From January to April, 1,479,256 tourists arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport on ATTA member company tours – an increase of 45.87pc on the same period last year, the group reported.
Further, ATTA president Charoen Wangananont claims that 2015 is becoming a record year for the tour business. He predicts inbound tour companies will handle 6 million foreign visitors, up from 3.24 million last year.
This translates into a massive inflow of revenue for tour operators after almost 10 years of see-saw trends caused mainly by ongoing domestic political turmoil.
“Arrivals have rebounded in all main markets except Russia, which is due to an economy crisis and ruble weakness… even in that market we forecast the situation will gradually improve, particularly by the fourth quarter this year,” said Mr Charoen.
ATTA is now implementing its “Big Move” policies to reorganise the association to become more efficient and also to revitalise tourism in the country.
In addition to attending major international tourism trade shows, the association has said it will work with experts and a group of academics to set up a national tourism research and development centre.
This would leverage the association’s access to credible data through its membership, which could offer the country realistic indicators on spending as well as market segmentation.
But it is also talking about the need to improve workers’ competencies; organise a campaign for AEC and AEC+6; providing E-visa for ASEAN and China; and organising roadshows to main markets such as to China.
Asia Travel Tips