Tourism data under scrutiny

BANGKOK, 6 February 2012: Tourism private sector leaders say the Ministry of Tourism and Sports needs to raise creditability on its data collection and arrivals statistics.

Association of Thai Travel Agents president, Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, told TTR Weekly that the categories and breakdown for tourist arrivals needed to be improved.

“I don’t want to comment on collection itself because the tourism ministry has a duty to build the country’s image and that is a factor when collecting data,” he said. Read more

HCMC will tap emerging markets

HO CHI MINH CITY, 3 February 2012: City officials say they are confident tourist arrivals can reach 3.8 million this year.

Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Tourism Promotion Division deputy head, Nguyen Bao Anh, said promotions will focus on South Korea, the United Kingdom, India and Ukraine.

“Tourist arrivals from those four countries remained small, last year, but the growth rate was promising.”

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Fudging allegations flatly denied

BANGKOK, 2 February 2012: Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ Department of Tourism hits out a critics saying its international and domestic tourist arrivals figure are reliable and follow the standards set by the United Nation’s World Tourism Organisation.

In response to constant travel industry criticism that its data lacked credibility, TTR Weekly forwarded questions to a Department of Tourism official who asked not to be identified.

Officially, the department declined to be drawn into a debate on data collection. Read more

Are we ready for the next crisis?

BANGKOK, 1 February 2012 – A prominent Thai economics professor has alerted the Thai tourism industry to the impact of an Israeli attack on Iran, including high oil prices and the dangers of a wider conflict, Travel Impact Newswire reported Tuesday.

Addressing the joint annual meeting of the Thai Hotels Association and Association of Thai Travel Agents on 30 January, Assoc.Prof. Somchai Pakapaswiwat PhD., who also advises the Thai government via the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), analysed how an Iran attack would pan out, including the possibility of expanding into a wider war involving the United States, China and Saudi Arabia.

It is the first time that the Thai tourism industry has been directly told to be prepared for the business impact of a potentially catastrophic geopolitical crisis. It also answered in advance the question posed by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) in the marketing pitch for an upcoming series of seminars: “Are you ready for the next crisis?”

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Govt reiterates tourism commitment

BANGKOK, 1 February 2012: Tourism will prosper this year, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra told travel representatives on Monday, but warned competition would be tough in the lead-up to the adoption of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.

She opened the Federation of Thai Tourism Associations’ seminar on the government policy towards Thailand’s tourism industry saying the country welcomed 19.09 million tourists in 2011 and generated Bt730,000 million in revenue, despite past political discord and floods.

“In the near future, tourism will face fierce competition that will require cooperation from all parties and a clear strategy to develop the industry to usher in the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015, as well as to revive tourist confidence in the country.” Read more

Ministry bullish on 2012 tourism

BANGKOK, 19 January 2012: Ministry of Tourism and Sports estimates international tourist arrivals to Thailand this year could reach 20.5 to 20.8 million representing a projected increase of 7.4% to 8.9% over 19.09 million visits in 2011.

The ministry’s tourism department director general, Supol Sripan, said the estimated arrivals this year were based on an improved supply from 10 markets such as Malaysia, China, Russia, Australia, the UK, Japan, Korea, Singapore, India and the United States.

“We can reach 20.5 to 20.8 million visits and earn Bt788 billion in revenue, up from Bt734.5 billion last year,” he told TTR Weekly. Read more

TAT lists training programme

BANGKOK, 19 January 2012: Tourism Authority of Thailand’s training network division announced Wednesday a new seminar curriculum for 2012 that will focus on sustainability and improving online marketing for industry players.

Training network division director, Panjit Santhatkollakar, said there are 17 seminars in six categories that will focus on knowledge-based tourism. They are in addition to brainstorming sessions that seek to tap feedback from industry leaders for next year’s marketing plan.

“We have six major seminar topics including three new themes to support our objective of achieving sustainability,” said Ms Panjit. Read more

Hanoi makes tourism gains

HANOI, 11 January 2012: The Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism estimates the capital city attracted 1.9 million international visitors in 2011 an increase of 11% over 2010.

The four strongest markets were China supplying 309,000 visits (+19%); Japan 115,000 (+13%); Australia 109,000 visits (+28%); and South Korea 53,000 visits (+22%).

Hanoi benefited in 2010 from new international air services that linked the capital to major tourist source markets with nonstop flights. There were increases in low-cost airline services within Asia that also broadened the city’s tourism base.

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More fun in the Philippines

MANILA, 10 January 2012: Philippines released a new tourism slogan and logo last week, “It’s more fun in the Philippines” in the hope it will boost tourism arrivals in 2012, the Department of Tourism secretary, Ramon Jiminez reported.

The slogan, released just days before the ASEAN Tourism Forum opens in Indonesia, will  be the main branding for both international and domestic markets.

The project is part of a much wider package aimed at reviving tourism that has lagged behind ASEAN neighbours . One of the plans recommends that the government approve a visa-on-arrival for all tourists who currently need a visa. Read more

Cambodia trips lose steam

PHNOM PENH, 9 January 2012: International tourist arrivals to Cambodia posted only a slight increase in November bringing the 11-month growth rate down to 14.4% from 15.4% at the end of October.

Cambodia’s Statistics and ICT Department of Ministry of Tourism reported the country welcomed 265,539 international tourists in November, a marginal 6.3% increase compared to 249,702 in November 2010.

March was the only other month with a single digit growth rate of 8.6%. Read more

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