Tourism

Global tourism plunges up to 80% in 2020

Published

6 months ago

Monday, October 5, 2020

Global tourism plunges up to 80% in 2020 | Thaiger

Internationally, tourism will plunge between 60 – 80% by the end of the year. The UN World Tourism Organisation makes the forecast in their latest report. The prediction, broad and probably conservative, will put millions of workers in the world’s tourism industry, out of work. In Thailand, with its reliance on tourism as a significant contributor to its GDP, will see a fall beyond 90% for the year’s total numbers.

The loss of global tourism will take between $850 million to US$1.1 billion out of the world’s travel spend from international tourists and PUT 100 to 120 million tourism jobs at risk of being lost permanently.

International tourism is increasingly one of the main engines of the global economy as it accounts for roughly 7% of all international trade. It has witnessed a commensurate growth in the aviation industry, similarly stifled by the drop in tourism. Tourism also creates direct and indirect jobs, accounting for 1 out of 10 of ALL jobs worldwide. The sector has in many countries, including Thailand, a large informal industry that is also affected.

The UNWTO, together with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development , says that it is the deepest crisis that international tourism has faced since its records began in 1950.

“The tourism industry is one of the largest sectors to have been hit hard by health measures to control the spread of Covid-19. The extension of travel restrictions and the worsening of the financial crisis internationally also threatens international tourism and causes the industry to likely be the final sector to recover.”

SOURCE: UNWTO

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News Categories: Tourism World

5 Comments

john smith

Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at 6:35 am

But the Thai government has the answer…..greed, targeting selective rich tourists, being overly cautious and ignoring the tourists who aren’t rich but were responsible for putting food on the table…..someone please explain why Thai government always think westerners are richer than they think…….but alas the government will learn the hard way. Watch them get more and more desperate after biting off the hand and whole Arn that feed them….oh yes did someone convince them there is no money with all that sex stuff that used to go on in the good old days……..we are a family tourist destination now don’t you know…….wake up guys……something tells me they will wake up when they see every idea go down in flames

Reply
- Peter
  
  Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at 9:35 pm
  
  “why Thai government always think westerners are richer than they think”
  
  Ahahahaha Thai government know what westerners poor as church mouse. That why they are target on Chinese;)
  Your time in Thailand is over. You destroyed Phuket and Pattaya by bringing dirt, drugs and prostitution to these beautiful places. Goodbye and don’t come back anymore, please.
  
  Thailand made the mistake of allowing Farangs to come to the country. Prayut fixed this
  
  Reply
  - Horst
    
    Thursday, October 8, 2020 at 11:29 am
    
    Peter du bist einfach nur ein kleiner dummer junge
    
    Reply
  - Horst
    
    Thursday, October 8, 2020 at 12:04 pm
    
    Falsch Peter die thai Regierung wird noch um jeden farrang froh sein der Devisen bringt wer brachte denn den Dreck und Unrat nach Thailand? Siehe mayabay kho phi phi usw richtig deine Freunde aus China ich wohne in der nähe Schloss neu schwanstein wir hatten das gleiche Problem seit die weg sind alles wieder Im lot hoffentlich kommen die nie wieder
    
    Reply
Don R

Friday, October 9, 2020 at 10:18 am

Seems like a great opportunity for neighbors like Laos, Cambodia, or Myanmar to supplant Thailand as the world’s number 1 tourist destination. This would put them on the fast track to economic development and could dramatically extend the life expectancy of their population.

Reply

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Chiang Mai

Tourism officials slash Songkran travel expectations by half

Published

1 day ago

Saturday, April 10, 2021

Tim Newton

Tourism officials slash Songkran travel expectations by half | Thaiger

The TAT, ever the optimists regarding anything tourism related, even domestic tourism, predict that the Bangkok clusters that have emerged in the week before the Songkran break could reduce traffic and spending by up to half.

Today the CCSA is reporting 789 new infections and one additional death. 522 were local infections, mostly walk-ins to Bangkok hospitals, 259 were discovered through track and tracing. The remaining 8 were found in quarantine from overseas arrivals. In Phuket, another 17 cases have been reported today, taking the island’s week total to 43.

GRAPH: Worldometer figures for Thailand, up to April 9

A 68 year old man from Nakhon Pathom province died on April 4 but wasn’t reported until today. The CCSA report that he died from Covid and “complications”. 33 other former patients have recovered and been discharged.

Last week the TAT estimated 3.2 million domestic trips would circulate 12 billion baht for the Thai economy. But the Tourism Authority has now slashed their estimates by half after hotels, airlines and bus companies reported mass cancellations in the last few days. Other provinces are reporting less than 20% cancellations. Although this weekend will see a lot of travel, Songkran doesn’t formally start until next Tuesday and the TAT expect there could be additional fallout as travellers decide to have a staycation for Songkran instead heading home.

Bangkok Post reports that 70% of travellers to Prachuap Khiri Khan and Hua Hin have already cancelled hotel bookings. Similar cancellations have been reported in Pattaya, Phuket and Chiang Mai. Many other provinces, particularly in the north east and north, are also enforcing quarantine on arrivals or additional paperwork to try and protect their provinces from any of the Bangkok clusters.

8 north eastern provinces rare now requiring 10 or 14 day quarantine periods for anyone arriving from areas where new clusters have been reported. Chiang Mai provincial officials say that tourists from Samut Prakan, Nakhon Pathom, Bangkok, Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi – basically Bangkok and surrounding provinces – must complete a 14 day mandatory quarantine or conduct a test for Covid when they arrive.

The reality is that the travel and quarantine changes are outstripping the ability to communicate them all. Anyone crossing into other provinces in the next few day, especially if you’re travelling from Bangkok and surrounding provincial ‘red zones’ can expect some additional paperwork or a Covid test. Or even quarantine.

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Coronavirus (Covid-19)

Transport Ministry: refunds to cancel travel for Covid-19

Published

2 days ago

Friday, April 9, 2021

Neill Fronde

Transport Ministry: refunds to cancel travel for Covid-19 | Thaiger

FILE PHOTO: Travellers can cancel travel and be refunded due to Covid-19

The Transport Ministry is launching plans to deal with forced cancellations of travel plans due to the most recent Covid-19 outbreak. With recent restrictions on entertainment venues, Songkran festivities, and some areas implementing quarantines for domestic travel, many holiday travellers will likely have no choice but to cancel their plans. The Transport Ministry has declared that all passengers by bus or train scheduled to travel between April 9 and 18 can receive a full refund on cancelled trips. They hope to help control the spreading of the Covid-19 outbreak by giving people the easier option to cancel travel over the Songkran holiday.

The State Railway of Thailand will refund tickets but advise people to cancel their trips at least 24 hours before the original scheduled travel. They also said that any tickets bought using both cash and state welfare card benefits will only receive a refund on the cash portion of the ticket. Special tickets bought as part of a group guided tour or on a chartered train trip will also be fully refundable if cancelled 1 day in advance. The SRT did say exceptions would be made to allow cancellation only 1 hour before departure if the departure or arrival location is declared a strict or maximum control zone.

Online reservations are asked to send an email to passenger-ser@railway.co.th with your e-tickets and a refund request.

For those who decide to keep their holiday plans and not cancel travel, the SRT is strongly advising all passengers to wear face masks at all times and adhere to social distancing protocol. The Thai Chana system will be used for checking in and out and travellers are being asked to notify staff in the station if they see anyone with flu-like symptoms, or if they experience any symptoms themselves.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

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Expats

Airlines and hotels try to cope with cancellations for Songkran

Published

2 days ago

Friday, April 9, 2021

Tim Newton

Airlines and hotels try to cope with cancellations for Songkran | Thaiger

Airlines and hotels are reporting cancellations from many of their customers as travellers react to the news of the new clusters and infections being detected in the provinces. Bars and entertainment venues close for 2 weeks in 44 provinces from midnight tonight, according to an order from the Thai PM. Entertainment venues in the other 35 provinces will remain open at the discretion of their provincial officials.

The Thai government has also announced today a series of measures to assist with refunds for people that have cancelled, or been forced to cancel, their bookings.

Thai VietJet asked us to publish their arrangements due to the queries from their customers. We will publish any other announcements from airlines and large organisations as they come to hand…

Due to the Covid-19 escalation in Thailand, the airline announces its policy to support passengers holding Thai Vietjet tickets on all domestic routes.

For passengers who booked tickets and made payments before 10 April 2021 with travel date between 12 -30 April 2021, may choose 1 of the supports as following:

One-time changing the travel date free of charge. New travel date must be by July 31, 2021 and subject to flight availability. Rerouting is not applicable.
Keeping the value of the ticket as a Credit Voucher, which is valid within July 31, 2021.

Passengers who have travel dates fall into the above-mentioned period and wish to contact the airline for support regarding change of flight or credit shell by voucher (at least 72 hours before the original departure time), please choose 1 of the options below: