PBS AUG1
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
BUSINESS SUPPLEMENT<br />
SCAN THIS<br />
AREA<br />
40 MILLION<br />
TOURISTS<br />
EXPECTED NEXT YEAR<br />
PATTAYA’S NUMBER<br />
1<br />
CAR RENT COMPANY<br />
From Only<br />
500Baht<br />
per day (min 3 Day Rental)<br />
CALL NOW<br />
038 252 275 / 038 252 001 /038 346 461<br />
Email: Ben.HighTowerLtd@gmail.com<br />
High Tower Co., Ltd. Tel: 038 411 009<br />
UNLIMITED MILEAGE<br />
New Automatic Cars<br />
Free Sat Nav<br />
Free Kiddy Seat<br />
First Class Insurance<br />
Email:info@expatcarrent.com<br />
According to the Tourist Authority<br />
of Thailand (TAT), a whopping<br />
40 million tourists are expect<br />
to visit Thailand during the next<br />
year, up from 37.5 million in 2018.<br />
Along with the increase in traveler<br />
numbers, the total tourism<br />
revenue is expected to increase<br />
some 10 per cent to 3.4 trillion<br />
baht. Encouraging is the fact that<br />
domestic tourism will likely generate<br />
1.12 trillion baht from 169 million<br />
trips, with the other 2.28 trillion<br />
baht coming from foreign tourists.<br />
Tourism revenue is expected to<br />
help the economy and improve<br />
living standards of poorer communities.<br />
The Tourism Authority of Thailand<br />
governor Yuthasak Supasorn<br />
was quoted as saying, “Tourism<br />
contributes 18-19% to GDP. The<br />
industry will continue to grow and<br />
that is very challenging for TAT.”<br />
Overall, there was a growing<br />
diversity making up foreign tourists<br />
currently.<br />
610,000 visitors came from<br />
the Middle East last year. Whilst<br />
this was only 2 per cent of international<br />
arrivals, this group spent<br />
an average of 7,200 baht per day<br />
whilst in the Kingdom, more than<br />
the average daily spend overall<br />
which stood at 5,200 baht per day.<br />
Mr. Pichaya Saisaengchan,<br />
director for the Dubai and Middle<br />
East office was quoted as saying,<br />
“The high season for the Middle<br />
East falls between July and August,<br />
which is good [as it’s] Thailand’s<br />
low season. TAT expects<br />
tourist numbers from this region to<br />
increase by 3% next year.”<br />
As expected, China remains a<br />
big market for the TAT. Anchalee<br />
Kumwong, the TAT Beijing office<br />
director was quoted as saying,<br />
“China will remain the top market<br />
for Thailand. Only 10% of China’s<br />
population, 140 million people,<br />
have a passport. That number will<br />
increase, boosting overseas travel.”<br />
Interestingly, the US and Canada<br />
markets are also expected to<br />
grow from the already robust 1.5<br />
million American and Canadian<br />
tourists last year. Executive director<br />
for the Americas Region, Jittima<br />
Sukpalin said that there are<br />
now three offices in the US and<br />
Canada located in New York, Los<br />
Angeles and Toronto. She was<br />
quoted as saying, “We will promote<br />
secondary provinces such<br />
as Chumphon, Ranong and Trat<br />
provinces in this market”. The aim<br />
is to appeal to millennial tourists<br />
who are keen to enjoy the outdoor<br />
attractions that Thailand has to offer.<br />
However, following the news<br />
that the famous coastal area used<br />
in the movie “The Beach” is to shut<br />
down for some months so that it<br />
can recuperate from an over-run<br />
of tourists, the government is keen<br />
to ensure that there is sustainable<br />
tourism in all resorts. There will be<br />
random checks on resorts in such<br />
places as Koh Phi Phi to ensure<br />
that standards are kept high and<br />
that licenses and employment<br />
contracts are in check.<br />
The tourism and sports minister<br />
Weerasak Kowsurat said that<br />
the aim was to improve tourism<br />
quality and maintain standards.<br />
For all your advertising enquiries - Tel: 0846 77 43 60