Thread: Passenger traffic declines for third month at Thailand's Airports

The numbers of passengers seen by the six main airports in Thailand fell in September for the third month running, bringing figures down to 2004 levels.

In September, the steep drop of 20.2 per cent, over the same month in 2007, was attributed to the combined impact of the global economic slowdown and the continuing anti-government protests in the country.

Bangkok’s anti-government demonstrations were staged in Phuket in September as well, closing the airport temporarily, leading to double-digit decreases in both domestic and international passenger traffic numbers.

Passenger traffic at all airports in the country operated by Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT), including Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, totalled 3.48 million for September, as compared with 4.36 million for September 2007.

International numbers declined by 19.4 per cent, down to 2.22 million, and domestic passenger numbers dropped more sharply, by 21.5 per cent to 1.25 million, according to AoT.

Cumulative figures for the January-September period show an increase of 2.75 per cent over the same period in 2007, although flight movements dropped by 1.7 per cent.

The outlook for passenger traffic in the fourth quarter is uncertain, depending on developments in the current worldwide financial crisis and on political conditions in the country.

Passenger traffic declines for third month at Thailand airports

Those are some serious reductions, but no evidence how much can be attributed to each of the current tourist deterrents.

Originally Posted by hillbilly

The numbers of passengers seen by the six main airports in Thailand fell in September for the third month running, bringing figures down to 2004 levels.

In September, the steep drop of 20.2 per cent, over the same month in 2007, was attributed to the combined impact of the global economic slowdown and the continuing anti-government protests in the country.

Bangkok’s anti-government demonstrations were staged in Phuket in September as well, closing the airport temporarily, leading to double-digit decreases in both domestic and international passenger traffic numbers.

Passenger traffic at all airports in the country operated by Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT), including Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, totalled 3.48 million for September, as compared with 4.36 million for September 2007.

International numbers declined by 19.4 per cent, down to 2.22 million, and domestic passenger numbers dropped more sharply, by 21.5 per cent to 1.25 million, according to AoT.

Cumulative figures for the January-September period show an increase of 2.75 per cent over the same period in 2007, although flight movements dropped by 1.7 per cent.

The outlook for passenger traffic in the fourth quarter is uncertain, depending on developments in the current worldwide financial crisis and on political conditions in the country.

Passenger traffic declines for third month at Thailand airports

This would be expected news. Certainly, with the current make-believe financial meltdowns worldwide, people are tightening their belts - less travel. The political troubles and assorted protests for the last several months have been consistently making the news worldwide, even if such events would never have an affect on any given traveler. Historically, the coup-of-the-month club doesn't really have any lasting reflections on the local populations. You certainly must have a clear conclusion for posting such surface news. I trust you don't subscribe to that ideal that Thailand depends on the "tourist" economy? At best, it can only be attributted towards 5% of the whole trickle down theories. Most aren't affected that terribly much.

as I've said before , at current rates Thailand is more expensive than Australia .

and as I've also said , good luck with that .

^^ Tud, even though they are the two largest 'non Asian' visitors I'd be willing to bet they are the highest in dollars/baht spent per day of any tourist group. Asians are here on-the-cheap where as westerners plan on spending on what can be 'a vacation of a lifetime'.

E. G.

will be tight but not critical, brits will simply borrow more (don't you believe they can't), drop a star or stay for shorter periods...if the global network is going down the odd few national %s here and there don't matter because it will pick up again, but for los the important thing is to get its political act together...next sentence deleted.

my last visit was 3 1/2 months long,including visits to Laos & Cambodia.I went well over budget. I`m back again beginning December,but only for a month. was originally planning on 2 months...but the way the Thai bahts falling and job uncertainty in the UK (company I work for are saying lay-offs by January),I just cant afford it

I hope all you
are reading these doom and gloom posts , and are going
to adjust your baht per session rates accordingly

I don't know why it has to be proven again and again that tourism is a major economic branch in Thailand. 6% has been correctly quoted as direct tourism income, but these numbers most likely are from the taxation of companies that are directly tourism-related. It does not, however, take in account the millions of baht spent on 7eleven beer, mbk shopping, bargirls and houses in Udon Thani !
I don't have any statistics, but if you roughly look at average spending of tourists mulitplied by their number and compare it with tourism related income you will find a huge gap which explains why it is 'only' 6% of the GDP.

Originally Posted by El Gibbon

^^ Tud, even though they are the two largest 'non Asian' visitors I'd be willing to bet they are the highest in dollars/baht spent per day of any tourist group. Asians are here on-the-cheap where as westerners plan on spending on what can be 'a vacation of a lifetime'.

E. G.

Most of the surveys I've seen show that Americans and the French spend the most on holiday (Germans and Israelis spending the least among non-Asians), but Brits and Aussies are surely right up there.

As to Asians, the Japanese also tend to spend a lot, and they also are among the most apt not to come if there is the possibility of something going wrong. The Japanese canceled en masse during the SARS non-crisis; I have a Japanese client showing up next month who is still asking me if I think it is OK to come.

As I have mentioned before, I think the closure of Phuket Airport caused Thailand to get terrible press- it is not likely to happen again, but people overseas don't know that.

At roughly 6% of GDP tourism is a significant contributor to the economy here; it ranks only just under electronics manufacturing.