June 12, 1999
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| June 12, 1999 | atimes.com | |
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| Southeast Asia Thai tourists on the move again as crisis wanes BANGKOK - Thais are heading abroad again and Australia is among the pick of the destinations for both students and leisure travellers. The economic crisis of 1997 kept many a Thai tourist close to home, concerned over how to protect their hard-earned savings. But now Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) figures report positive first quarter figures for most major destinations for Thais heading abroad. The most popular destinations are China, Hong Kong, Cambodia and Australia/New Zealand. In Europe, Germany was the most favored, followed by the United Kingdom. Australian immigration figures show Thai visitor arrivals to Australia for the first five months of 1999, climbing 23 percent to 35,906. This is in contrast to 29,098 for the same time last year. ''This is a significant increase,'' Counsellor (Immigration) at the Australian Embassy, Peter Holmes, said. In March alone, the numbers of Thais travelling to Australia was up 120 percent over the same month last year. But it is still somewhat short of the pre-financial crisis days of 8,108 for the month. ''It is not yet up to the pre-crisis levels but it is climbing,'' Mr. Holmes said. Student travel was also booming. In the first four months the average monthly increase in students travelling Down Under was almost 40 percent. ''This is quite sizeable in terms of students,'' said Mr. Holmes. ''Things are looking pretty good, considering. We just hope it continues. The figures overall are improving, but it is still wait and see." Official TAT data for the first quarter, reveals the numbers of Thais travelling overseas reached 368,252, up from 319,822 in 1998. For the whole of last year, the numbers fell by 14.88 percent to 1,393,845 compared with 1,637,595 a year earlier. TAT Governor, Seree Wangpaichitr, forecast a rise in numbers of Thais travelling abroad this year over 1998. Mr. Seree said the stability and strength of the Thai baht, and rising confidence over the economy's recovery were the key reasons for the outlook. ''The growth was especially obvious in April, due to two extended holidays, particularly Songkran [the Thai New Year holiday],'' Mr. Seree said. Pacific Leisure Company's Outbound Tour Coordinator, Prasit Kuanun, said travellers have more confidence. Key popular destinations of recent months were Australia, regional destinations within Asia and even South Africa. Holiday Tours and Travel (Thailand) Ltd.'s travel manager, Wanida Hongsunirandon, said signs of an improvement in the travel industry had come in the past few months. Key markets were Australia and Europe. But as demand for Australia dips through the southern winter in mid-year, demand for European flights picks up, she said. New Zealand Tourism Board's (NZTB) Thai manager Roskamol Vongchowanart forecast a 30 percent rise in Thai visitors to New Zealand to 20,000 for the year. This is up from 15,000 in 1998. But it is still below the pre-crisis boom levels of 30,000 Thai visitors. (Asia Pulse) | |||||||||
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