Tourist revenues rising - claimed

"Thai tourism earnings rise - Bangkok Post

Tourism revenues are rising in Thailand, Tourism and Sports Minister Suvit Yodmani said Monday, and the government this week will discuss strategies to further boost tourism, Tourism and Sports Minister Suvit Yodmani said Monday. Speaking after a video conference with the prime minister, Mr. Suvit said he had presented a status report on Thailand's tourism in 2006 and the first three months in 2007 to Gen. Surayud Chulanont.

During this year's first quarter, Mr. Suvit said, tourism income rose by 9.6 per cent to Bt142 billion (US$4.1 billion) compared to the same period last year, while the number of foreign visitors rose to 3.82 million tourists, an increase of 5.4 per cent. The number of tourists from the Middle East and Europe was up by 30 per cent and 12 per cent respectively.

Mr. Suvit reported that the government committee on national tourism policy will meet Tuesday at Government House to map out tourism strategies to boost high-end tourism for the second half of this year.

Regarding the planned construction of a man-made island off the island resort of Phuket for billionaires to moor their yachts while on holiday, which was inspired by a visit there by American billionaire Bill Gates, the minister said it will help promote a good image for Thai tourism.

He said Thailand supports foreign investment in the sports and tourism sector, but that more details of this project must be studied further.

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Pornsiri Manoharn said the plan for an artificial offshore marina demonstrates the investor's impression regarding the beauty of beaches along the Andaman coast and confidence in the safety of Thailand for well-to-do visitors on holiday.

TAT's campaign has succeeded in reviving tourism along the Andaman coast after the area was hit by tsunami in 2004, she said. Phuket tourism has grown quickly since then, Mrs.Pornsiri added, by the addition of one thousand more rooms to accommodate tourists, amounting to a total of 32,000 tourist rooms here.

A survey in 2006 by FutureBrand magazine revealed that Thailand was voted by tourists across the globe as the tourist attraction first in giving value-for-money worldwide, and was ranked the world's ninth most beautiful tourist destination.

Bill and Melinda Gates sailed to Phuket by luxury yacht in April and were reportedly impressed by the beautiful white sandy beaches there."(TNA) from Bangkok Post

I get so confused. The ones who say its up all quote different percentages - then come along the ones who say its down.

Maybe they should hire KPMG or price waterhouse.

Oogleman,

The T.A.T. talks 100% pure nonsense and publishes 100% pure nonsense in the hope that 1% of readers and listeners will believe them and they can warrant their jobs.

Nearly every poster on this board knows and sees the problems that this country needs to do just to make it acceptable to "Family tourism" what they keep raving about, from poor roads and sanitation, to brazen corruption and it does not get done.

I doubt, in the near future that it will. We either accept that or we don't.

The nonsense about keeping a few Billionaires happy by building a man made Island off Phuket is Cuckooland, I believe, unless the Billionaires club together and pay for it, including awarding every official and his pal a contract for something or other where they provide nothing and get plenty!! [ THE OFFICIALS]

Take it or leave it, remove the sex tourism out of Thailand and it will crash and burn AS YOU ARE REMOVING A MASSIVE SOURCE OF ITS INCOME.

Europe, the States,Canada, Australia, New Zealand has better facilities, beaches, History, places of interest.

Thailand is cheap for Hotels, food and young night ladies/men available to older people from the West that is not available at home.

It becomes not cheap when you fall in love but that applies to the West as well.

Take it or leave it, remove the sex tourism out of Thailand and it will crash and burn AS YOU ARE REMOVING A MASSIVE SOURCE OF ITS INCOME.



This is the illusion that sex tourists and sex expats seem to adopt the more time they spend in the fleshpots. I've got news for you: you are not at all important to Thailand's economy or tourism industry. You do more harm than good, and Thailand will be better off once your source of easy boy flesh is taken away. It will happen, and the Thai people will cheer it.

Boygeenyus,

I will sit and wait and wait and wait and see!

And I don't think a great many in the Isaarn districts will be cheering or is the Government going to take care of them all??

I, for one, don't over or under rate anything except that Cash is King in this Country and takes precedent over everything,always has,always will.

Roll on the revolution, should be great, corruption stamped out, Free Healthcare, reasonable educational standards,Housing and jobs for everyone, welfare system. can't wait!

Well said Jaafar,

Back on this board now eh?? Good man, loved the poems.

I think Jaafarwhatever's figures are way, way out of whack. Maybe, MAYBE 10% of tourists come to Thailand for sex, and of those, perhaps 5%-10% are looking for gay sex.

And how about the many, many people who overlook Thailand as a possible destination exactly because of its reputation as a fleshpot? Who's to say that they don't outnumber the sex tourists themselves?

I think Jaafarwhatever's figures are way, way out of whack. Maybe, MAYBE 10% of tourists come to Thailand for sex, and of those, perhaps 5%-10% are looking for gay sex.

And how about the many, many people who overlook Thailand as a possible destination exactly because of its reputation as a fleshpot? Who's to say that they don't outnumber the sex tourists themselves?

Jaaffy maybe a bit out of whack with his figures but you're out of your mind!! Don't tell me you came to Thailand many moons ago because you want to see the temples - Duh!!!!!!!!! Now go back to your little hole and stay there!!

I think Jaafarwhatever's figures are way, way out of whack. Maybe, MAYBE 10% of tourists come to Thailand for sex, and of those, perhaps 5%-10% are looking for gay sex.

And how about the many, many people who overlook Thailand as a possible destination exactly because of its reputation as a fleshpot? Who's to say that they don't outnumber the sex tourists themselves?

Jaaffy maybe a bit out of whack with his figures but you're out of your mind!! Don't tell me you came to Thailand many moons ago because you want to see the temples - Duh!!!!!!!!! Gimme a mirror!! Now go back to your little hole and stay there!!

I had no idea there was a sex industry in Thailand when I first came here. I was only 13 years old!

I think Jaafarwhatever's figures are way, way out of whack. Maybe, MAYBE 10% of tourists come to Thailand for sex, and of those, perhaps 5%-10% are looking for gay sex.

And how about the many, many people who overlook Thailand as a possible destination exactly because of its reputation as a fleshpot? Who's to say that they don't outnumber the sex tourists themselves?

Jaaffy maybe a bit out of whack with his figures but you're out of your mind!! Don't tell me you came to Thailand many moons ago because you want to see the temples - Duh!!!!!!!!! Gimme a mirror!! Now go back to your little hole and stay there!!

I had no idea there was a sex industry in Thailand when I first came here. I was only 13 years old!

Then you must have been molested when you're a child since you're ALWAYS so gung ho with the subject!!!!

I had no idea there was a sex industry in Thailand when I first came here. I was only 13 years old!

Did you perchance run into a big old farang called Silom who offered you a lollipop and wanted to take you 'sightseeing'?

I had no idea there was a sex industry in Thailand when I first came here. I was only 13 years old!

Did you perchance run into a big old farang called Silom who offered you a lollipop and wanted to take you 'sightseeing'?

Actually, I think his modus operandi is to offer a purple note for taking a few "snaps".

[Bob]

As Keven (I think) said, oftentimes the TAT data is pure baloney. Here's the lead paragraphs from an article (Travel Section) of the May 22nd Chiangmai Mail:

Based on data from the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), reported arrivals at Suvarnabhumi Airport plummeted 17 per cent to 36,533 in April.
Arrivals in the first four months of the year stood at 884,043 - a 13 per cent drop on the year, according to ATTA.
In Bangkok the average occupancy for hotels was 50 per cent down from 80 to 90 percent a year ago.

It's difficult to believe a travel agents organization would want this type of information to get out so I would expect these figures are accurate. How that translates into more tourism revenue (if one believes the TAT promo) is beyond me.

As Keven (I think) said, oftentimes the TAT data is pure baloney. Here's the lead paragraphs from an article (Travel Section) of the May 22nd Chiangmai Mail:

Based on data from the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), reported arrivals at Suvarnabhumi Airport plummeted 17 per cent to 36,533 in April.
Arrivals in the first four months of the year stood at 884,043 - a 13 per cent drop on the year, according to ATTA.
In Bangkok the average occupancy for hotels was 50 per cent down from 80 to 90 percent a year ago.

It's difficult to believe a travel agents organization would want this type of information to get out so I would expect these figures are accurate. How that translates into more tourism revenue (if one believes the TAT promo) is beyond me.

Absolutely Bob,

These people [ATTA] are trying to gently tell the powers that be, Look Guys, let's take stock here and have another/fresh look at things!

WHAT YOU ARE DOING ISN'T WORKING VERY WELL FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COUNTRY.

As Keven (I think) said, oftentimes the TAT data is pure baloney. Here's the lead paragraphs from an article (Travel Section) of the May 22nd Chiangmai Mail:

Based on data from the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), reported arrivals at Suvarnabhumi Airport plummeted 17 per cent to 36,533 in April.
Arrivals in the first four months of the year stood at 884,043 - a 13 per cent drop on the year, according to ATTA.
In Bangkok the average occupancy for hotels was 50 per cent down from 80 to 90 percent a year ago.

It's difficult to believe a travel agents organization would want this type of information to get out so I would expect these figures are accurate. How that translates into more tourism revenue (if one believes the TAT promo) is beyond me.

Absolutely Bob,

These people [ATTA] are trying to gently tell the powers that be, Look Guys, let's take stock here and have another/fresh look at things!

WHAT YOU ARE DOING ISN'T WORKING VERY WELL FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COUNTRY.

As usual, any visa-runner is also counted as visitors. The same counts for business trips.

“Predicted” (= wishful thinking..) statistics are available in English but the actual data are not even in Thai language available at any time. And the TAT agencies do have the figures but block any information, unless you know how and when to ask …

Furthermore the frequency is changing too. Less European but more Asian, Russioan and Australien visitors are counted during the past two years. Now TAT hopes are on India..

[cuteboy]

When I read the opinions about the proportion of tourists who visit Thailand for sex, I remembered seeing statistics about the total number of male and female tourists. Couldn't remember them, so searched the net and found that male tourists are 60% of the total, female tourists 40%.
If we assume that 40% female is matched by 40% male, we have 80% of tourists as couples, or backpackers male or female, we are left with 20% as single men.
Probably a few are not here for sex. But not an insignificant contribution to the economy.

Mind you, when the word gets about that you may be given a bad time by the police for not carrying a passport, more than sex tourists will give the place a miss