More hot air and blowing smoke from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is spitting out more lies and this time it is from Juthaporn Rerngronasa, the deputy governor for international marketing.

Tourism Authority of Thailand Spa and Mud Bath

Yet another article about the Tourism Authority of Thailand in the Bangkok Post, Visitors back as political scene calms, that has some outlandish numbers and some bold-faced lies that I guess no one at the Bangkok Post decided to check.

Here we go.

Thai tourism is enjoying a more positive outlook now that the political situation has stabilised and tourist arrivals from Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the US/Canada look set to grow by 14.9% to 6.73 million this year.

The Thai elections were on 3 July and it really isn’t over until all the candidates are confirmed and a Prime Minister nominated and voted for.  Right now the losers are taking their case(s) to court and to the Election Commission crying foul.  When that doesn’t work, expect more of the same that we have had the past couple years.  NO ONE sees Thailand as stable and arrivals are not up.  Guess this guy at the Tourism Authority of Thailand doesn’t read about Europe being almost bankrupt, USA almost bankrupt, riots in the Middle East and political turmoil in Africa.

“The markets under my supervision are performing better than expected this year despite problems in Europe and the Middle East,” she said.

Only because the Tourism Authority of Thailand lies about the numbers – and I will prove it.

Europe is suffering a financial crisis, while the Middle East is struggling with political conflict that has stalled tourism in that region.

But – you just said that everything was peachy-dandy in the Middle East and Europe – how can Europe, suffering a financial crisis and the Middle East with the riots and government overthrows – which has stalled tourism, be growing?  DOES NOT MAKE SENSE.  The Tourism Authority of Thailand does not understand anything beyond the borders of Thailand.

Above the Tourism Authority of Thailand is another Thai Government Agency – the Department of Tourism.  Every month they post a spreadsheet showing monthly arrivals and the cumulative total.  I personally think the numbers are pure fabrication, but for the sake of this post, I will use them.  You can read and/or download the fictitious numbers HERE.

Here is what Juthaporn Rerngronasa, the deputy governor for international marketing at the Tourism Authority of Thailand says:

First-half arrivals from Europe grew by 19.7% year-on-year to 2.7 million, from the US/Canada by 20.4% to 519,037, from the Middle East by 18.5% to 299,149 and from Africa by 25% to 68,772.

Looking at the spreadsheet, Europe has 1,990,328 arrivals – far less than 2.7 million (though I don’t believe either number).

US/Canada 371,555 not 519,037, Middle East 288,829 not 299,149, and Africa 52,841 not 68,772.

Can this Juthaporn lady from the Tourism Authority of Thailand read a spreadsheet?  Or, is she counting on the folks at the Bangkok Post not checking anything he says?  She has to inflate the already inflated numbers.  Amazing.

Russian arrivals rose by 50% to 460,000 in this year’s first half and are forecast to reach 800,000 by year-end.

According to the Department of Tourism spreadsheet, Russia had 341,488 arrivals from January to June 2011. You are off by about 120,000.

Preferred destinations for Russian tourists are Phuket, Pattaya and Koh Samui.

Yes, they love the beach and that is where the Russian Mafia hangs out.  They also like getting arrested for having sex on the beach.

Andrey Snetkov, the contract and marketing director at TEZ Tour Thailand, a leading tour operator for the Russian market, said 65% of his company’s clients prefer four- or five-star hotels, while the rest opt for three-star facilities.

The majority of Russian tourists come here to get drunk, get laid, and get away from cold Russian winters.  If you have ever been to Pattaya and seen these louts, they are definitely not 4 or 5 star tourists.  There is also a growing number of hookers coming from Russia – just go to Walking Street in Pattaya.

“Eastern Europe has a lot of potential due to the visa fee waiver for Czech and Polish tourists, for example,” said Ms Juthaporn.

What about the emerging market in Estonia?  Has the Tourism Authority of Thailand forgotten them already.  Get real.  These people don’t have any money either – remember – financial crisis – global financial crisis – UNEMPLOYMENT.

First-half arrivals from Eastern Europe rose by 21% year-on-year to 140,000 visitors, with the full-year figure expected to reach 280,000.

The spreadsheet says 120,053.  Why can’t they just use REAL NUMBERS?  Why the make-believe fiction?

And the clincher:

The TAT has revised up its forecast for all international tourist arrivals this year to 18.3 million from 15.5 million before, with growth of 14.8% from 2010, after first-half arrivals rose by 28% to 9.68 million.

Like I said earlier, I don’t believe these inflated numbers at all – but – these guys inflate the already inflated numbers.  On the spreadsheet from their higher headquarters, the Department of Tourism, the Jan-Jun 2011 figures for arrivals is at 6,283,262 – a far cry from 9.68 million.  More than THREE MILLION tourist arrivals than what the Department of Tourism reports. Does anyone check anything?  Does anyone actually believe the Tourism Authority of Thailand?

Nope.  No one checks. So, the Tourism Authority of Thailand continues to lie about the number of tourist arrivals in Thailand.

Tags: africa arrivals department of tourism estonia january june lies middle east russia TAT tourism authority of thailand tourist