FORECAST Foreign Arrivals Top 14 Million in 2009

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Posted: 23 Dec 2009 | 7:06 am

Roll back the clock to those gloomy early and mid year forecasts that saw many analysts saying both the economic and political issues could see overseas arrivals fall to 12 million. As a result of a strong Q4 Thailand is now looking at 14.1 million arrivals according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

Helping the recovery is the increased number of flights and seat capacity, a rapidly spreading regional and domestic network of low cost airline carriers and increase in charter flights. A return of the Mainland China market has been helpful where an unofficial travel ban had seen sharp declines during the H1 2009.

As we move into 2010, it will be interesting to see how two big global events with the World Cup in South Africa and World Expo in Shanghai may play into the tourism equation.

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Strong last quarter 2010? This is wishful thinking, whilst the occupancy numbers are up in Phuket, Bangkok and Pattaya the rest of the country has a probably a worse quarter 4 than 2008. Talk to any hotelier in Chiang Mai, Krabi, Hua Hin, Cha Am or Samuie and they will laugh or probably cry when you talk about strong last quarter. Lets hope that the TAT's strategy to move and open offices in important markets like India,Middle East will help us to bring in additional tourists. Apart from that Bill, merry Christmas and thanks for your site, always good to see your focused and fact based writing. Wolfgang Meusburger

Wolfgang Meusburger, 25 Dec 2009 | 9:44 am

WHAT A GREAT COMMENT JD ! SEE YOU AROUND FOR A CHRISTMAS DRINK AND LETS HOPE THAT 2010 IS ANOTHER BIG YEAR FOR PHUKET.. GREAT WEB SITE !!!

Mary Chris Smith, 24 Dec 2009 | 11:12 am

MERRY XMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR, THANKS FOR A GREAT WEBSITE AND GOOD FACTUAL BASED OPINON ON THE TOURIST INDUSTRY IN ASIA.

I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE TOUSIST INDUSTRY FOR OVER 40 YEARS FIRST IN THE UK AND HERE IN PHUKET FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS.

I AM A REALIST AND I THINK PHUKET IS TRYING VERY HARD TO FIND ITSELF BUT IT HAS TO FIND THE RIGHT BALANCE. THERE IS ONLY 1 CAKE AND AT THE MOMENT TO MANY PIECES, OVERSUPPLY AND BAD PLANNING ARE THE MAIN PROBLEMS.

LETS ALL HAVE A GOOD XMAS AND BE OPTOMISTIC AND LOOK FORWARD TO GOOD 2010 MERRY XMAS HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL,,, JOHN

JOHNDEVENPORT, 23 Dec 2009 | 11:21 am