Thailand seeks more GCC tourists to counter slowdown

By Arno Maierbrugger, Gulf Times Correspondent /BangokStruggling with the adverse effects on the number of foreign visitors due to the month-long political unrest in the country, Thailand has now embarked on a promotion tour in the GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council) to tap deeper into the affluent Gulf market, an important source of medical and leisure tourists to the country.Currently, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) through its branch in Dubai is conducting road shows in Oman and Bahrain to introduce new holiday destinations – away from the troubled capital Bangkok – ahead of the important industry event Arabian Travel Market, held from May 5 to 8 in Dubai, where Thailand will be one of the biggest exhibitors.“The road show is an important event for us as it helps us build new relationships and strengthen ties with our local partners. It is also a perfect time to reassure travellers on the safety of the destination and bring back their confidence,” Tanes Petsuwan, executive director TAT- Europe, Africa and Middle East Market Division, said in a statement.In fact, Thailand will have to be very convincing to lure more GCC tourists into the Kingdom. As per latest data provided by the country’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports, visitor numbers from the Middle East in the period from January to March 2014 – when protests and street fighting in Bangkok were in full swing – showed a drop of 14.86% from 51,163 to 43,559. Tourist numbers from other important source markets such as Japan, China, Russia, South Korea, Germany, UK and US dropped likewise.In January 2014, TAT introduced a new slogan reading “Amazing Thailand: It Begins with the People…,” which has, however, been ridiculed by some in the international travel community as being counterproductive because exactly a considerable part of these Thai people have been protesting on the streets and brought tourism numbers down, and there is still the occasional dropping of bombs or launching of grenades near protest sites, whereby – to be fair – there were no casualties among tourists or foreigners so far.Thawatchai Arunyik, TAT’s governor said that “Bangkok remains a welcoming tourist destination with most major tourist attractions and activities open and operating normally. But should our industry partners raise concerns that the current demonstrations would compromise their clients’ travel schedules in Bangkok, we would then suggest a tour programme to other Thai destinations like Phuket, Pattaya and Chiang Mai.”It is true that most tourist places in Bangkok are safe to visit, but it is also clear that the conflict currently is just in limbo and could erupt any time again. International economic bodies and agencies are aware of that. Rating agencies have recommended Thailand to bring their house and finances in order, otherwise the country risks downgradings. The International Monetary Fund in early April has more than halved the country’s GDP growth forecast to 2.5% from 5.2%, while the Asian Development Bank slashed the same forecast to 2.9% from 4.5%. The recent request by the Thai government to the army to bring more troops into Bangkok hasn’t helped the tense situation improve. As a matter of fact, the country is facing $2.5bn in lost tourism revenue in the first half of this year and even more in the second half which is normally the high season in case the conflict is not being resolved right away – which is highly unlikely.A tourist poses for a photograph with a sea eagle in the Kata district of Phuket, Thailand in January. Visitor numbers from the Middle East from January to March – when protests and street fighting in Bangkok were in full swing – showed a drop of 14.86% from 51,163 to 43,559, according to data provided by the country’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports.