Pattaya - High season tourists down by 50%
High season tourists down by 50% Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Tourist arrivals in Pattaya have decreased by more than 50% in this high season from the number this time last year and the outlook is not encouraging, according to the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association.
Asian tourists especially are staying away in droves fearing political violence. Visitors from elsewhere are also being kept away by the high price of fuel sending up air travel costs.
Jamroon Wisawachaipan, chairman of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association, told a meeting of business and tourism leaders at the Green Park Resort, organized by his association on October 30, that much needs to be done to remedy the situation which may even become worse next year.
Thanet Supornsaharungsi, chief advisor of the association, reported that hotel reservations and occupancy were down by 50-70%, compared to the same time last year when all hotels were full for the high season.
Arrivals from the European and Russian markets have also dropped by 50% and “there is no positive sign that the situation will get better,” he said.
Thanet said that the total number of tourists is expected to remain at just 50-60% level this season compared to last year, if the political crisis remains and there is not “serious policy to deal with the problem.”
The government needs to provide significant support because tourism cannot depend only on the entrepreneurs who are doing all they can to promote business.
The most important solution is to find a way for the government to reach a compromise with the opposition People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) regarding the political crisis. And, as soon as possible.
Airlines, especially Thai Air International, need to decrease the price of tickets which were doubled following oil price increases. But the fares have now not followed the fuel price down, Thanet said.
Rattanachai Sutidechanai, Pattaya City councilor, on behalf of the chief commissioner of Pattaya Tourism and Sports, said the city is helping to promote many tourism activities, such as the Loy Krathong Festival, Eastern Cow Breed Exhibition, International Balloon Festival, windsurfing and LPGA golf tournaments, the countdown to New Year’s Eve and the 2008 Ride for Peace.
Patchararin Sawettarat, assistant director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Region 3 (Pattaya), said TAT is working hard to promote Pattaya tourism to both the domestic and international markets with new campaigns.
Pattaya City has allocated 6,000,000 baht, central TAT 3,000,000 baht and the Chonburi Provincial Administration has also given some money for an international promotion campaign and advertisements, which has a total budget of 18.5 million baht, Patchararin said.
TAT will travel on a promotional tour to Germany, Vietnam, Dubai, India, and Russia, and advertisements are being made in Japan, Australia, and Russia to create a positive image of Thailand in those countries.
The assistant director then gave details of a host of upcoming events in the next year in Thailand which would attract tourists.
The domestic market is allocated 6,000,000 baht for advertisements in magazines, print ads, radio spots and websites, the main targets being young people and family groups.
Patchararin said the “Traveling in Thailand to Refresh the Economy” campaign was expected to expand the domestic travel market by 5%, aiming for 87 million tourists who will generate 3.88 trillion baht.
Pattaya Mail
