::Thailand Tourism News::

[napoleon]

19% Mice growth predicted

Bangkokpsot 4/07/2008


The number of meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition (Mice) visitors is projected to grow 19% next year from an estimated 970,000 this year, according to the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB). The figure is expected to top one million next year, with revenue of 87.7 billion baht based on estimated spending of 76,000 baht per head per trip, said Nattawut Amornvivat, the TCEB president.


Despite political uncertainties and ongoing anti-government demonstrations, Mr Nattawut said the TCEB remained firm on its projection that the Mice visitors this year would reach 970,000, with revenue of 73.7 billion baht.


Growth will be helped by two big conventions _ Herbalife Extravaganza 2008 and ITU Telecom Asia 2008 _ to be held late this year.


Herbalife Extravaganza 2008 will bring about 16,000 visitors to Thailand generating one billion baht, while about 25,000 visitors are expected to participate in the International Telecommunication Union Telecom Asia 2008, producing revenue of 2.15 billion baht.


However, because rising oil prices could deter some visitors, particularly from long-haul markets, the industry needs to focus more on short-haul visitors such as those from Australia, India, Hong Kong, Korea and Taiwan.

[napoleon]

2008 SWEDISH ‘GRAND TRAVEL AWARD’ FOR ‘WORLD’S BEST TOURIST COUNTRY’

Pattayadailynews [June 22, 2008 ] :: 21:14:30


Thailand ranked first in the “World’s Best Tourist Country” category, making this the sixth consecutive year that Thailand has won the Swedish Grand Travel Award.

Mr. Thanavit Sinhaseni, Council Minister of the Royal Thai Embassy in Stockholm, and Mr Manit Boonchim, Director of TAT Stockholm, jointly accepted the award on behalf of the Kingdom of Thailand.

In the “World’s Best International Airlines” category, Thai Airways International the kingdom’s national carrier, ranked second, after Singapore Airlines.

Now into its sixteenth year, the annual Grand Travel Award — the equivalent of the travel and tourism industry’s ‘Oscars’ – is organized by Travel News, an independent Swedish travel trade magazine.

The 2008 award presentation ceremony, held at the Grand Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden on March 5, was attended by over 500 distinguished representatives from the Swedish travel trade.

[FLW]

SCAM ALERT! Airport taxis

When collecting your luggage you’ll notice large signs warning you to avoid unauthorised taxis and use the AOT Limo Service instead for your own safety. In fact all taxis at the airport are authorized Bangkok metered taxis and perfectly safe, while the AOT Limos are aggressively and unfairly promoted, costing three times more!
Even if you ignore their well placed desk, an army of their reps will accost you when you exit, politely but firmly hawking this rip off option. It’s not a very good first impression of Thailand, but the AOT airport management have poor judgement when it comes to transparency.

[thainotts]

Originally Posted by FLW

SCAM ALERT! Airport taxis

When collecting your luggage you’ll notice large signs warning you to avoid unauthorised taxis and use the AOT Limo Service instead for your own safety. In fact all taxis at the airport are authorized Bangkok metered taxis and perfectly safe, while the AOT Limos are aggressively and unfairly promoted, costing three times more!
Even if you ignore their well placed desk, an army of their reps will accost you when you exit, politely but firmly hawking this rip off option. It’s not a very good first impression of Thailand, but the AOT airport management have poor judgement when it comes to transparency.

That is, if you can convince them to turn on the meter.

[fridaynightlights]

I SUGGEST YOU PRETEND TO BE FOREIGNER in airport taxis. These taxi drivers literally said "ไอ้ฝรั่งงี่เง่าเสร็จกู" thinking that I didn't know what he was saying. You should try some time too.

[Dek Thai]

Scams are everywhere these days in Thailand. I'm a little worried about our future tourism industry.

[blkarr0ws]

that means that thai people is getting smarter

[FLW]

Scammers in uniform at the Airport.

Fake Cops working over tourists at the Airport.
Scroll down to post 14.
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Airpor...3#entry1914493

[FLW]

Phuket Scam reports.
http://www.bangkokscams.com/scams-in...jc_allComments

BOYCOTT PHUKET UNTILL THEY DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE TOURIST MAFIA.

[Dek Thai]

OMG! these scams are really scary. I can't believe this's happening in Thailand, the land of smile.

[FLW]

Since the TAT refuses to do something, victims are starting to create websites to help protect visitors to the Land of Scams.
Recent Scam reports.
http://www.bangkokscams.com/scams-in-bangkok/index.php

[FLW]

Originally Posted by Dek Thai

OMG! these scams are really scary. I can't believe this's happening in Thailand, the land of smile.

Widespread scams aimed at first-time tourists visiting Thailand.
PICTURES HERE.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21533131@N06/2085559580/

PROFESSIONAL CON ARTISTS are employed by the THAI TOURIST MAFIA and are positioned at strategic places all over Bangkok, intercepting visitors....at the Airport Arrival Hall, outside every Tourist Hotel, Shopping Center, busy Street Corner, Skytrain Station and adjacent to all Thailand major tourist attractions.
THEY ARE EVERYWHERE!

The scammers goal is to divert tourists from their destination,
( telling them the Palace is CLOSED, etc ) .
They always have a friendly Tuk Tuk driver nearby that is also paid by the Tourist Mafia to deliver them to the next scammer.
First time tourist are passed off, from one scammer to the next.

Thousand of visitors are scammed every year by this group, yet they are allowed to operate in plain sight, right at the entrance to Thailands main tourist attractions.
The managers and security at these venues are too afraid to stop them!

The Thai Tourist Authority, the Tourist Assistance Center and the Tourist Police....not interested in stopping them. Hmmmm?
People have speculated that some of these scammers are off duty Tourist Police participating in Thailands lucrative THAI GEM SCAM.

The Tourist Mafia Con Artists usually are very well dressed, friendly, speak excellent english and claim to be professionals..., lawyers, doctors, teachers or Gov. employees.
They give tourists the impression they are just passing by .... are well intentioned, friendly locals..... wanting to help out a lost tourist.
The fact is, they lurk on these same corners every day, telling lies to every tourist they meet.

They are full time scammers working for the Thai Tourist Mafia.

EXAMPLE:
Appx. 25 or more full time scammers work around the entrance to the Erawan Shrine, a popular tourist attraction in Bangkok.
They all work as a "team" and "own" this corner,...they employ state of the art communication.
This same group is at the Erawan Shrine, ALL DAY-EVERY DAY!
Lying to tourists is their job, their occupation.
They work their scams on tourists in plain view of the Security Guards and Managers .
Some of the Erawan Tourist Mafia group work on the BTS Skywalk
above the Shrine, some on the corner of the Gaysorn Mall and many more around the Central World Center.

THEY ARE UNTOUCHABLE.

Your average tourist must meet dozens of these scammers everyday.
Groups like this are at every tourist site, looking for their next victim, a novice tourist.......a new arrival to THE LAND OF SMILES....SMILING CRIMINALS.

These people are ruining Thailands friendly reputation and will have a devastating effect on tourism, a major industry in Thailand.

ISN'T IT TIME THE T.A.T. DID SOMTHING??

The below link will take you to various Gem Scam sites:
<a href="http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=thai+gem+scam&amp;fr=yfp-t-368&amp;toggle=1&amp;cop=mss&amp;ei=UTF-8&amp;fp_ip=TH">search.yahoo.com/search?p=thai+gem+scam&amp;fr=yfp-t-368&...</a>

[FLW]

Bangkok Littering 'Police' EXTORTING TOURISTS.

The sting here is all the garbage bins in this area have been removed, if any foreigner throws a ciggarette butt on the filthy sidewalk, the police jump out and issue on the spot fines demanding between 2000 and 5000 baht (local currency) with no paperwork given to the offender. The fine for a Thai National is 200 baht.

(Funny thing is, These Police smoke and YES, flick their butts onto the Street!)

The "tourist sting operation" running on Sukhumvit&Silom where 'Police' stand around behind shop front, advertising stands and display racks watching all Foreigners who walk past.
If they see a Farang cigarette smoker, they either "stalk" them or radio ahead to their partner positioned down the street. There are no bins! Hmmm.

These "littering Police Teams" bust 5 or 6 tourists per hour(about 72 tourists a day)
That is 12,000 bht per hour!
A 12 hour day nets each team, at least 144,000bt. a day!... or 4,000,000 bht a month hassling tourists.

There are several of these 'tourist sting' operations along Sukhumvit and Silom.

How can Thai tourism survive when Tourists are under constant assault from the Tourist Mafia?

[FLW]

NEVER use a "parked' taxi by your hotel. NEVER!
The Tourist Mafia controls that area in front of your hotel.

First hand reports here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=611886


Never use the Tourist Mafia Taxi !
Always flag down a 'moving taxi'.
Never let a Thai Taxi choose you.

[FLW]

Tourist police telling tourists the TEMPLE IS CLOSED!
http://www.bangkokscams.com/scams-in...n-one-day.html

[thainotts]

Originally Posted by fridaynightlights

I SUGGEST YOU PRETEND TO BE FOREIGNER in airport taxis. These taxi drivers literally said "ไอ้ฝรั่งงี่เง่าเสร็จกู" thinking that I didn't know what he was saying. You should try some time too.

I'm intrigued. What happened next, Friday?

Normally I pretend to be a foreigner in shops and stores and they give me the red carpet treatment, assuming that I've got a fat wallet.

[thainotts]

Originally Posted by FLW

Bangkok Littering 'Police' EXTORTING TOURISTS.

The sting here is all the garbage bins in this area have been removed, if any foreigner throws a ciggarette butt on the filthy sidewalk, the police jump out and issue on the spot fines demanding between 2000 and 5000 baht (local currency) with no paperwork given to the offender. The fine for a Thai National is 200 baht.

Factual correction, FLW, the fine for littering for everyone is 2000 baht. Maybe the 200 baht fine is the bribe.

[FLW]

I could be mistaken on that, thanks.
Never mind though... they only target tourists as far as I can tell. Never seen them bother a Thai.
Lately, I've seen quite a few more stationed along Sukhumvit and sometime down the Sois too.
The are ramping up the operation, getting more blatant and aggressive and intimidating hundreds of tourists a day.

Sad days ahead for Thai Tourism.

[napoleon]

TAT reduces 2009 tourist revenue forecast Higher oil prices will deter travel

Bangkokpost 8/07/2008


High oil prices have prompted the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to trim its 2009 revenue projection to 630 billion baht, a 5% gain from 2008.


Foreign tourist arrivals are projected at 16 million next year, down from 17 million in an earlier projection. But spending is forecast to increase to 39,375 baht per person per trip from 38,760 baht, as the agency plans to tap into quality visitors.


The projection is based on the assumption that world oil prices would increase to $200 per barrel.


The Tourism and Sports Ministry said recently that it wanted to raise the country's tourism revenue from foreign visitors by at least 10% in 2009.


The TAT has forecast tourism revenue of 600 billion baht at the end of this year from 15.48 million foreign visitors, with domestic tourists contributing 385 billion baht. In 2007, Thailand welcomed 14.46 million foreign visitors, registering 4.65% growth over 2006.


High oil prices affecting travel costs remain the main challenge for Thai tourism, according to Santichai Euachongprasit, the TAT's deputy governor for international marketing.


Higher fuel costs were also likely to force airlines to cut their flights, especially long-haul routes, he said.


Marketing campaigns, according to Mr Santichai, should focus more on short-haul visitors from Asia and the Middle East, while trying to maintain the European and United States markets.


For the European Union market, for instance, activities would focus on environmental concerns and nature conservation, while US visitors favour information technology, said Mr Santichai.


Activities in the Northeast Asia, Asean and South Asia would feature two- or three-day packages, especially for holiday destinations.


The TAT this year plans to organise 14 roadshows next year including six in North Asia, four in South Asia and Asean, three in Europe, and one in the US.


In the meantime, in a bid to stay competitive in the long-haul market, the agency plans to distribute 100,000 tourism value-cards with the Amazing Thailand theme, featuring discounts for foreign visitors shopping in Thailand. The scheme will target three markets: London, Stockholm and Singapore.


According to Mr Santichai, the agency has highlighted ''Visit Thailand Year'' as the theme of the 2009 promotion. It was also used in 1982 and 1987.


On the domestic front, the TAT remained firm on its target of 407 billion baht from 87 million trips next year.


Apichart Sankary, the president of the Thai Travel Association, agreed on the revised target by the TAT but argued that prolonged political problems also had a big impact on the tourism industry.


The impact would be more drastic if problems persist through the next few months, when reservations would start to be made for the 2009 season, he added.

[napoleon]

นักท่องเที่ยวชูกรุงเทพฯเมืองดีสุดในโลก

Bangkokbiznews 10/07/2008


สิงคโปร์ - ทราเวล แอนด์ เลเชอร์ เผยผลสำรวจความคิดเห็นทางออนไลน์ ระบุ กรุงเทพมหานครได้รับเลือกเป็นเมืองที่ดีที่สุดในโลกประจำปีนี้

กรุงเทพธุรกิจ ออนไลน์ : ในการสำรวจครั้งนี้ หมู่เกาะกาลาปากอส ในเอกวาดอร์ ยังได้รับเลือกให้เป็นหมู่เกาะที่ดีที่สุด

ผู้อ่านนิตยสารฉบับนี้ยังเลือกโรงแรมซินกิตา ซาบิน แซนด์ ในอุทยานแห่งชาติครูเกอร์ แอฟริกาใต้ให้เป็นโรงแรมที่ดีที่สุดของโลก

ขณะที่สิงคโปร์ แอร์ไลน์ คว้าตำแหน่งสายการบินยอดเยี่ยมที่ดีที่สุดไปครองอีกครั้ง

นางแนนซี่ โนโวกรอด หัวหน้ากองบรรณาธิการทราเวล แอนด์ เลเชอร์ ระบุว่า ครั้งนี้ถือเป็นครั้งแรกที่กรุงเทพฯ และหมู่เกาะกาลาปากอสคว้ารางวัลสูงสุด

นางโนโวกรอด ยังแสดงความยินดี ที่มีเมืองใหม่ติดอันดับจำนวนมากในปีนี้ โดยธรรมชาติ และการผจญภัยนับเป็นปัจจัยดึงดูดสำคัญในการเลือกสถานที่ท่องเที่ยว

เมื่อปีที่แล้ว กรุงเทพฯ ติดอยู่ในอันดับที่ 3 ส่วนหมู่เกาะกาลาปากอสอยู่ในลำดับที่ 8

ส่วนเมืองและเกาะที่ดีที่สุดในปี 2550 คือ เมืองฟลอเรนซ์และเกาะบาหลีร่วงลงสู่อันดับ 5 และอันดับ 2 ตามลำดับ