48.61% from 12,741 visits during the same month last year.

India ranked third with 17,248 visits increasing 12.53% from 15,327 visits.

South Korea was in fourth place with 10,858 visits down 0.36% from 10,897 visits, while Vietnam was in fifth place with 9,696 visits down 50.99% from 19,784 visits.

The next top five markets in April were: the United Kingdom (6,851; +48.13%); Japan (6,465; -15.80%); Germany (3,598; -10.68%); Taiwan (3,267; -51.01%); and France (2,829; -11.81%).

The association also reported there were 172,500 visitors travelling with member companies at Don Mueang Airport in April this year, up 64.40% from 104,924 during the same month last year.

China also topped the arrivals at the second Bangkok gateway recording 154,701 visits improving 61.29% from 95,914 visits.

Indonesia was in second place with 5,808 visits growing 53.65% from 3,780 visits during the same month last year.

Vietnam ranked third recording 5,030 visits, an increase of 548.20% from 776 visits.

Myanmar in fourth place with 1,672 visits grew 55.97% from 1,072, while Malaysia in fifth place with 1,563 visits increased 149.68% from 626 visits.

The next top five markets in April were: India (971; +11.23%); Taiwan (929; +1,686.54%); Japan (541; +17.61%); South Korea (532; +94.87%); and UK (131; -24.71%).

ATTA opened its second office at Don Mueang Airport, 1 August 2014, to offer meet-and-greet services for member travel agents.

Top 10 source markets for ATTA agents January to April 2016 at both Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports