Tourism set for B1bn revival plan

[dundrillin]

A real boost to Thai tourism would be to encourage the UK government to reduce the tax on long haul flights (they made a small reduction in the latest budget). On a recent visit 50% of the cost was taxes and fees. Do other countries levy such high taxes?

[Korkenzieher]

That is one of the reasons I routinely fly from Germany. It may not always make financial sense just to go to Germany for that but on one occasion, the business class flight on Etihad from Manchester to Bangkok was €1000 more than the equivalent flight from Frankfurt. When that kind of saving is potentially on offer, it makes sense to shop around!

[dundrillin]

Thanks for that.

[hhfarang]

Thailand’s May Preliminary Tourism Statistics
By Michael J. Munoz Jun 30, 2014 2:39 PM GMT+0700

Following is a summary of the May preliminary tourism statistics from the Bank of Thailand in Bangkok.

======================================================
May April March Feb. Jan. Dec. Nov.
2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2013 2013
======================================================
Total Arrivals (’000) 1,737 2,022 2,104 2,174 2,320 2,598 2,399
YoY% -10.7% -1.7% -9.4% -8.1% 0.1% 6.7% 11.9%

Occupancy Rate 46.4% 54.8% 57.9% 61.8% 61.2% 64.3% 69.4%
======================================================

Note: Previous months’ figures are based on previous releases and may be revised.

Source: Bank of Thailand

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-3 ... cmpid=yhoo

Edit: I can't get the table to line up as the forum takes out blanks... view it better in the link.

[Nereus]

This should help tourism no end! Better leave your iPad at home:
..................................................................................................

http://www.bangkokpost.com/most-recent/ ... d-overseas

B10,000 limit on incoming duty free Duty free limits being strictly enforced

Published: 1 Jul 2014 at 14.22

The 10,000 baht duty-free limit on new personal items purchased overseas by incoming air passengers is now being strictly policed, the Customs Department announced on Tuesday.

The warning was carried on new signs posted at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport.

[PeteC]

What I've always done is make it look like personal use returning equipment....laptops, cameras, IPods, golf clubs etc. Throw away the packaging and tags.

[LaughTilIDie]

HHF
A real boost to Thai tourism would be to encourage the UK government to reduce the tax on long haul flights (they made a small reduction in the latest budget). On a recent visit 50% of the cost was taxes and fees. Do other countries levy such high taxes?


Flying from the US my flight cost is $705.00 plus fees of $559.82 so 44% of the cost is fees and taxes. Does seem a bit absurd.

[Homer]

This should help tourism no end! Better leave your iPad at home:
...
B10,000 limit on incoming duty free Duty free limits being strictly enforced

How is it being enforced? Can one declare what goods they're taking out of Thailand to prevent duty assessment upon return? Does a customs official eyeball items in one's kit and state 'that's new, duty for you'?

Or is this a non-issue because gift wrapped and used items are exempt? For some items, distressing it so as to appear used would defeat the purpose of buying it, others not at all. Hmmm ... maybe an old lens cap and a few strategically placed scratches on a new camera lens would do the trick.

[Nereus]

Somchai......
..................................................
http://www.bangkokpost.com/most-recent/ ... toms-chief

No customs clampdown at airports Random checks to continue as usual, says new customs chief

The new director-general of the Customs Department has denied that customs officials have begun strict checks on incoming air passengers carrying personal items into the country..............................

[HHTel]

They're now talking of raising the limit to between 80,000 and 100,000 to keep in line with increased personal income. The 10,000 baht limit has been in place for decades.

[barrys]

In the Bangkok Post today:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/most-recent/ ... n-tourists

[Bristolian]

This can not have come as a surprise to anyone. My only surprise is that UK tourists visiting Thailand have increased YOY....why?

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/tou ... -fall-10-9

Tourist arrivals still falling

The number of international tourists arriving in Thailand in July fell 10.9% from a year earlier, according to data from the Department of Tourism, showing the industry has not recovered from the impact of prolonged political tension.

The lucrative tourism sector, which accounts for about 10% of the economy, suffered its biggest drop in visitors in June

International arrivals in July totalled 1.91 million, compared with 1.56 million in June and 2.15 million in July 2013, according to data posted on the department's website late Friday.

Arrivals from China tumbled 25.3%.

Among large individual markets, Malaysia accounted for 9.8% of all visitors to Thailand and arrivals through July were down 19.9% from a year earlier to 1.34 million. Visitors from Japan (5% of the total) were down 21%, South Korea (4.6% share) declined 17%, the United States (3.3% share) fell 5.2% and Australian arrivals (3.6% share) were off 1.1%.

The United Kingdom, with a 4% share of all visitors to Thailand, was one of the few large markets to record a gain, of 6.2%.

[PeteC]

Perhaps it's "go with what you know". I bet 80%+ of UK were repeat visitors.

There's so many other world factors now in play that impact everyone, or impact their fears, I'm not surprised at the numbers.

To put into balance we need to look at other alternative destinations. I bet everywhere far from home is down.

1) Christ!..if I fly to SEAsia I have to go over Ukraine,Syria or Iraq....
2) Maybe someone with Ebola is on the plane.
3) Thailand is under military control.
4) The Chinese are spitting territorial shit at everyone in the area.
5)...........?

EDIT: Happy to be corrected, but the only place here who wants the class of Chinese tourist that is the norm, is Pattaya. Chiang Mai has almost banned them because of behaviour. Forget the "how much do they spend vs backpackers", irrelevant, as the Thais at least in the north have placed them on a very low social ladder.