Despite Asia Pacific’s (APAC’s) difficult year, the region’s travel industry is soaring, according to new research by travel industry research authority Phocuswright. An expanding middle class continues to spend more on travel, continued economic development, and increases in travel supply are bolstering the Asia Pacific travel market.

A new Phocuswright report provides a deep analysis into 13 APAC countries and territories, market sizing, trends and projections for the world’s largest travel market.

Key findings include:

The APAC market rose 4% year over year in 2014, to US$340.4 billion — 30% of the global travel market.

But currency fluctuations dragged down growth in several markets, where local currency gains were much higher.

India will be APAC’s fastest-growing major travel market from 2013 to 2017, achieving a CAGR of 11%, in line with China. This is due to loosening of certain travel restrictions, investment in infrastructure supporting growth, and a continuously expanding middle class.

China will be the first travel market and country to have the majority of its online bookings through mobile. By 2016, 53% of online travel will come through mobile.

“More than anywhere else in the world, Asia Pacific’s — and in particular, China’s — travel growth is coming through mobile channels,” says Maggie Rauch, Phocuswright senior research analyst. “The region’s rapid rise and shift to mobile are fueling intense innovation and competition.”

As officials yesterday (Nov 11) mapped out the 10 per cent zone for the new “Phuket Beach Model” for beaches in the Karon sub-district, Phuket Vice Governor Chokdee Armornwat once again reiterated that all umbrellas must be placed within the 10 per cent zone.

Karon sub district consist of six beaches, and yesterday officials surveyed and marked out the 10% zone designated for umbrellas and beach mats on each of those beaches.

At a meeting held at Karon Municipality office before the marking out took place, V/Gov Chokdee announced, “Karon Beach has five 10% zones each 70 metres wide,. Kata Beach has two 70 metre 10% zones, Kata Noi two 40 metre 10% zones and Karon Noi one 40 metre 10% zone.

“90% of these beaches are for the public to enjoy, but no umbrellas or mats are allowed in that area.

“Freedom Beach and Nui Beach are to be free of umbrellas and beach mats therefore no 10% zones have been marked out there.”

V/Gov Chokdee continued, “Today we have used plant pots as temporary markers for the 10% zones but in the future we will change them for something which better represents the area.

“Putting this new beach model to work is quite challenging because each beach is different. At some beaches the rules will affect beach vendors and tourists, while some beaches will have no vendors or hardly any visitors. We have to adjust these rules to suit each beach.

“Our beach management committee will have to meet up again to decide what areas can be used for water activities, swimming, massage and snack and drink vendors.”

V/Gov Chokdee however once again insisted that tourists who bring their own umbrellas to the beach have to stay within the 10% zone, and if they don’t they will be asked by officials to comply to the rule.

Patong was the first beach to see the introduction of the new beach rules that will govern the sands at the island’s key tourist beaches when V/Gov Chokdee marked out the new beach vendor sections and free zones for tourists last Friday (Nov 6).

160.000 Norwegians travel to Thailand every year according to the Ambassador of the Royal Thai Embassy in Oslo, Mr. Jukr Boon-Long.

The European roadshow of the Tourism Authority of Thailand in the three Scandinavian countries started with a great success and very positive impressions.

Yesterday the Thai delegation consisted of 25 hotels, travel agents and even cruise operators visited Norway and met with 15 key Norwegian buyers.

The general feeling was the Norwegian may be the weakest market among the three Scandinavian countries with Sweden to lead and Denmark to follow but it is very promising.

Thailand is the top Southeast Asia destination for Norwegians who usually travel in groups for family holidays.

Chatrium works already five years with the Norwegian market and Mr. Panpath Kanlaya, Group Director of Marketing & Sales at Chatrium Hotels & Residence comments that Norwegian market all these years maintain its numbers with a steady growth. Accoding to Mr Kanlaya Norway is a good quality market with family tourists who stay 3-4 nights in Bangkok before they travel in other destinations within the country.

Norwegians travel a lot to Phuket, Krabi and Koh Samui which were represented in the meeting but Pattaya is also a destination which position itself as ideal resort to be combined with Bangkok. As Ms Pratarnporn Phornprapha, Managing Director at Siam@Siam Design Hotels & Resorts and Mr Andreas Grommeck, Director of Sales, Leisure-Europe at the Royal Cliff Hotels Group stressed TAT and major hotel brands, like the ones they represent, do many efforts to leverage the profile of Pattaya as a destination suitable for families. This is why Siam@Siam decided to open a new resot in Pattaya in March 2016 as Ms Pratarnporn said.

A new, very appealing, product for Norwegian market presented to the buyers by Ms Olivia Hinterberg, Sales & Marketing Coordinator at Star Clippers. The company which offers a unique tall ship “mega-yacht” experience aboard authentic re-creations of the classic sailing clipper ships decided to rellocate one of its ships to Phuket on December 2016. Norwegians are very fond of sailing and Star Clippers’ ships are very popular. The ship will sail from December 2016 until April 2017 cruising Phuket-Phuket but also Phuket-Singapore. After April the ship will remain in Asia and start again the next season. The flight connections from Europe to Thailand are very often and offer an excellent value for money so it is more attractive for people to travel to Asia for cruises instead of Carribean according to Ms Hinterberg.

Mr. Jukr Boon-Long, Ambassador of the Royal Thai Embassy in Oslo with Mrs. Juthaporn Rerngronasa Deputy Governor for International Marketing Europe, Africa, Middle East and Americas

TAT delegation with the Mr. Jukr Boon-Long, Ambassador of the Royal Thai Embassy in Oslo.

Earlier the same day, the Ambassador of Thailand in Oslo Mr Jukr Boon-Long received the TAT delegation at his residence and discussed with them the potential of the Norwegian market and the targets of TAT to promote the 12 hidden gems destinations of Thailand. The Embassy already organise every year a big Thai festival which is very popular for Noerwegians and plans many more activities to promote culture, gastronomy and wellness which are among the strongest selling points of Thailand.

The Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) announced last week that the number of tourists visiting Thailand in 2015 will exceed 30 million, breaking all previous records and providing an important boost to the country’s economy.

According to a recent report by the World Travel and Tourism Council the total contribution of the tourism industry in 2015 (including indirect effects) will be 19.2 percent of Thailand’s GDP. The report forecasts that the sector will continue to grow and by 2025 the industry will account for 25 percent of Thailand’s GDP.

Thailand’s current leaders and previous governments have all been quick to attribute the growth and success of the tourist sector to their policies and initiatives, but the reality is that the success of Thailand’s tourist industry continues regardless of those in power. By all accounts, events from Thailand’s recent history would have severely damaged the appeal of many tourist destinations, with two military coups, political unrest, airport closures, natural disasters, high profile tourist murders and bombings in the country’s capital. However, none of these events have had a negative effect on tourism beyond a few temporary blips and Thailand’s charms continue to woo visitors in their millions.

Thailand’s appeal as a tourist destination can be attributed to the diversity of experiences it offers visitors, with tropical beaches, cultural treasures, rambunctious nightlife, cosmopolitan shopping, breathtaking scenery and exotic cuisine all available at prices that remain reasonable to the international traveler. This myriad of experiences has cemented Thailand’s place as a must-visit holiday destination with something for everyone.

In the aftermath of the August bomb attacks in Bangkok, which killed a number of tourists, there were concerns that Thailand’s lucrative tourist industry would suffer if the attack was linked to an international terrorist network. The government and the police were reluctant to discuss any connection the attack may have had with Muslim extremists, instead pointing the finger at organized crime and disgruntled human traffickers. As it happened the perpetrators were arrested and the case was conveniently wrapped up just days before National Police Chief Pol.-Gen. Somyot Poompanmoung retired.

Although Thai authorities are reluctant to acknowledge that the Kingdom may have become a target for international terrorists, most Europeans and North Americans accept the post 9/11 reality that nowhere is entirely safe from terror attacks. Thai authorities have been quick to parade visiting celebrities around Bangkok to emphasize the city’s safety, as they did recently with tennis stars Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic, but the truth is that such PR exercises do little to reassure anyone. Visitors will continue coming to Bangkok because it is as safe as any international city in the 21st Century, neither prone to regular attacks nor entirely immune to the threat of international terror.

One of the primary factors behind this year’s record breaking figures has been the influx of Chinese tourists in their millions. Chinese tourist now account for over 25 percent of the Kingdom’s visitors with 8 million Chinese expected to visit the country in 2015. Thailand is now among the most popular destinations for Chinese tourists alongside Japan and South Korea, and catering for the Chinese tourist is proving to be increasingly profitable.

It is estimated that 100 million Chinese nationals travelled abroad last year, and Chinese tourists are expected to spend $229 billion abroad this year, so it’s no surprise that hotels, restaurants and tour agents in Thailand’s most popular cities have begun embracing Chinese visitors with signs, menus and other information available in Mandarin.

Chinese tourism to Thailand will receive a further boost when the long anticipated Sino-Thai railway project from Kunming in Southern China to Bangkok finally opens. Construction on this project is due to begin this year and its completion date is not until 2020, but when it is eventually finished a huge influx of Chinese tourists is expected.

These indicators all suggest that Thailand’s Teflon tourism industry will not only remain strong but continue to grow regardless of internal politics, and Thailand’s temples, beaches, shopping malls and entertainment venues will continue to attract large numbers of international visitors for years to come.

A deadly bombing in August threatened to scuttle Thailand’s economically crucial tourism industry but officials are now forecasting more than 30 million visitors this year as arrivals from China swell.

The bounce back reinforces the teflon reputation of Thai tourism, which has thrived over the past decade despite two coups, episodes of deadly street fighting, airport occupations and natural disasters.
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Thailand’s tourism council is forecasting a record 30.3 million visitors this year, an increase of 22 percent from last year. Chinese tourists are expected to total 8.1 million, rising by three quarters from 2014.

Only a small number of countries attract more than 30 million tourists a year, among them France, China, the United States, Spain and Turkey. Thailand was aiming for 28.8 million tourists this year.

The tourism council president Ittirit Kinglek said this week the Aug. 17 bombing at a shrine in downtown Bangkok that killed 20 people, many of them foreign visitors, did “not significantly affect” the industry overall.

Tour operators say Thailand’s resilience reflects the variety it offers from high-end shopping in busy Bangkok to idyllic beaches in the south and laid back small cities in the north.

Thailand has also cultivated a reputation for friendliness and value that is particularly appealing in countries such as China, which has only recently reached income levels high enough for large numbers of people to travel abroad on holidays.

“I feel like a real rich person there, and a lot of good food, best service,” said Liang Jing, a designer based in Shanghai. “I feel safe. No war, no anti-China stuff. A great country, I will definitely go there again,” she said.

Shandong Airlines, partly owned by Air China, will launch a host of new flights to Thailand from 25 October.

The carrier will launch two daily flights to the southern resort island of Phuket, its third destination in Thailand following Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

One of the flights operates from Ji’nan, the capital of Shandong province, via Changsha, the capital of Hunan province. The other runs from the port city of Qingdao, via Xiamen.

Xiamen Airlines will also launch a new daily flight to Bangkok direct from Xiamen, the carrier’s first international service in Xiamen.

Shandong Airlines will deploy its Boeing 738 jets on these routes.

A record 30.3 million tourists are expected to visit Thailand this year, with more than a quarter coming from China, the tourism council said on Tuesday, as the country rebounds from political unrest in 2014 and a bomb attack in August.

Thailand’s vital tourism industry, which accounts for about 10 percent of GDP, has grappled with trying to overcome bad publicity following a 2014 coup and a bomb attack in Bangkok in August that briefly caused visitor arrivals to fall.

But overall, the sector has been doing well in spite of an economy that has been stubbornly underperforming, proving that Thailand’s beaches, bars and Buddhist temples continue to draw visitors.

If the tourist council’s forecast proves right this year’s total number of visitors will be 22.3 percent more than last year.

The previous record year was 2013, when 26.5 million visited. The number fell to 24.8 million in 2014, partly because some tourists were put off by political unrest including street protests in Bangkok that year.

Ittirit Kinglek, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, said the bomb attack at a major tourist spot in the Thai capital did not have much impact on the sector and the country can expect a record number this year driven by Chinese tourists.

“The bombing did not have much impact on the general outlook for tourism,” Ittirit said in a statement. “The aim is to get the last quarter of this year to return to normal.”

Fourteen foreigners – seven from mainland China and Hong Kong – were among the 20 people killed in the attack at a famous religious shrine in Bangkok’s commercial heart.

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of carrying out the attack which authorities believe stemmed from a crackdown on people-smuggling.

Visitors from China are expected to be a record 8.12 million this year, up 76.31 percent from 2014, Ittirit said.

The government has said it expects 7 million visitors from China in 2015, compared with 4.63 million in 2014, which would still be an all-time record.

It is aiming for 2.2 trillion baht (£40.09 billion) in revenue this year from tourism.