Thai tourism arrivals up 7percent

Thailand’s tourism scored a growth of 7% during the first month of the year, despite terror threats and the aftermath of the floods late last year.

China was the top supplier, surpassing the all-time no 1 contributor Malaysia for the first time.

According to the report, on the website of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports acquired from the Immigration Bureau, Thailand recorded 1,944,130 international tourists in January, a slight increase of 7.65% over 1,805,947 recorded in the same month last year.

However, there are signs that the year might not turn out as smooth as the January gains suggest. The private sector is concerned about the possibility of more flooding this year and the terror bombing in downtown Bangkok, Tuesday afternoon, will see security warnings heightened and dampan tourist arrivals in the first quarter.

Yesterday’s bomb blast in the capital’s Sukhumvit Soi 71 area triggered a new round of travel warnings and will spook sensitive markets that were making a recovery.

Looking at January figures, key source countries mostly reported increases except for Japan, Korea and India that recorded single-digit declines; -1.75%, -4.88% and -7.91% respectively.

China continued with strong growth. Chinese arrivals jumped 30.49% from 143,477 to 187,229 and the market expanded from 7.94% to 9.63%. As a result, it took the top supplier position from Malaysia for the first time.

Kasikorn Research Centre estimates Chinese arrivals to Thailand this year could increase 15.4% to reach 2 million trips and generate Bt60 billion in revenue compared to 1.76 million visits and earnings of Bt52 billion in 2011.

Russia also maintained a good performance. In January, it secured third place ( same as January 2011) after Malaysia. Russian arrivals tallied 148,124, up 8.79% from 136,159.

By region, Oceania posted the highest growth at 16.28% supplying 92,278 tourists (91% Australians) followed by the Americas, up 10.21% supplying 110,994 tourists; East Asia (including ASEAN), up 9.09%, supplying 891,911 tourists and Europe, up 8.08% with 706,894 tourists.

South Asia’ s arrivals dropped 8.36% to 85,593; Middle East, -7.79% to 45,486 and Africa, -4.92% to 10,974.

Suvarnabhumi Airport, the main aviation hub, welcomed 1,236,018 tourists in January, a marginal increase of 4.2%.

In contrast, Phuket the second gateway saw traffic surge 23.49% on 282,716 international tourists.

Through the Sadao checkpoint on the Thai-Malaysian border in Songkhla province, the tally was 99,991 (+7.47%). Meanwhile, 72,689 tourists (+3.57%) entered the country via the First Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge in Nong Khai and 44,830 (-14.79%) tourists passed through the Aranyaprathet checkpoint on the Thai-Cambodian border in Srakaew province.

The statistics showed 547,566 Thais travelled overseas in January, down marginally by 2.51%. Of that, 237,595 left the country via Suvarnabhumi Airport; 121,064 through Aranyaprathet; 41,180 through Sadao checkpoint; 31,378, via the 1st Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge and 23,724 via the 2nd Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge in Mukdahan.

Ministry of Tourism and Sports estimates international tourist arrivals to Thailand this year could reach 20.5 to 20.8 million representing a projected increase of 7.4% to 8.9% over 19.09 million visits in 2011. Meanwhile, Tourism Authority of Thailand is more conservative projecting 19.55 million tourists and revenue of Bt766 billion.

Source - ttrweekly