Bangkok--8 Nov--Tourism Authority of Thailand
In recent years, British visitors have been coming to Thailand all year around rather than just in the winter months, as was the case in the past. In 2010, the United Kingdom market was the number one source income generating more than 44 billion Baht or 880 million pounds to the Thai tourism industry. UK visitors to Thailand totalled 760,250, a decline of 2 per cent, mainly triggered by the world economic slowdown. They also had an average length of stay of 16 days per person per visit with an average daily expenditure of 3,600 Baht or 72 pounds.
During January — September 2011, Thailand welcomed almost 635,000 UK visitors with a growth of 7 per cent over the previous year.
Another interesting statistic from the UK market is that in 2010, a total of 67 percent were repeat visitors. That is an extraordinarily high percentage of repeat visitors and certainly shows the high level of satisfaction. Most of UK visitors remain in the 25-34 age, with the purpose of travel for their holidays (42%), meeting (18%), incentive (11.7%) and convention (11%).
This is very good news, as it shows that Thailand is making progress in its efforts to promote the country’s tourism to this market and is committed to ensure that the UK remains one of the top source markets from Europe.
On the aviation front, as of November 2011, there are currently 35 direct scheduled flights per week between Bangkok and London being operated by four airlines — THAI Airways International (14 direct flights), British Airways (7), Eva Airways (7), Qantas (7). Other airlines also bring visitors to Thailand through other points of the UK and intermediary hubs like Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong. In January 2012, Emirates will start flying from Dublin. Thailand is also looking forward to the increase in flight capacity with Thai Airways as they introduce their new A380 aircraft onto the London-Bangkok route.
Another piece of good news is that from November 17, 2011, Thai Airways is adding Brussels, Belgium as the newest THAI destination in Europe.
According to TAT Deputy Governor Juthaporn Rerngronasa, “While it is true that the Baht has strengthened against the pound, currency vagaries have affected many other countries of the world. Thailand still remains excellent value for the British tourist and remains competitive against the cost of holidaying elsewhere in Asia, as we have a long tradition of catering to everybody from backpackers to the luxury travel market.”
In June 2011, Bangkok was voted the “World’s Best-Value City” in the June 2011 issue of the Sunday Times Travel Magazine, one of the most popular monthly travel magazines of the UK. The Award also featured Bangkok as the “Best Street Food on the Planet” where tourists can enjoy various kinds of food, both Thai and foreign, offered at inexpensive price on both sides of the streets.
Over the last two years, the TAT London Office has been promoting the Family market, and Thailand was shortlisted as the “Best Long-haul Family Destination” in the recent Selling Long-haul Awards. The country also won an accolade for the “Best Long-haul Destination for Spa and Wellness”.
In the UK market, beach resorts such as Khao Lak are growing in popularity, and there is now more interest in Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand. At the end of this month, 12 tour operators from the UK and Ireland will be visiting both Chiang Mai and Phuket to attend travel marts in both these regions.
At the heart of all the TAT’s marketing activities are the friends and supporters from the UK and Irish travel industries. In 2012, the Friends of Thailand Club roadshow will be visiting 11 cities in the UK and Ireland and looking to meet over 1,000 travel agents and tour operator sales staff. The TAT is also continuing to invest heavily in our Partners on Demand marketing fund which supports joint tactical marketing campaigns with its tour operator partners.
Contact information:
International Public Relations Division
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48
Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419
E-mail:
[email protected]
Web site: www.tatnews.org