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AT sticks to its guns on tourism forecasts 
AT sticks to its guns on tourism forecasts
TAT believes it can
hit the 2010 target despite all external factors.
Tourism
Authority of Thailand told the private sector, yesterday, it is keeping
faith with its 2010 target of 14 million arrivals and 90 million
domestic trips generating a revenue of Bt960 billion.
It made the
announcement at its marketing plan presentation to the travel industry,
yesterday afternoon at the Queen Sirikit Convention Centre.
The
agency projects an increase of 5.6% in 2010 over this year’s arrivals
which it claims will reach 13.2 million.
Most private sector
executives were cynical claiming the estimates were based on inaccurate
research and failed to recognise that tourist arrivals this year could
fall to 11 or 12 million visitors.
They blame the inaccuracies in
forecasting on political agendas, the need to justify bigger budgets
and a reckless attitude that places marketing before the desperate need
to renovate, redevelop and reposition a tired travel product.
International
tourists are expected to generated revenue at Bt53 billion, next year,
representing a 6.4% increase in revenue over its Bt49 billion estimate
for 2009. Domestic trips will increase 3.38% with a circulating revenue
of Bt430,000 million and representing a 5.5% increase.
TAT acting
governor and deputy governor for administration, Pensuda Priaram, and
TAT deputy governor for policy and planning, Suraphon Svetasreni,
outlined a 2010 marketing plan saying the agency would continue to use
the “Amazing Thailand Amazing Valueâ to reinforce the country’s position
as a cost-effective destination.
It promised travel executives
it would continue to expand market coverage, in spite of decreasing
arrivals this year. Two new offices will be opened this year in Kunming,
China, and Mumbai, India.
In 2010, it will open an office in
Jakarta, Indonesia. TAT covers 45 to 50 markets through its overseas
offices and representatives.
According to Ms Pensuda, authority
will focus on two potential markets next year – South Asia and the
Middle East – that have proved more resilient.
The objective is
to draw 823,000 tourists from South Asia, representing a 13% increase
and revenue of Bt25 billion, or 15.4% growth. It is also forecasting
450,000 tourists from the Middle East countries with a spending of Bt19
billion.
Asia market should grow 3.8% with 6.9 million visitors
and bring in a revenue of Bt162 billion.
Europe should generate
4.7 million visits and a revenue of Bt237 billion. Tourists from the
Americas and Oceania should grow by 4.9 and 4.2% respectively, with
revenue of Bt46 billion and Bt37 billion.
However, some markets
such as East Asia particularly Japan, South Korea, China and Hong Kong
are expected to drop by 14.9% to 6.7 million visitors. Revenue from this
market will fall by 21.7% to Bt156 billion. Africa will also to plunge
by 17% to 90,000 tourists.
Source: http://www.ttrweekly.com/site/index.php?id=138&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1...
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