Asian tourists drive agency business

BANGKOK, 3 April 2013: Association of Thai Travel Agents’ member companies handled 1,249,109 international tourists at Suvarnabhumi Airport in the first quarter of this year representing an improvement of 48.10% over 843,396 visits during the same quarter 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.

The latest  improvement would suggest travel agents are increasing their market share, but it is largely an improvement based on a robust Chinese market that is still dominated by group tours.

The association acting president, Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, said Asia continued to be the strongest source of business for travel agencies, January to March, this year.

“China, Japan, South Korea, India, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Hong Kong were among the top 10… these are the markets that tour operators should tap.”

However, he noted there had been an improvement in some European markets. “Europe also shows signs of recovery… Germany (+16.60%) and the United Kingdom (+8.00%) in Q1.”

Germany and the UK ranked in the top 10 markets during the first quarter, the only two European markets , apart from Russia, to do so.

For January to March, China was the strongest supplier with 378,859 trips increasing 74.61% from 216,979 during the same quarter last year followed by Russia (247,314; +47.25%), Japan (92,778; +92.88%), South Korea (56,335; +18.03%), and India (51,109; -1.81%).

China also topped the March figures with a performance growth of 55.28% to 136,962 trips compared to 88,203 trips in 2012.

Russia followed in second place with 82,633 trips improving 47.93% from 55,861 trips, while Japan ranked third supplying 31,027 trips growing 62.05% from 19,147 trips. India was in fourth supplied 19,598 trips and slightly increased of 0.63% from 19,476 trips. Neighbouring Vietnam ranked fifth with 17,421 trips, up 54.25% from 11,294 trips during the same month last year.

Sourced: ttrweekly