Year-end target in sight

Thailand surpassed 14 million tourists arrivals , January to November, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Sports and Tourism released yesterday. In November alone arrivals reached 1,515,929 trips. The ministry issued details of its primary travel data gathered from the Immigration Bureau, Royal Thai Police, at all international border checkpoints. The data excludes border pass holders and expatriate Thais returning home. From January to November, the country welcomed 14,039,523 international tourists an increase of 1,574,679, or 12.63% , over the same period of 2009. In November, there were 1,515,929 arrivals, up 12.64% compared to 1,345,800 in November 2009.

Thailand needs just 1.26 million more arrivals, during December, to hit the Ministry of Sports and Tourism’s target of 15.3 million. Based on reliable estimates it is very likely the month will close with around 1.52 million arrivals, nation-wide. Immigration bureau data on foreign arrivals monitored at Bangkok ‘s Suvarnabhumi Airport, indicates  482,374 visitors passed through immigration checkpoints, 1 to 14 December. The airport bureau provides a daily tally that averages around 34,ooo arrivals per day.

Of all the arrivals during the first 11 months, 61.38% were Asian visitors. Visitors from nine ASEAN members contributed 27.9% (3,916,474) followed by East Asia, 23.24% (3,262,598); South Asia, 6.44% (903,663) and Middle East, 3.81% (534,844). Europe had a market share of 27.29% supplying 3,831,275, while the Americas’ share was 5.41% supplying 758,902; Oceania, 5.13% (719,708) and Africa, 08% (112,059).

Malaysia, the top supplier in the single country category has so far delivered 1,749,382 tourists, up 14.98% compared to 2009’s 11-month period. China with sharp growth of 45.51% is the second ranking source market with 995,027 arrivals. The Thai-Chinese Tourism Alliance Association earlier this year forecast 1 million Chinese tourists in 2010 and to hit that estimate, just 5,000 more tourists are needed in December. Japan recorded a 2.49% decline, but still holds third place with 802,279 trips. The United Kingdom, in fourth place, suffered a decline of 2.36% producing 730,208 arrivals. The fifth supplier, Korea, reported an impressive growth of 34.57% on 723,898 arrivals.

The sixth to 10th biggest markets at the end of November were: India (690,374, +26.31%); Australia (634,407, +10.28%); Laos (609,833, +1.87%); USA (549,722, -1.40%) and Germany (539,872, +6.84%). Russia posted substantial growth at 80.86% with arrivals standing at 513,215. It ranked 12th in supply markets. At the end of 2009, it was the 16th largest market with 341,223 tourists.

Other markets registering growth of more than 20% were: Cambodia (126,612, +43.3%); Middle East’s Other beside Egypt, Israel, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and U.A.E (272,152, +38.41%); Argentina (9,271, +37.57%); South Africa (46,751, +33.41%); Indonesia (250,218, +31.43%); Bangladesh (61,318, +29.4%); U.A.E (97,678, +25.09%) and Nepal (28,096, +20.59%).

There were 14 country markets that recorded declines including Japan, UK and the US all ranked in the top 10. The rest were: Saudi Arabia (7,892, -23.62%); Cambodia (126,612, -13.4%); Spain (61,746, -11.11%); Ireland (52,679, -10.99%); Finland (116,195, -9.32%); Kuwait (39,222, -6.33%); Sweden (280,579, -2.95%); Italy (143,846, -2.6%); Netherlands (177,633, -2.55%) and Canada (147,453, 0.92%).

Source=ttrweekly