China tops agency markets

BANGKOK, 15 March 2013: Association of Thai Travel Agents’ member companies handled 811,950 international tourists at Suvarnabhumi Airport in the first two months of this year representing an improvement of 52.60% from 532,089 visits during the same period last year.

ATTA released its data, Tuesday, based on fees member agencies pay to the airport to provide a meet-and-greet service for international clients. It is considered an accurate barometer for the tourism industry but is limited to travel through Bangkok.

For January to February, China continued as the top supplier for Thailand’s travel agencies with 241,897 trips increasing 87.84% from 128,776 trips during the same period in 2012. Other strong performers were: Russia (164,681; +46.92%); Japan (61,751; +113.27%); South Korea (41,182; +30.67%); and India (31,511;-3.26%).

China was also the strongest source market in February with a performance growth of 111.70% to 130,937 trips compared to 61,849 trips last year.

Russia followed in second with an increase of 51.66% to 76,489 trips from 50,434, while Japan ranked third with a growth of 73.43% to 33,886 trips from 19,539. South Korea, in fourth place, supplied 17,806 trips improving 8.12% from 16,469 trips.

Neighbouring Vietnam ranked fifth with an increase of 58.00% to 16,224 trips compared to 10,268 trips during the same month in 2012.

The next top five markets in February were: India (15,226; -11.49%); Hong Kong (12,770; +227.10%); Taiwan (11,642; +101.77%); Germany (10,273; +8.31%); and the United Kingdom (7,377; +3.51%).

The business trend for travel agencies in Thailand has now clearly shifted from Europe to Asia. Only two European markets, Germany and the UK, were in the top 10 market list. As the current  economic crisis continues to take more casualties in the EU, there is no guarantee that these two buoyant markets will continue to deliver positive growth through 2014.

Of particular concern for travel agencies handling the UK market is the decline in the value of the UK pound against the Thai baht. It dropped as low as Bt44 to the UK pound and that immediately makes Thailand a more expensive destination for UK visitors without any price adjustments by service providers in Thailand.

Top 10 source markets for ATTA agents, January to February, Suvarnabhumi Airport.