Bangkok, Thailand, 28 March 2006
Decreasing tourist arrivals

• Political tension may affect short-term travel in the coming 3-6 months, particularly during the Songkran Festival in April, Japan’s Golden Week in May and Asia’s summer holiday season in October. The situation may also impact the tourism targets for 2006-2008.
• ATTA is preparing for a strategic change by using the TTM in September 2006 as a major purchasing stimulant. It is also joining with the Commerce and Tourism and Sports ministries in drafting standards for the regulation of tours and the opening up of the tourism industry for foreign investment.
• With regards to the declining tourist arrival numbers as reported by TAT, the drop of 60,000 Chinese visitors is in contrast to reports received from the private sector, which has raised questions about the figures.
• ATTA is confident the drop is not more than 30,000 people and cited that the past 2 months have seen an increase of over 200,000 visitors. There will be some decline from China during Songkran but it will not be more than 10,000 persons.
• The private sector believes visitors will continue to come in despite some cancellations. The Thai Hotels Association report the occupancy rate for Bangkok and upcountry hotels at around 80% and said that figures for the first quarter are better than the same period in 2005.

Tourism strategy revision

• The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports said yesterday that TAT’s present strategy must be reviewed, especially the tourism income target.

Demonstrations in Bangkok

• Demonstrations led by the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) will today move to protest in front of the Siam Paragon and Central World Plaza shopping complexes in downtown Bangkok. The move is expected to severely hinder traffic in the city.

International PR Division
Tourism Authority of Thailand
1600 Petchaburi Road, Makkasan, Rajatevee
Bangkok 10400
Thailand
Tel : 66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 1574-78
Fax : 66 (0) 2253 7419
Email : prdiv3@tat.or.th

Source : http://www.tatnews.org/tat_release/detail.aspωid=2833