ATTA agents suffer Q1 decline

BANGKOK China and Russian travel markets continue to decline, but India supplied a positive 25% growth in travel for members of the Association of Thai Travel Agents during the first quarter of the year.

January to March figures showed ATTA member companies handled 1,437,292 travellers at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports, representing a decline of 9.93% from 1,595,778 visits during the same period last year.

ATTA released its data, last week, based on fees member agencies pay to the two airports to provide a meet-and-greet service for international clients, but limited to travel through Bangkok.

The association’s newly elected president, Vichit Prakobgosol, said his priority is to boost the association’s competency by pursing five objectives.

They are: Increase association revenue, control office expenditures, build human resources and skills, improve information system and create networking between the public and private sectors.

“Organising roadshows overseas, opening new tourism routes, promoting local products internationally, orgainising mega fam trips and pre and post-mega event trips, smart marketing and supporting online marketing will help members to attract more tourists.”

Collaboration with the public, private and related sectors will also build the association’s competency, he said.

January to March performance

Although continuing to show a decline of 22.14%, China led the field with 786,590 visits for the first three months of the year compared to 1,010,298 visits during the same period last year.

Russia ranked in second place with 83,870 visits also down 5.09% from 88,371 visits.

The next top five markets were: South Korea (75,018; +58.41%); India (52,250; +25.70%); and Japan (51,726; +10.75%).

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