Thailand’s tourism tops 27% growth

BANGKOK  International tourist arrivals to Thailand posted an improvement of 27.78%, January to September, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ data.
Released Monday, the ministry’s data showed the country attracted 22,135,871 international visits during the first nine months of the year up from 17,323,309 visits during the same period last year.
Tourism and Sports Minister, Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, said the country’s tourism was moving forward although accommodation bookings dropped around 10% immediately after the Erawan Shrine bombing in mid August.
However, that situation has since reversed with a 20% improvement in September, with reservations for October climbing by 30%, she said.
inside no 1In September, foreign travellers recorded 2,031,496 visits, an increase of 8.67% when compared to 1,869,491 visits during the same month last year.

By region, all markets recorded increases in the nineth month except Africa, Europe and Oceania.
The Middle East posted the highest growth of 31.42% from 50,501 to 66,369 visits. Israel recorded the highest arrivals with 18,161 visits increasing 59.77% from 11,367 visits.
Other main markets in the Middle East: the United Arab Emirates (9,003; +1.91%); Kuwait (6,273; +12.04%); Egypt (3,334; +37.26%); and Saudi Arabia (2,730; +67.90%).
South Asia represented a 16.21% increase from 100,951 to 117,314 visits. India led the field supplying 89,164 visits growing 17.48% from 75,895 followed by Bangladesh (8,661; +32.13%), Sri Lanka (6,625; -2.08%), Pakistan (6,409; +17.02%), and Nepal (3,264; +11.25%).
East Asia (ASEAN included) reported an increase of 10.81% from 1,406,204 to 1,269,033 visits.
The markets that showed improvements were: China (+25.50%); South Korea (+15.83%); Malaysia (+15.53%); Myanmar (+14.72%); Vietnam (+10.81%); Laos (+10.43%); the Philippines (+7.62%); Japan (+5.30%); and Brunei (+5.19%).
The markets that showed declines were: Cambodia (-26.43%); Hong Kong (-23.89%); Singapore (-18.60%); Indonesia (-5.46%); and Taiwan (-3.48%).
The Americas posted a 9.61% increase from 66,664 to 73,070 visits. Argentina reported a 38.86% increase from 880 to 1,222.
The United States recorded the highest arrivals at 53,057 up 12.00% from 47,373 followed by Canada (11,615; +3.39%) and Brazil (2,569; -8.32%).
In contrast, the Oceania dropped 2.80% from 82,646 to 80,336 visits. The main market New Zealand improved 9.17% (9,774) while Australia declined 4.28% (70,321).
Africa recorded a slowdown of 3.46% from 13,080 to 12,627 visits. The main market South Africa increased 6.54% from 5,105 to 5,439.
Europe declined 3.85% from 286,616 to 275,576 visits. The markets that posted declines were: Russia (-38.61%); East Europe (-2.21%); Finland (-1.45%); and Austria (-0.83%).
The markets that showed improvements: Spain (+35.68%); Denmark (+11.44%); Belgium (+10.51%); Italy (+9.66%); the Netherland (+8.56%); Sweden (+5.65%); the United Kingdom (+5.20%); Norway (+3.99%); Ireland (+1.39%); France (+1.24%); Germany (+0.24%); and Switzerland (+0.04%). inside-no-1.1

sourced:traveldailynews.asia