TAT: Too many people coming to Thailand

by Ian Mcintosh – Travel Agent Update

Thailand’s major tourist destinations are bursting at the seams.

Tourists flock ashore at the remote Similan Islands, off the coast from Phuket. (R Eime)

According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s deputy governor, Sansern Ngaorungsi, “Too many people came last year.” Hard to believe as it may seem, Australia’s entire population is tipped to crowd into the tiny Kingdom this year – more than 22 million people. Singled out as a real problem spot is Phuket which has a long history of pollution problems, particularly in the very seawater visitors love to frolick in.

Acknowledging the problem at a press conference at the Thailand Travel Mart, he said one answer was to fine tune the marketing effort to concentrate more on middle and upper income travellers.
That way we should make the same or more money out of less people, he added.

Visitors to the UNESCO listed Khao Yai forest complex enjoy great scenery and wildlife experiences (R Eime)

New areas will also be promoted including Khanom and Khao Yai National Park with its wine, excellent hotels and close proximity to Bangkok.

Visitor arrivals to Thailand in January-March surged to a record 6,828,718 fuelled by a dramatic growth of 93 per cent in arrivals from China which might well be a major part of the problem.

It is widely accepted in the tourism industry that groups from China are not just difficult to handle – they just don’t spend.