Look out Tourism Authority of Thailand – TTR Weekly is reporting that Cambodia’s tourism numbers are up, up, up.  In an article titled Cambodia’s visitor arrivals expand, Rapeepat Mantanarat reports an 18.4% increase from July 2010 to July 2011 and a 14% increase overall for the year.

These are significant increases for a country not really known for tourism and should have the Tourism Authority of Thailand shaking in their boots.

Cambodia Temple Ruins

This is a sign of the times and should be a wake up call for Thailand and the Tourism Authority of Thailand.  You are losing tourists to Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Vietnam and the rest of the ASEAN Community.  And, you are going to lose more with the way you are failing to properly prepare for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015.

But, from the looks of things, it is business as usual for the Tourism Authority of Thailand as they hosted yet another Travel Fair at the Queen Sirikit Convention Hall in Bangkok catering to Bangkokians with mostly tours within Thailand.

It is plain to see who the target audience in Thailand is for the Tourism Authority of Thailand – definitely not foreign tourists.

Tourism Authority of Thailand Travel Fair

And, I saw no mention of this on the Tourism Authority of Thailand Amazing Thailand Facebook page.  It just continues to show that the Tourism Authority of Thailand does not know how to market to foreigners or does not really want foreigners to visit Thailand.

Thailand will continue to lose tourists to neighboring countries and despite the quiet political scene being enjoyed for the moment, expect tensions to rise over the next couple of months as the Red Shirts gain more and more power, shuffle high-ranking Police and Military Officers, and work hard at getting their beloved fugitive ex-Prime Minister, Thaksin, back to Thailand.

You can also expect to see a big crackdown over the next 30-90 days as we have a new sheriff Police Chief in town.  Historically, whenever Bangkok gets a new BIG BOSS, that new BIG BOSS has to display a show of force by launching a major war on drugs, gambling, and prostitution.  Have to protect the image of Thailand, you know.

There is also talk of the Yellow Shirts (the Bangkok Elite) planning to dismantle the current government with a target date of sometime in December.  I guess we can expect Suvarnabhumi International Airport to be closed for another week to ten days again.

And, yet, the Yingluck Shinawatra administration expects tourism in Thailand to increase to 30 million by 2016.  Good luck to the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Tags: AEC asean cambodia crackdown drugs gambling prostitution thaksin tourism authority of thailand tourists yingluck