Ministry invests in assistance services
May 19, 2011 by Wanwisa Ngamsangchaikit
Filed under News, Thailand
BANGKOK, 19 May 2011 – Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Tourist Police have opened a new centre at Suvarnabhumi Airport that claims to offer a “one-stop” port of call for tourists in trouble.
The ministry’s permanent secretary, Sombat Kuruphan, said once the “one-stop tourist service centre” at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok was operating efficiently, the concept would be extended to Phuket, Samui and Pattaya.
The Suvarnabhumi centre provides assistance to visitors, accepts complaints, and even promises a fresh cup of coffee will be brewed for every travellers who drops by.
Thailand travel products under scrutiny
April 29, 2011 by Wanwisa Ngamsangchaikit
Filed under News, Thailand
BANGKOK, 29 April 2011 – The Department of Tourism, under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, will re-evaluate 16 core tourism standards this year across a wide spectrum of services ranging from boats to shopping and restaurants.
Department of Tourism general director, Supol Sripan, said the Tourism Services Development Bureau was assigned to evaluate and tighten standards focusing on 16 specific areas to improve quality control in tourism.
The 16 tourism standards include: Food services; public restrooms for international travellers; tour boat services; boat restaurant services; souvenir shops for general products; souvenir shop for jewelry; and accommodation in the long-stay market.
Thailand’s travel improves 14%
April 18, 2011 by Rapeepat Mantanarat
Filed under News, Thailand
BANGKOK, 18 April 2011 – Ministry of Tourism and Sports released its latest tourists arrivals data for Thailand revealing a 14.9% increase for the first three months on 5,356,935 visits.
The ministry noted that problems in the Middle East and Africa caused a decline in those two markets, while travel from Japan declined after the 11 March catastrophe. However, Japan continued to be third top source of tourists during the three months.
Arrivals from the Middle East that have seen a steady growth year-on-year, declined 3.03% from 154,150 to 149,479. Egypt, Israel, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia showed improvements of 3%, 5.56%, 6.22% and 7.71% respectivel, but other Middle East markets declined (UAE down 8.64% and other markets by 7.47%).
Cambodia reels in the tourists
April 4, 2011 by Rapeepat Mantanarat
Filed under Cambodia, News
BANGKOK, 4 April 2011 – Cambodia recorded 529,970 international tourists during the first two months of this year, an increase of 16.5% according to Cambodian Ministry of Tourism’s Statistics and Tourism Information Department.
Cambodia’s total airline arrivals stood at 297,189, up 19.4%, which represented a 56.1% market share of all visits. Siem Reap Airport’s market share stood at 34.2% (181,082 visits + 9.1%) and Phnom Penh International Airport had a 21.9% market share (116,107 visits +9.1%).
Overland trips represented a 40.9% market share (216,946 visits +13.1%), while cruises represented a small 3% share or 5,825 visits +10.9%.
Chinese travellers return to Thailand
March 9, 2011 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under News, Thailand
BANGKOK, 9 March 2011 – Minister of Tourism and Sports, Chumpol Silpa-Archa, believes Chinese travellers are taking Thailand’s political situation in their stride and are no longer as concerned about safety in the country.
He claims statistics back his positive sentiment. Data from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports indicates Chinese made 1,127,803 visits to the country, up 45.05% from 777,508 in 2009, up 36.43% from 826,660 travellers in 2008, and up 24.33% on 907,117 visits in 2007.
Where travellers stayed in Thailand
February 28, 2011 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under Hospitality, News
BANGKOK, 28 February 2011 – The Ministry of Tourism and Sports reported that 67,056,825 guest arrival were registered at accommodation establishments throughout the country, including hotels, guesthouses and resorts, last year, representing a decrease of 8.63% from 73,394,192 guests in 2009.
The study counts overnight stays registered at check-in at all classes of accommodation without considering nationality or purpose of visit.
The top region was central Thailand including Bangkok, the capital, which had 19,203,041 guest arrivals although it was down 7.87% from 20,844,051 guests in 2009.
Healthy co-operation with Hungary
February 21, 2011 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under News, Thailand
BANGKOK, 21 February 2011 – The Ministry of Tourism and Sports will expand co-operation in health and wellness tourism with Hungary following discussions with the Hungarian ambassador to Thailand, Denes Tomaj, last week.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports minister, Chumpol Silapaarcha, said Thailand will co-operate in health and wellness tourism in Hungary and jointly share promotions and expertise, including training in Thai traditional massage techniques.
Thailand will co-operate by exporting expertise and working with hot mineral water spas particularly in Budapest, Mr Chumpol said.
Ministry mulls over bank project
February 15, 2011 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under News, Thailand
BANGKOK, 15 February 2011 – The Ministry of Tourism and Sports hopes to establish a tourism bank that will provide low-interest loans to encourage travel both locally and overseas.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports permanent secretary, Sombat Kuruphan, said the ministry will co-operate with the Government Savings Bank to study a proposal to open a “tourism bank” that would support Thai people to improve their professional skills in the travel industry.
Year-end target in sight
December 15, 2010 by Rapeepat Mantanarat
Filed under News
BANGKOK, 15 December 2010 – Thailand surpassed 14 million tourists arrivals , January to November, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Sports and Tourism released yesterday.
In November alone arrivals reached 1,515,929 trips.
The ministry issued details of its primary travel data gathered from the Immigration Bureau, Royal Thai Police, at all international border checkpoints. The data excludes border pass holders and expatriate Thais returning home.
2011 budget to improve standards
November 29, 2010 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under News
BANGKOK, 29 November 2010 - Thailand’s Department of Tourism announced, Friday, it will spend Bt700 million during 2011 to restore 80 run-down tourist sites across the country.
The department, which comes under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, is also planning to beef-up legislation regulating the tourism business and tour guides to close loop holes and end illegal activities that are damaging the country’s reputation.
The budget will be spent improving tourism standards and encouraging domestic tourism.
