The government`s aim of seeing 13.38 million foreign visitors descend on Thailand this year could be torn to shreds by continuing fears over the December tsunami…
The government`s aim of seeing 13.38 million foreign visitors descend on Thailand this year could be torn to shreds by continuing fears over the December tsunami, the head of the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA) warned today.
Mr. Anek Srichiwachat said although some tourism markets, including Scandinavia, Europe, and America, were now picking up, other markets, notably Japan, China, Taiwan and Korea, were still sluggish.
Warning that the Japanese market had been particularly affected by tsunami fears, he said that efforts by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to stimulate the Japanese market would take time to set in.
While expressing confidence that the TAT`s domestic tourism target of 76.25 million visits was achievable, he drew a question mark over the foreign visitor target of 13.38 million arrivals, saying that reaching this figure would be difficult despite government efforts to boost visitor arrivals.
It`s a question of feelings, he admitted, adding that People aren`t yet ready to come back.
However, he noted that a focus on the huge and lucrative Chinese market would do much to revive Thailand`s tourism fortunes.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales. She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
