ATTA predicts strong recovery

BANGKOK, 9 August 2011 – Association of Thai Travel Agents estimates tourists handled by member companies at Suvarnabhumi Airport could reach 3.5 million trips this year on the back of growing confidence in Thailand’s stability.

ATTA secretary, Charoen Wangananont, said this year had a good beginning and the forecasts were positive after five years of problems.

“The Pheu Thai government should create confidence for international tourists to visit Thailand. However, the government needs to clarify its tourism plan to strengthen quality and work very closely with the private sector,” Mr Charoen said. Read more

ATTA president outlines plans

BANGKOK, 25 July 2011 – Thailand’s leading travel agency association says it will build business for its members by helping them prepare for the ASEAN Economic Community that rolls out 2015.

That was the pledge made by the Association of Thai Travel Agents’ acting president, Sidivachr Cheewarattanaporn, who outlined the association’s policy statement for 2012 at a meeting Thursday.

“ATTA needs to move forward to build business benefits for members, following the resignation of Surapol Sritrakul, last month who was president of the association for two years 2009 to 2010,” Mr Sidivachr explained.

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ATTA agents report gains

BANGKOK, 12 July 2011 – Association of Thai Travel Agents’ members handled 1,505,160 international tourists at Suvarnabhumi Airport during the first half year of 2011 representing an increase of 48.92% over 1,010,705 visits during the same period last year.

ATTA released its latest data, Monday, based on fees member agencies pay to the airport to provide a meet-and-greet service for international clients.

The top tourist market for ATTA agents was China with 313,268 trips. It represented a 125.07% increase over 139,184 trips during the same period last year. Read more

ATTA back with a monthly meeting

BANGKOK, 29 June 2011 – Association of Thai Travel Agents revived its monthly meetings, 28 June, after being forced to cancel two previous meetings (28 April and 26 May) due to a legal complaint that alleged electoral fraud in the association’s elections 24 March.

The complaint stated the association allowed the use of unauthorised proxy votes, and that the elections should be declared null and void.

At yesterday’s meeting, Mr Sisdivachr said “this is the first monthly meeting of the new committee, which indicates the association is back to normal. After this the association will hold monthly meetings as scheduled.”

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Bangkok’s April tourism recovers

BANGKOK, 25 May 2011- Association of  Thai Travel Agents’ members handled 241,121 international tourists at Suvarnabhumi Airport in April representing a remarkable improvement of 100.45% from 120,288 visits during the same month last year, according to the association’s data.

The improvement was dramatic because in April 2010 the capital was under siege by red shirt demonstrations, who occupied a prime tourist district in downtown Bangkok.

It ended in a bloody crackdown 19 May that left department stores and some offices badly damaged and at least 89 fatalities during the crisis 10 April to 19 May. Read more

ATTA faces election fraud allegations

BANGKOK, 4 May 2011 – Association of Thai Travel Agents’ newly elected president is in the hot seat after a faction of  influential members filed a complaint alleging fraud in a recent election.

A former ATTA president and the loser in a recent elections, Apichart Sankary, filed a complaint at the Bangkok South Civil Court and with the Registration Department of Association of Trade that alleged many of voters were not eligible according to the association’s regulations.

The plaintiff asked the court and the registrar to declare the 24 March election null and void and order the association to call a new election. Read more

Sri Lankan sells Amazing Fares to Europe

BANGKOK, 25 March 2011—Sri Lankan Airlines pitches low fares for travel to selected European destinations, 1 April to 30 June.

The fares are cheaper than those sold by airlines offering non-stop services, but most destinations in the sale lack daily frequencies to provide flexibility for the traveller.

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ATTA elects new president

BANGKOK, 25 March 2011 – Association of Thai Travel Agents elected Sidivachr Cheewarattanaporn as president, Thursday, along with a hand-picked team to serve on the committee.

The meeting was held at Dusit Thani hotel, yesterday, with two teams of candidates contesting the association’s 34th elections.

The winning team, led by Sidivachr Cheewarattanaporn, canvassed using Bangkok’s successful recovery slogan “Together We Can”  to beat a second ticket led by veteran Apichart Sankary who previously served as ATTA president for two two-year terms.

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Thai agents should make gains in 2011

BANGKOK, 9 February 2011- The Association of Thai Travel Agents estimates travel booked through its members will increase by at least 10% this year.

ATTA president, Surapol Sritrakul, expects advance bookings year-round in 2011 will increase  across all markets, but warned the Japanese market, a top producer in the past, is slipping in importance with an estimated growth of just 5 to 6%.

However, the growth of advance bookings is a volatile measure and can be easily upset by political uncertainties, natural disasters, and changes in foreign exchange rates particularly in the Japanese market.

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January lift for agency business

BANGKOK, 24 January 2011 – Association of Thai Travel Agents estimates travel booked through its members will increase by at least 30% this month.

ATTA president, Surapol Sritrakul, said advance bookings for January were up 34.25%  representing 338,626 trips  through member travel agencies. In January 2010, the association’s members handled 77.86% or about 252,234 visit up from 141,814 in 2009

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