TRAVEL TITBITS
Thai Tourism on rise
Thailand is expected to welcome 37.55 million visitors this year, up
6% from 2017, according to the Tourism and Sports Ministry.
The ministry expects the total revenue of tourism to rise 8.3% to reach 3 trillion baht, of which
2 trillion will be generated from international visitors, said the ministry’s Permanent Secretary Pongpanu Svetarundra.
Last year, the numbers of international visitors to Thailand slightly surpassed its previous forecast from 35 million to 35.38 million visitors, or up 8.77% from 2016. The total revenue generated from the tourism industry in 2017 was 2.75 trillion baht, of which 1.82 trillion baht was generated by international tourists, he said.
The largest group of tourists were still Chinese, accounting for 9.8 million or 27% of international visitors.
According to a recent survey by the Thailand Research Fund, it found that 89% of Chinese tourists travel to Thailand by themselves or without paying for group tour services.
The majority visit natural sites, staying in boutique hotels and dining in local restaurants. Their most favourite dish was tom yum goong, followed by phad Thai and seafood, while mango sticky rice is their favourite dessert. They also
liked to buy dried fruits as souvenirs as well as clothes, cosmetics, medicines and fashion accessories.
Visiting spas was the top activity Chinese tourists like to have while staying in Thailand, followed by shopping, riding elephants, watching cabaret shows and outdoor activities such as zip-line riding and rafting.
International travel up
International tourist arrivals to destinations around the world grew 7% in 2017, reaching 1.32 billion, according to the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Tourism Barometer.
The growth represents the strongest results in more than seven years and the momentum in the sector is expected to carry on this year.
“International travel continues to grow strongly, consolidating the tourism sector as a key driver in economic development,” said UNWTO secretary-general Zurab Pololikashvili, adding that as the third export sector in the world, tourism was essential for job creation and the prosperity of communities around the world.
International tourist arrivals in Europe reached 671 million in 2017, up 8%, while Africa also had the same 8% growth and reached a record 62 million international arrivals. Asia and the Pacific recorded 324 million international tourist arrivals, up 6%. The most growth in this region is in South Asia (10%), followed by Southeast Asia (8%), Oceania (7%) and Northeast Asia (3%).
The Middle East received 58 million international tourist arrivals with 5% growth while the Americas welcomed 207 million visitors, increasing by 3%.
For this year, UNWTO projects international tourist arrivals worldwide to grow at a rate of 4%-5%. Europe and the Americas are expected to grow by 3.5%-4.5%, Asia and the Pacific by 5%-6%, Africa by 5%-7% and the Middle East by 4%-6%.
Airlines update
Thai AirAsia X will reopen daily direct flights between Bangkok and Sapporo, the capital city of Hokkaido, on April 10.
The flight will depart from Don Mueang Airport at 11.55pm and arrive in Sapporo at 8.40am. The return flight leaves at 9.55am and arrives in Bangkok at 3.10pm. The journey will be about seven hours.
Sapporo is the third city after Thai AirAsia X launched two daily direct flights each to Tokyo and Osaka.
Meanwhile Thai AirAsia, its sister company, will launch daily direct flights between Bangkok and Ranong on Feb 16.
The flight will depart Don Mueang Airport at 11.45am and arrive in Ranong at 1pm. The return flight will be 1.40pm and arrive in Bangkok at 2.55pm. The travel time is one hour and 15 minutes. Visit airasia.com.
Thai Airways has joined hands with Mahidol University’s Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital to launch the “Donate Miles To Share Happiness” campaign.
The campaign will open an opportunity for the airline’s Royal Orchid Plus Frequent Flyer Programme members to donate their miles to the Faculty of Medicine.
Those donated miles will be redeemed for domestic and international tickets of the airlines to fund medical supplies for Siriraj Hospital’s Navamindrapobitr 84th Anniversary Medical Center.
Donations can be made online via the airline’s website at thaiairways.com/rop until July 31.
Hotels update
Bangkok-based Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas will open its first two hotels in Singapore.
Six Senses Duxton and Six Senses Maxwell hotels are refurbished from heritage buildings located in Chinatown. The Six Senses Duxton will feature 49 rooms and suites, a restaurant and lobby bar.
Six Senses Maxwell, on the other hand, will feature 138 rooms and suites, restaurant, spa, lap pool, bars, boardroom and club lounge.
Six Senses Duxton will be open in April followed by Six Senses Maxwell in July.
Banyan Tree Bangkok on Sathon Road will host its 19th Vertical Marathon on Feb 25.
The charity annual event is a 61-floor race for runners to endure 1,093 steps from the ground floor to the rooftop finishing line at the Vertigo Grill and Moon Bar.
Last year the event raised about 400,000 baht fund for the Thai Red Cross HIV Formula Feeding Fund, which provides essential infant formula for babies of HIV-afflicted mothers and will be the recipient of this year’s fundraiser as well. The registration fee is 400 baht.
Visit gotorace.com/event/vertical-marathon-2018.
Email karnjanak@bangkokpost.co.th if you have any comments to share.