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Phuket officials unveil rules for Songkran

Posted on April 10th, 2017

Officials are calling on all people to have a fun Songkran this week, but to keep safety in mind as the annual Thai New Year water festival is set to soak the streets of Phuket this Thursday (April 13).

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Seven “zones” have been dedicated for family-oriented fun, Phuket Vice Governor Snith Sriwihok told leading officials at a meeting at the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Phuket office (DDPM-Phuket) in Phuket Town on Tuesday (April 4).

This year the zones are at: Bangla Rd and Loma Park in Patong; Saphan Hin and in front of Limelight Avenue mall in Phuket Town; Soi Ta-iad in Chalong; along the Kata Beach road; and at Surin Beach in Cherng Talay.

“The Songkran water splash zones will be helpful for people who want to enjoy the ‘water play’ and there will be officials to take care of them,” V/Gov Snith said.

However, many of the zones will still allow traffic through to engage in the “water play”, V/Gov Snith noted.

“Only Bangla Rd will be closed to traffic so people can enjoy the festival, as tourists there start splashing water to celebrate Songkran in the afternoon of April 12 and continue through April 13,” he said.

“This year there are no strict rules for Songkran, but like every year people joining the water play are asked play softly. For example, there is to be no ice throwing and no coloured powder added in the water,” V/Gov Snith added.

At the time of this article going to press, whether alcohol will be allowed to be sold or consumed in the zones remained unclear.

Some zones, such as the one at Limelight Avenue mall in Phuket Town, are opening promoting the zone as “No Alcohol”, while traditionally at some other zones, such as Bangla Rd in Patong, alcohol has been tolerated.

Speaking to The Phuket News on Wednesday, Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Col Witoon Kongsukjai limited his clarification to, “The usual laws regarding the sale and consumption of alcohol will apply.”

As announced by Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan said at the Defence Ministry in Bangkok on Monday, Songkran revellers have been given the nod to splash and spray water from the back of pickup trucks – provided they do it on secondary roads or residential streets and not busy thoroughfares.

Deputy PM Gen Prawit said that the traditional festive activity could be carried out on minor roads, where imposing speed limits and supervising motorists would be easier.

However, main roads and highways where motorists travel at speed have been ruled out of bounds for water activities.

“To prevent road accidents we will focus on risky areas where there have been a lot of accidents, such as the road over Patong Hill and the main points where traffic is dense,” V/Gov Snith said.

“The government policy allows people in the back of pickup trucks, but if there are too many people or they are behaving dangerously, law enforcement will be strict and those who break the law will be charged,” V/Gov Snith warned.

Chakri Memorial Day

Posted on April 6th, 2017

Thais enjoy a public holiday, Thursday, 6 April, just a week ahead of the popular Songkran festival, 13 to 15 April.

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Both are public holidays for government, banks and commercial sectors.

The country celebrates Chakri Memorial Day, Thursday, 6 April, to honour the 10 kings who have ruled Thailand under the present Chakri Dynasty.

The first king in the Chakri Dynasty, Rama I, founded the capital in Bangkok.

The annual Songkran festival, or the traditional New Year celebrations, get underway a week later, Thursday 13 April to Saturday 15 April, plus a substitution holiday for workers, Monday 17 April, due to the final day of the Songkran festival falling on a Saturday.

Songkran prompts a massive exodus of Bangkok residents who return to their rural homes to spend the holiday with their families and friends. Sadly the beautiful festival has over the years degenerated into a water war with the original cultural aspects lost. It is also a week of tragedy for many Thai families due to traffic accidents that leave more than 3,000 people seriously injured and more than 500 people killed on the roads during the festival week.

‘Keep Phuket Clean’ campaign draws thousands to Patong Beach

Posted on April 5th, 2017

More than 2,000 people turned out at Patong Beach for a mass beach-cleanup today (April 4) as Phuket Governor Chockchai Dejamornthan launched the government-driven “Keep Phuket Clean” campaign.

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“The government has issued an order to solve the rubbish problem. The plan is for Thailand to be free of litter all this year, 2017,” Gov Chockchai told the crowd gathered near the Police Box at the end of Bangla Rd.

“So Phuket has launched the campaign ‘Keep Phuket Clean by our hands’. The objective is to make people more concerned about cleanliness,” he added.

Similar launch events will be held at the end of Saphan Hin and at Bang Tao Beach in Cherng Talay, Gov Chockchai noted.

Under the campaign, each local administrative office must identify one area in particular to keep clean, and where appropriate it must be a beach area, he explained

However, municipalities and other forms of local administrations must also maintain their areas by keeping grass cut along roadsides and around government buildings and making sure roads are free from litter.

They must also clear any sources of health risk, improve the scenery such as by removing signs or banners that are tattered.

“They must also keep drains clear. The roads will be cleaned, and underwater rubbish in the sea and in canals will be cleaned. In addition air pollution will be measured,” Gov Chockchai said.

“Every local administrative office must follow the campaign, and the public can help too by taking part to make our province clean and to support the good image of a world tourism city with our hands and hearts,” he added.

Present for the official cleanup launch today was Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsup, who last month independently launched her own campaign to clear rubbish from being dumped on the streets of Patong with revamped collections and an mobile phone app for the public to use to report dumped garbage.

Patong is also the focal point of a campaign to clear ugly tangles of overhead cables from the streets, with Sai Nam Yen Rd to be cleared first, followed by 1.2 kilometres of Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd that includes the section past the Jungceylon shopping mall.

Thai tourism’s financial focus starts paying off

Posted on March 30th, 2017

Thailand’s strategy of focusing on quality over quantity, in terms of its international tourist arrivals, appears to be paying off.

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The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) revealed today (Wednesday 29 March 2017) that the country expects to generate THB490 billion (US$14bn) in international tourism revenues in the first quarter of the year, marking a year-on-year increase of 7%.

This growth rate is significantly higher than the expected 2% increase in international visitor arrivals, which are forecast to reach 9.2 million in the first three months of 2017. This indicates that international travellers are spending more per person in Thailand now than they were this time last year.

The sharp deceleration in the growth of visitor arrivals however, from a year-on-year rate of +15% in the first quarter of 2016 to just +2% in Q1 2017, may cause some concern. Q1 is traditionally Thailand’s peak season.

Thailand is also expecting to register 32.5m domestic tourism trips and THB240bn in domestic tourism revenues in the first quarter of 2017, marking year-on-year growth of 8% and 12% respectively. This means that, in total, the country’s tourism industry is forecast to generate THB734bn in Q1 2017, up 9% year-on-year.

And this growth is forecast to accelerate in the second quarter, with an 11% year-on-year revenue increase, to THB630bn, including THB16.6bn expected to be generated during the five-day Songkran holiday period.

“In the first quarter we’ve seen healthy growth from all source markets, and so we expect this growth momentum to continue into the second quarter,” said Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the TAT. “This expectation is based on a number of factors; Thailand will host the WTTC Global Summit 2017 from 26-27 April in Bangkok, and the Destination Wedding Planners Congress 2017 from 2-4 May in Phuket.

“TAT will also enhance our marketing efforts in China through a series of roadshow events that focus on the luxury, health and wellness, and new markets as well as through celebrity marketing under the ‘Experience Thailand with Mario’ campaign,” he added.

Thailand welcomed a record 32.6m overseas visitors and generated THB1.64 trillion in international tourism revenues in 2016, up 9% and 13% respectively.

THAI launches direct Beijing-Phuket flights

Posted on March 29th, 2017

The inaugural flight of the Thai Airways International (THAI) four-times weekly direct flights from Beijing touched down at Phuket International Airport yesterday (Mar 27), bringing a consortium of tour and travel operators to sample Phuket’s tourism treats in order to sell packages to tourists from mainland China.

“This new THAI route is vital as Phuket becomes ever more popular with tourists and travellers from China who can now conveniently come here for weekends, knowing they’ll find the world’s best beaches, a warm welcome, and unique local experiences that will provide amazing memories,” said Bangornrat Chinaprayoon, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) office in Beijing.

“Phuket is a high-quality, must-see tropical destination and this new air access will allow tourists from our largest market to fly here directly with no hassles and start enjoying the beach and local culture as soon as they touch down.”

Joining the local welcome party at Phuket airport was Anoma Vongyai, who heads the TAT Phuket office. Of note, Ms Bangornrat of the TAT Beijing office previously served as Phuket TAT chief before her posting to China.

THAI is operating four flights per week on the new Beijing-Phuket route, using a 264-seat Dreamliner B787.

The route is being promoted under a “Phuket Express” campaign, leveraging the fact that tourists and travellers from China can now fly direct to the island.

With flights incoming from Beijing on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and outgoing flights on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, the service will allow travellers from Beijing to fly to Phuket for long weekend visits, arriving on Friday morning and leaving Sunday evening to be back at work on Monday.

The flight time is about five hours and 35 minutes for both the incoming and outgoing flights.

The TAT has five offices in China – in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Kunming, and Guangzhou – which are responsible for promoting and marketing Thailand to Chinese tourists and travellers.

In 2017, the TAT expects Thailand to attract at least nine million visitors from China and generate some B570 billion for the Thai tourism industry.

Thai airports improve passenger traffic

Posted on March 28th, 2017

Airports of Thailand reported strong increases in both aircraft movements and passenger traffic at the six airports under its management during February this year.

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AoT reported, on Tuesday, that all of its supervised airports served 11,177,269 passengers, up 4.59% from 10,686,642 when compared with the same month in 2016.
Overall, aircraft movements also increased by 2.96% from 64,624 to 66,535.
For the first two months of the year, Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport handled 10.76 million passenger movements, followed by Don Mueang with 6.30 million and Phuket 3.13 million. Chiang Mai Airport clocked up 1.90 million.
February highlights
Suvarnabhumi Airport suffered a slight decrease of 2.56% in international aircraft movements from 21,538 to 20,986, while domestic movements grew 8.68% from 6,605 to 7,178 movements.
International passenger traffic increased 1.27% from 4,189,331 to 4,136,790, while domestic passenger traffic grew 12.60% from 907,838 to 1,022,245. Overall, it accounted for a 3.31% increase from 5,044,628 to 5,211,576.
The second aviation gateway, Don Mueang Airport, recorded a 0.47% increase in international aircraft movements from 6,368 to 6,398. Domestic movements posted an improvement of 3.93% from 13,023 to 13,535.
International passenger traffic increased 6.82% from 998,301 to 1,066,406, and domestic traffic improved 3.30% from 1,889,245 to 1,951,582.
Chiang Mai International Airport continued to show growth in February. International aircraft movements registered an increase of 0.13% (1,598 to 1,600), while domestic aircraft movements increased 9.82% (4,065 to 4,464).
International passenger traffic decreased by a marginal 1.06% from 214,166 to 211,902, while domestic traffic gained 8.43% from 629,398 to 682,453.
Phuket International Airport registered a slight decline of 0.09% in international aircraft movements from 4,474 to 4,470, while domestic aircraft movements improved 9.54% from 3,773 to 4,133.
International passenger traffic increased 3.80% from 819,377 to 850,545, while domestic traffic improved 5.43% from 630,099 to 664,283.
Chiang Rai International Airport reported a 14.69% increase in aircraft movements from 1,225 to 1,405, while passenger traffic grew 17.89% from 172,456 to 203,302.
Hat Yai International Airport saw aircraft movement improve 21.02% from 1,955 to 2,366 in February. Meanwhile, passenger traffic registered a 16.00% increase from 288,972 to 335,220 passenger movements.

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TripAdvisor recognises Asia’s best destinations with Travellers’ Choice awards

Posted on March 22nd, 2017

TripAdvisor, the travel planning and booking site, announced recently the winners of its Travellers’ Choice awardsfor destinations, with Thai destinations dominating Asia’s Top 10: Phuket, Ko Samui and Bangkok placing third, seventh and eighth respectively.

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“We’re delighted that Phuket, Ko Samui and Bangkok have been named as among Asia’s Top Destinations in the esteemed TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards,” said Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications of Tourism Authority of Thailand, Mr. Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya.

“Phuket and Ko Samui are among our most beautiful and laid-back island resorts while Bangkok offers unparalleled shopping, dining experiences and an infinite variety of entertainment. These three destinations remain beloved by visitors year after year, showing that Thailand can continue to surprise people by offering unique experiences that can’t be found elsewhere.”

“Thailand has is a forever favourite with travellers all over the world and this is evident with three of its most-loved destinations placing in Asia’s top 10,” said Janice Lee Fang, Communications Director of TripAdvisor, Asia Pacific. “Millions of travellers visit TripAdvisor daily for inspiration and to make decisions on where to go, what to do and what to eat when they visit the country, and they then share their experiences with others through their reviews. We are so delighted to see these Thai destinations doing so well on an international scale.”

Award winners were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for hotels, restaurants and attractions in destinations worldwide, gathered over a 12-month period, as well as traveller booking interest on TripAdvisor. The awards honour 418 outstanding destinations in 24 lists across the globe.

TripAdvisor has also identified top-rated hotels, iconic attractions and popular restaurants that travellers love in when they visit Asia’s award-winning destinations.

Top 10 Travellers’ Choice Destinations in Asia:

1. Bali, Indonesia
The beautiful island of Bali has something to offer all travellers: Seminyak for the spa and boutique shopping lover, Nusa Dua for families and idyllic Ubud for travellers seeking peace and tranquillity. Travellers new to the island should explore the Scared Monkey Forest and stay at the Junjungan Ubud Hotel and Spa which overlooks rice paddy fields.

2. Siem Reap, Cambodia

Home to the world-renowned Angkor Wat, Siem Reap has become a popular destination over the past two decades, with its rich history and diverse range of accommodations, dining and shopping options. Travellers can relive Siem Reap’s storied past with a visit to Bayon Temple for its fascinating ruins and bas reliefs and complete the local experience by ordering a plate of beef lok lak at Haven and staying at the charming Golden Temple Residence.

3. Phuket, Thailand

Home to two award-winning Travellers’ Choice beaches, Kata Noi and Nai Harn, Phuket is a great holiday spot with plenty of natural attractions to explore, like limestone cliffs, caves and clear blue waters. Start the day with a trek to see the Phuket Big Buddha, a glorious 45-metres tall Buddha statue located on top of Nakkerd Hills, stop for a plate of authentic pad Thai at the Pad Thai Shop and spend the afternoon taking a lesson in Thai cooking before returning to the warm hospitality at Navatara Phuket Resort.

4. Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi An’s humble beginnings as an old sea port can still be felt today. The well-preserved Hoi An Ancient Town with its riverside settings and colonial architecture is a major draw for travellers looking for old-world charm. After a day of sightseeing, travellers can snack on white rose dumplings and spring rolls at the family-run Wooden House Cafe & Restaurant and retreat to the budget-friendly Pham Gia Boutique Homestay Villa.

5. Kathmandu, Nepal

Kathmandu is an astonishingly beautiful destination featuring majestic Himalayan mountains, alluring temples and vibrant town squares. Popular with travellers seeking spiritual pursuits, tours of iconic Buddhist sites such as the Boudhanath Stupa and Swayambhunath Temple are a must. Feast on local dumplings, momos and enjoy Nepalese hospitality at the Aryatara Kathmandu Hotel.

6. Hanoi, Vietnam

The capital city of Vietnam, Hanoi is famed for its art and architecture, with numerous colonial buildings and art galleries scattered across the city. Old Quarter remains a favourite amongst travellers wanting an authentic local experience, with rows of shops and food stalls offering local delicacies and wares. Order a pork sandwich, or as locals call it banh mi pate, and experience roadside dining on small stools and tables at Banh Mi 25. Travellers can end their day at the upscale Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, located at the edge of the historic Old Quarter.

7. Ko Samui, Thailand

Travellers head to idyllic Ko Samui to restoration and rejuvenation at its many beautiful beaches and spas. For food and shopping, visitors can head to Fisherman’s Village on Friday nights for the local night market or head to Khaw Glong Thai Restaurant for fresh mango salad and stay at the modern and secluded Code.

8. Bangkok, Thailand

One of the busiest metropolis in the world, Bangkok features lively markets, vibrant nightlife and attractions that reflect its Buddhist heritage. Travellers can walk through the temple grounds of Wat Pho (Temple of Reclining Buddha) to appreciate the craftsmanship and elaborate details of one of Bangkok’s most exquisitely decorated Buddhist temples. Refuel at local favourite Ama and stay at the wallet-friendly Bangkok Loft Inn.

9. Lombok, Indonesia

Just a stone’s throw from Bali, Lombok is ideal for travellers looking for natural sights and outdoor adventure. From a lazy sunbathe at Tanjung Ann Beach, a refreshing dip at Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep Waterfall, to hiking the steep terrains of Mount Rinjani, there are plenty of activities for any tourist. Travellers can try local warung dishes such as gado-gado at Nugget’s Corner and spend the night at the small and intimate The Lombok Lodge.

10. Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo is a dizzying whirl with its futuristic skyscrapers, neon signs and crush of people, interspersed with centuries-old temples and traditional gardens. Travellers can take in the beauty of the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, taste Hakushu’s signature Kobe beef and rest at the award winning Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo.

Slight increase in Thailand’s arrivals

Posted on March 20th, 2017

Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports reports international visits to Thailand, January to February, exceeded 6.18 million, a slight increase of 1.58% year-on-year.

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Released last Thursday, the ministry’s data showed the country attracted 6,186,224 international over the two months, compared to 6,090,203 visits during the same period last year.

The data is based on foreign passport, or ID holders, passing through international checkpoints (land, sea and air).

An international arrival is generally defined as a stay of 24 hours, or more, and not limited to just leisure travel. Most ID holders cross borders with neighbouring countries, dawn to dusk, for trading. As the stays are less than 24 hours it is not apparent on what grounds the ministry is counting ID visits.
Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said Thailand is gearing up to promote the country’s tourism industry via sporting events, gastronomy and jewellery.

Marine tourism projects are also expected to help draw more quality tourists to Thailand, she added.

February highlights

In February, foreign travellers recorded 2,989,171 visits, down 3.23% from 3,088,876 visits during the same month last year.

By region, all markets recorded increases in February except East Asia. East Asia (ASEAN included) declined 9.07% from 2,030,624 to 1,846,377 visits.

Declines were recorded in: Hong Kong (-24.99%); China (-17.55%); Malaysia (-14.49%); Singapore (-10.40%); and Taiwan (-4.18%).

Markets that showed improvements were: Cambodia (+20.50%); Laos (+17.18%); South Korea (+10.75%); Vietnam (+7.87%); Myanmar (+7.06%); Brunei (+6.01%); Indonesia (+5.46%); Japan (+2.60%); and the Philippines (+2.24%).

South Asia recorded the highest growth of 19.18% from 100,179 to 119,391 visits. India led the field supplying 93,618 visits growing 23.29% from 75,874 followed by Bangladesh (8,675; +18.24%), Pakistan (5,607; +7.56%), Sri Lanka (4,492; -21.59%) and Nepal (3,948; +23.14%).

The Middle East posted an increase of 12.81% from 45,953 to 51,839 visits.

Israel showed the highest arrivals with 15,462 visits increasing 11.87% from 13,821 visits.

Other main markets in the Middle East: the United Arab Emirates (5,515; -7.25%); Kuwait (3,722; +12.28%); Egypt (1,791; -17.99%); and Saudi Arabia (1,592; +46.59%).

The Americas recorded a growth of 11.75% from 127,242 to 142,196 visits.

The United States recorded the highest arrivals at 87,687 up 6.50% from 82,335 followed by Canada (26,856; +1.63%), Argentina (10,465; +65.09%) and Brazil (9,349; +74.55%).

Europe increased 5.99% from 714,962 to 757,758 visits. The markets that showed improvements were: Russia (+40.90%); East Europe (+22.38%); Austria (+3.14%); and France (+1.14).

The markets that showed declines were: the Netherlands (-10.76%); Italy (-5.74%); the United Kingdom (-5.13%); Sweden (-4.87%); Germany (-3.56%); Norway (-3.56%); Denmark (-2.71%); Belgium (-2.28%); Spain (-2.06%); Switzerland (-1.70%); and Finland (-0.18%).

The Oceania reported an improvement of 2.52% from 59,630 to 61,134 visits. The main markets Australia and New Zealand show increases at 2.77% (54,280) and 0.17% (6,653) respectively.

Africa posted a slightly increase of 1.85% from 10,286 to 10,476 visits. The main market South Africa increased 4.99% from 3,691 to 3,875.

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Thailand to spend billions improving airports

Posted on March 7th, 2017

The Thai government has approved plans to spend billions of dollars upgrading and expanding the country’s airports.

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The Bangkok Post reported Thailand’s Industry Minister, Uttama Savanayana, as saying that the national plan had been approved by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha, and would be funded using public-private partnerships.

In total, the plan calls for THB406 billion (US$11.6bn) to be invested across the country over the next 10 years. This includes the three airports serving the Greater Bangkok region – Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and U-Tapao – plus 10 mid-sized regional hubs and a series of small city airports.

Overall, the country’s annual passenger capacity will more than double from 130 million at present to 277m a decade from now. Suvarnabhumi Airport’s capacity will double from 45m to 90m, Don Mueang will increase from 30m to 40m, and U-Tapao’s capacity will surge from three million to 30m passengers per year.

The 10 regional airports earmarked for development are Phuket, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Hat Yai, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Chiang Rai, Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani and Khon Kaen, while the small city airports will include Mae Hong Son, Hua Hin, Nakhon Ratchasima, Pattani and Chumphon.

Thailand’s visits up 6% in January

Posted on March 2nd, 2017

Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports reports visits to Thailand exceeded 3.19 million, an improvement of 6.52% in January this year.

Released last week, the ministry’s data showed the country attracted 3,197,053 visits in the first month of the year, compared to 3,001,327 visits during the same month last year.

The data is based on foreign passport holders, or ID holders, passing through international checkpoints (land, sea and air).  

This means the count includes cross-border visits from Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Myanmar, but according to UNWTO guidelines the stays should be 24-hours or more.

Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Minister, Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, said tourism is a key driver to help generate revenue for the country’s economy. She has identifed five priority segments.

They are: sports tourism; medical and wellness; weddings and romance; maritime tourism; and ASEAN connect.

The latter is a reference to promoting multi-destination trips that start with Thailand and extend to one or more countries in ASEAN.

During January, the ministry estimated visits generated THB169,272.10 million in revenue up 10.26% from THB153,522.32 million during the same month last year.

Unfortunately, revenue estimates are based on a rough calculation of daily spend, derived from exit surveys at airports and other considerations such as credit card spend data.

The top five markets based on estimated revenue were: China (THB43,417.39 million; +9.17%); Russia (THB13,703.36 million; +24.02%); the United States (THB7,575.88 million; +17.13%); Malaysia (THB7,259.79 million; -2.94%); and South Korea (THB7,122.11 million; -2.43%)

January highlights

By regions, all markets recorded increases in the first month of the 2017 year except the Oceania.

The Americas recorded the highest growth of 16.87% from 137,924 to 161,195 visits.

The US recorded the highest arrivals at 101,785 up 9.47% from 92,979 followed by Canada (29,186; +7.09%), Argentina (11,995; +89.40%) and Brazil (10,583; +108.37%).

South Asia represented an increase of 14.31% from 120,202 to 137,406 visits. India led the field supplying 107,227 visits growing 17.51% from 91,248 followed by Bangladesh (9,678; +4.18%), Pakistan (6,659; +13.71%), Nepal (4,575; +20.81%) and Sri Lanka (4,447; -15.28%).

Europe increased 4.77% from 748,065 to 811,741 visits. The markets that showed improvements were: Russia (+27.42%); East Europe (+23.80%); France (+5.90%); Germany (+5.69%); Austria (+4.96%); Spain (+2.91%); Belgium (+2.29%); Switzerland (+1.21%); and Italy (+0.32%).

UK visits increased from 94,085 to 94,087.

The markets that showed declines were: the Netherlands (-4.82%); Norway (-4.52%); Sweden (-2.54%); Finland (-1.49%); and Denmark (-1.29%).

The Middle East posted an increase of 6.90% from 61,032 to 65,246 visits.

Israel showed the highest arrivals with 16,568 visits increasing 18.36% from 13,998 visits.

Other main markets in the Middle East: Kuwait (7,820; +15.05%); the United Arab Emirates (6,998; -7.42%); Saudi Arabia (2,455; +34.96%); and Egypt (2,112; -6.92%).

East Asia (ASEAN included) grew 4.77% from 1,844,794 to 1,932,723 visits.

The markets showed improvements were: Hong Kong (+45.99%); Brunei (+19.94%); Cambodia (+19.06%); Vietnam (+14.82%); Myanmar (+13.58%); the Philippines (+12.21%); Indonesia (+11.66%); Singapore (+10.78%); Japan (+5.72%); and China (+5.53%).

Markets that showed declines were: Malaysia (-4.54%); South Korea (-1.99%); Laos (-0.56%) and Taiwan (-0.03%).

Africa showed a slightly improvement of 0.71% from 11,825 to 11,909 visits. The main market South Africa increased 5.87% from 4,738 to 5,016.

In contrast, Oceania reported a slight decline of 0.84% from 77,485 to 76,833 visits. The main markets New Zealand showed improvement of 2.92% (8,467) while Australia dropped 1.34% (68,131).