Comments on: Atta chief shocked at decline http://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2009/11/atta-chief-shocked-at-decline/ FIRST with the FACTS on Thailand and Mekong Region TRAVEL Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:20:35 +0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Atticus http://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2009/11/atta-chief-shocked-at-decline/comment-page-1/#comment-1275 Atticus Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:58:31 +0000 http://www.ttrweekly.com/site/?p=9007#comment-1275 Good point. Most of the ATTA members don't even have staff who are competent in English, let alone able to make a website interactive and efficient. If these relics of the past don't get their acts together the travel agency business in Thailand will die off completely. More and more tourist and business trip bookings are done online, but without a professional presence these agencies are living in another world. And the tourists don't want illiterate, bad English and wild claims, just the facts. Competition is out there making a mint, so ATTA should invest as Ashley says, in advising members to come towards the light. Good point. Most of the ATTA members don’t even have staff who are competent in English, let alone able to make a website interactive and efficient. If these relics of the past don’t get their acts together the travel agency business in Thailand will die off completely. More and more tourist and business trip bookings are done online, but without a professional presence these agencies are living in another world. And the tourists don’t want illiterate, bad English and wild claims, just the facts. Competition is out there making a mint, so ATTA should invest as Ashley says, in advising members to come towards the light.

]]> By: Ashley http://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2009/11/atta-chief-shocked-at-decline/comment-page-1/#comment-1272 Ashley Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:40:35 +0000 http://www.ttrweekly.com/site/?p=9007#comment-1272 Booking patterns are changing. The numbers are there. The question is why aren't these numbers coming through ATTA members. Is it because travel is being booked online more than through traditional channels ? Shouldn't ATTA leadership think more in terms of advising their members to get an online presence ? To market differently ? Booking patterns are changing. The numbers are there. The question is why aren’t these numbers coming through ATTA members. Is it because travel is being booked online more than through traditional channels ? Shouldn’t ATTA leadership think more in terms of advising their members to get an online presence ? To market differently ?

]]> By: Bill Abbott http://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2009/11/atta-chief-shocked-at-decline/comment-page-1/#comment-1255 Bill Abbott Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:59:13 +0000 http://www.ttrweekly.com/site/?p=9007#comment-1255 Have to agree with both of the above. Have to agree with both of the above.

]]> By: Thai Tour Operator http://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2009/11/atta-chief-shocked-at-decline/comment-page-1/#comment-1242 Thai Tour Operator Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:14:46 +0000 http://www.ttrweekly.com/site/?p=9007#comment-1242 At our company, we note that now about 40% of our incoming passengers are now arriving through Phuket Airport due to the direct flights coming from various destinations. Which of course we don't have to inform ATTA about the above,even though we are one of ATTA members. Since ATTA only handles passengers arriving at Bkk International Airport. ATTA also forgets that 60% of our tourists are repeaters - and definitely they would book their own arrangement not through travel agents. At our company, we note that now about 40% of our incoming passengers are now arriving through Phuket Airport due to the direct flights coming from various destinations.

Which of course we don’t have to inform ATTA about the above,even though we are one of ATTA members. Since ATTA only handles passengers arriving at Bkk International Airport.

ATTA also forgets that 60% of our tourists are repeaters – and definitely they would book their own arrangement not through travel agents.

]]> By: John http://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2009/11/atta-chief-shocked-at-decline/comment-page-1/#comment-1241 John Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:11:05 +0000 http://www.ttrweekly.com/site/?p=9007#comment-1241 Weep for this travel warrior. He hasn't worked out that Thailand is yesterday's brand and that no amount of "various campaigns" will work if the entire structure of the tourism industry is not revisited from the top. The TAT is putting people off visiting here because of their pathetic overseas freeloading tours, and when tourists get here it is the same old, same old, where you fom, buy me dink attitude of the operators. Weep for this travel warrior. He hasn’t worked out that Thailand is yesterday’s brand and that no amount of “various campaigns” will work if the entire structure of the tourism industry is not revisited from the top. The TAT is putting people off visiting here because of their pathetic overseas freeloading tours, and when tourists get here it is the same old, same old, where you fom, buy me dink attitude of the operators.

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