Lofty tourism income target for 2008
Under the newly elected government, the Tourism and Sports Ministry has set an ambitious target of Bt800 billion for tourism revenue, up from Bt490 billion in 2007.
Minister Weerasak Kowsurat made the proposal at the first meeting between travel agencies and the private sector recently. The original target was 547 billion, a reasonable 10% increase but the minister, in line with the ambitious economic growth projections of the Samak led government, has upped it to a whopping 90% increase.
Weerasak said he would search for more "quality" tourists as they could spend more money while staying. He did not elaborate how this was achievable however, given that tourism as a luxury item would be the first item to be cut from people’s spending during an economic slowdown.
TAT governor Phornsiri Manoharn, plans to organise 28 foreign roadshows and join 150 trade shows this year to promote Thailand as a destination, especially in emerging new markets like Eastern Europe.
From June 6-8, the TAT is scheduled to join the International India Fair to promote wedding and honeymoon trips to Thailand. The TAT also hopes to attract up-to 520,000 Indians this year.
But big question marks remain. Despite a return to democratic rule political instability still exists and this might affect confidence in the country during 2008. Then there is the gradually strengthening baht which is making Thailand a less value-for-money destination. This is coupled with a looming recession in the US, likely to affect inbound numbers from North America.
Other issues, such as poor law enforcement and news of murders involving policemen, continuing incompetence in managing the new Suvarnabhumi airport and environmental hazards such as burning in the Northern provinces during dry season, continue to hamper efforts to promote tourism here.
The council also called on the ministry to set a target for inbound tourism revenue to reach Bt1 trillion in the next four years.