THAILAND TRAVEL NEWS: Inbound tourist arrival figures for the first five months of 2009 have fallen to just 3.2 million, a 19 percent drop compared to 2008.

However, while the overall number of people visiting Thailand on holiday has fallen, inbound tourist numbers from the Middle East have increased by 11.5 percent, and those from South Asia by 3.6 percent.

The good-news, bad-news announcement was made by Tourism Authority of Thailand deputy governor for marketing communications, Juthaporn Rerngronasa, to delegates at the annual Thailand Tourism Market (TTM).

According to Ms Juthaporn, three key factors have contributed to the decline in tourist arrivals. “The global economic downturn, Thailand’s political situation and the H1N1 virus.”

Ms Juthaporn said the authority has identified four market clusters that will be targeted in different ways in attempt to revive inbound tourist numbers.

The Ready to Travel Group includes markets such as Scandinavia, Russia, the Middle East and India, which have not been influenced by the recently unstable political situation in Thailand.

The Returning Visitors Group, which includes Europe and the UK, are seen as markets with a strong affinity with Thailand but who are mindful of the uncertain political situation in the country, and are affected by tough economic times.

The Concerned Traveler Group includes China, Australia and Vietnam, a group with reservations about returning to Thailand until the political situation is finally resolved.

The last group, the Highly Sensitive Traveler, includes Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

Ms Juthaporn said the tourism authority will address the concerns of each group with individual campaigns, and will also embark on roadshows to China, Korea, Taiwan, India and Dubai to reinforce Thailand’s reputation as a value-for-money destination.

By John Le Fevre

Thailand travel News June 6, 2009