Thailand still hoping for record year

CIMTIG & PATA Debate Special: Thailand’s tourism authorities are still hoping for a record year in 2005 and say tourism has bounced back leaving the country with bed shortages in some areas. Last year was record-breaking for Thailand tourism with visitor numbers up 7% from the previous year according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Marketing director for leisure, Richard Hume told a CIMTIG and PATA-organised seminar this week: “We broke through the 600,000 mark last year with record visitor numbers of 622,000 and that was after Sars and the War in Iraq.” Thailand bookings for 2005 were running between 25% and 30% before the tsunami on Boxing Day, said Mr Hume, and although this has slumped, bookings are still up 7% on 2004. But he said bookings were skewed to destinations unaffected by the tsunami such as Koh Samui, where there is a shortage of beds, something later confirmed by Kuoni product director Francis Torrilla, who was also speaking at the event. “People are going to Thailand but only to certain places, like Koh Samui, which is overloaded and suffering bed shortages.” He said visitor numbers to Phuket remained down, and during January 2005 airport arrivals were 92% down at 1,473 over the month, usually peak season for Phuket. But his organisation is optimistic. “The forecast for this year is still a plus on 2004,” said Mr Hume. Report by Ginny McGrath