Thailand’s tourism private sector, the Hotel and Travel Agent folks, are calling the Tourism Authority of Thailand for the bullshit tourist arrival numbers they keep posting.

In an article in TTR Weekly, 2001 arrivals fall off target, the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports are accused of fudging the numbers to increase their budget.

Lottery TIckets

The logic of the Tourism Authority of Thailand to report good tourist arrival numbers to get more money in their budget is ass-backwards, but Thai economics is contrary to what anyone in a Western business school learned.

Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ Department of Tourism has dropped its 2011 arrivals target by 4% admitting protracted floods in and around the capital have damaged travel confidence.

Tourism arrivals have tanked starting in September and got worse in October, horrible in November, and most likely will get far worse in December – no high season this year.  Four percent isn’t even close.

The ministry’s tourism department general director, Supol Sripan, said the protracted floods had forced the department to cut its 2011 estimates by 4% to 18.8 million compared to the earlier target of 19.5 million.

Khun Supol lives in  a fantasy world where one person is counted twice – these numbers are about double the actual number of tourist arrivals.  Even the Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand admits he has to lie and sugar coat reports.

Last year, Thailand attracted 15.9 million visits despite a political crisis that led to pitch battles on the streets of the capital between red shirt protestors and the army.

More sugar-coated numbers that only an idiot would believe.

The country  suffered equally damaging protests and violence in the capital starting with the closure of airports in 2008 by yellow shirt protesters and that continued well into 2010.

Yet, the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports continued to post higher and higher arrival numbers.

Commenting on the flood, Mr Supol added: “Initially, tourist attractions were closed in 30 provinces. Off that, Ayutthaya was the most serious loss and we hope that by New Year all the attractions will be reopened to travel.”

This is the same guy that said that the floods in Bangkok and throughout Thailand would have “no impact on tourism”.  Totally clueless

The flooding of Don Mueang Airport was another serious setback  that eroded confidence in the safety of other airports such as Suvarnabhumi Airport the country’s main gateway. But experts say the main airport is secure due  3.5 metre high dykes and an extensive canal drainage system

The photos of planes in flooded Don Mueang were posted in a Thailand English language newspaper with the headline “Bangkok Airport Flooded”.  The Thai Government, of course, blames the foreign media for this.

Despite the flood, October delivered a 7.02% improvement in tourism to 1,409,285 from 1,316,806 visits, but figures presented by the ministry or the Tourism Authority of Thailand are openly challenged by travel executives who accuse the government bodies of doctoring figures to suit their budget requirements.

Absolutely ridiculous. Hurray for the travel executives!  The Tourism Authority of Thailand has been lying about the number of foreign tourist arrivals forever.

The question of reliable data is not addressed by ministry or TAT officials, who skirt around the issue and continue to rely on what the industry believes is flawed or biased data that has not been adequately researched or verified.

And, no one ever questions a Thai Government Official. No numbers are checked, no facts are verified.  The Tourism Authority of Thailand could tell the media reporters that 1,000,000 tourists from the moon arrived in Bangkok last year, and it would be duly published verbatim.

The ministry claims, Chinese visits stood at 149,113 visits in October increasing 50.42% from 99,131 visits during the same month last year. This will be challenged by tour operators who know the market and point out that travel warnings make it difficult to sell Thailand packages in the market.

Actually, Chinese tourists from Hong Kong were forbidden from traveling to Thailand.  Maybe the Ministry of Tourism and Sports meant decrease of 50%.  So easy to get increase and decrease confused.

Japan arrivals were up just 0.20% to 73,517 visits compared with 73,372 visits in the same month in 2010. This is closer to what the industry would expect. Travel from Taiwan was down 7.40% of 28,279 visits from 30,540 visits. South Korea decreased 1.89% to 70,361 from 71,717 visits.

Well, they have to get close to the truth a little bit.  But, since China is a MAJOR market, the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports cannot say anything derogatory.

There were declines in most markets in October.

Not if you listen to the Tourism Authority of Thailand who claimed a 7% increase over October 2010!

The first five markets were: Nepal (2,001; -38.88%); Bangladesh (4,471; -30.65%); Finland (5,737; -22.38%); UAE (5,679; -21.66%); and Sweden (15,645; -18.94%).

Others were: the Philippines (21,864; -12.06%); Netherland (13,736; -9.23%); South Africa (4,954; -7.14%); Argentina (832; -6.20%); and Belgium (6,250; -4.94%).

Sure.  Show minor declines in minor markets making it look like the major tourist markets are still going to Thailand.  Bullshit.

During January to October this year, there were 15,799,037 foreign tourists visits to Thailand increasing 25.01% over 12,637,793 visits during the same period last year.

Total fabrication by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Tags: floods lies Ministry of Tourism and Sports Supol TAT tourism authority of thailand tourist arrivals