Thailand’s travel takes an upturn

BANGKOK, 22 September 2010 – Thailand’s tourist arrivals gained 13.16% during the first eight months of the year reaching 10,018,262 trips, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports reported Tuesday.

The ministry was reporting on tourist arrivals, nationwide, including overland trips monitored at checkpoints with Malaysia, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia. The results were compared with data for January to August 2009 that recorded 8,853,259 trips.

Based on estimates that the country welcomes a monthly average of 1,252,282  foreign visitors, the year should close with 15.03 million visits.  When taking into account that the last quarter is the high season, the ministry’s targets of 15.34 million visitors is likely to be reached.

But officials warned the estimate was based on the premise that there would be no further political incidents, security lapses, natural or public health catastrophes.

Asian markets generated 6,048,795, or 60.38%, of the 10,018,262 trips, January through to August. Other source markets: Europe supplied 2,843,509 trips (28.38%); the Americas 548,354 (5.47%); Oceania 500,211 (4.99%) and Africa 77,393 (0.77%).

Malaysia remains the top supplier with 1,230,127 trips, up 13.5%, due to an abundance of air links and several busy overland entry points along the southern border.

In the second slot, mainland China supplied 685,215 trips up by a remarkable 54.57%, despite restrictive travel warning during the Red-shirt protests. Last year China closed the eight-month period as the fifth top supplier.

In contrast, a sensitive Japan market dropped from second to third slot with a slight growth of 1.47% (641,205 as against 631,943).

UK, the only European market in the top five,  dropped a place from third to fourth suffering a marginal decline of 0.92% on 537,033 trips. Korea, moved up from sixth to fifth with a surge of 23.1% delivering 515,604 trips.

The remaining top 10 markets were: India (465,800, +20.34%); Australia (441,225, +10.91%); Laos (415,470, -6.61%); USA (395,541, -1.44%) and Germany (392,280, +12.28%).

Russia gains a mention for posting the highest growth rate of 92.41% with accumulated arrivals of 346,697. Though very impressive, the travel flow from this market had slowed down slightly in August compared with a 98.4% growth rate for the seven-month period ending July.

Other countries showing improvements of more than 20% were: Argentina (43.21%, 6,582); Indonesia (41.74%, 175,289); South Africa (32.78%, 31,764); Cambodia (25.46%, 78,924); East Europe (24.95%, 135,070); U.A.E (21.96%, 72,999) and Bangladesh (20.52%, 39,382).

In contrast there were 10 country markets that declined with six of them in the long-haul category.

The ministry claimed declines in long-haul markets were related to economic downturns, while short-haul markets were influenced by security concerns in Bangkok.

Markets in decline were: Saudi Arabia (-28.97% to 5,151); Ireland (-11.79% to 112,716); Spain (-11.43% to 41,817); Brunei (-8.51% to 4,517); Finland (-6.97% to 92,455); Laos (-6.61% to 415,470); Pakistan (-3.35% to 42,905); USA (-1.44% to 395,541); UK (-0.92% to 537,033) and Italy (-0.13% to 112,716).

The Ministry’s raw data is obtained through the Immigration Bureau, Royal Thai Police, at all points of entry and excludes visitors holding border passes and expatriate Thais. The statistics are defined as unofficial until they are endorsed through ministry procedures. The official release of the six-month arrivals data will be effective 30 September.