An article in The Nation, Despite problems, hopes continue to tourist growth, Suraphon Svetasreni, the Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) continues to view Thailand through rose colored glasses.

Yes, Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor, Suraphon Svetasreni, lives in the land of make-believe tourist numbers, where nothing in the world has an affect on Thailand visitors.

The article comes after the Tourism Authority of Thailand held their annual boondoggle meeting to discuss the upcoming fiscal year.  TAT staff from all over Thailand and the rest of the globe met in Bangkok to formulate their strategy – hahahaha.

Currently, airborne ash from Chile’s PuyehueCordon Caulle volcano is affecting key markets such as Australia, while crises in the Middle East and North Africa are disrupting that fastgrowing tourism market.

However, TAT remains confident that the industry will continue to grow both domestically and internationally.

Of course.  The entire world could explode killing every foreigner on earth, and it would have no affect on tourism.

The authority has yet to project tourist arrivals and industry revenue for next year, but it hopes the figures will reflect the 8percent growth forecast in its earlier fiveyear plan.

Guess the Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand hasn’t had time to visit his numerologist to find a lucky number to use as this year’s arrival number.

TAT governor Suraphon Svetasreni said tourist numbers from Japan were expected to increase by more than 10 per cent next year, based on 10percent growth this year, even after Japan suffered its own natural catastrophe.

Right.  Tsunami, earthquake, nuclear implosion, recession – nothing affects Thailand.  In fact, according to the Wizard of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, tourist arrivals from Japan increased 10%.  Funny, this article in MCOT predicted a 12% decline in Japanese tourists.

Meanwhile, visitors from the Middle East and North Africa are also expected to increase by 35 per cent despite the unrest in that region.

Iran, Libya, Syria, Egypt, Iraq, Afghanistan – right – an increase of 35%.  Where does he get these numbers and why doesn’t anyone question them?

He said TAT would focus more on short and mediumhaul markets next year, as these were emerging markets for Thailand.

To the Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, every country in the world is an emerging market, including Estonia.

The RICHI markets – Russia, India, China and Indonesia – will remain among the authority’s target countries for next year, but it will also maintain its marketing pressure in Europe and the Americas.

The Wizard of TAT and the rest of the Tourism Authority of Thailand staff don’t have a clue on how to market, let alone exert marketing pressure, on Europe and the Americas.

The TAT panel considering the forward plans will also discuss the branding of Thailand as “the tourist’s first option” when the Asean Economic Community is fully implemented in 2015.

With the current Thai Administration pissing off ASEAN the past few months over the Preah Vihear decision of 1962, and losing its case in Paris yesterday meaning that Cambodia can go ahead with its management plan.  Thailand announced that it will withdraw from the World Heritage Convention.  Guess this kind of blows the plans of the Democrats who were going to seek out new World Heritage sites.

This year, positive signs in tourism markets led TAT to raise its projection for international arrivals, from 15.6 million to 16.8 million.

More make believe numbers – go to Pattaya or Phuket and check the hotel occupancy rates and see how many shops and bars are for sale.  Let me know if you see any positive signs.

In the domestic market, 35 TAT offices have been asked to create tourism themes to promote local attractions as part of the 2012 tourism marketingaction plan. Four attractions will be pilot projects: Nan, Chiang Khan (Loei), Koh Samui (Surat Thani) and Pai (Mae Hong Son).

Make a mental note of these four cities and see how fast the Tourism Authority of Thailand ruins them.

“Domestic tourism will be the key to drive tourism in 2012,” Suraphon said.

Absolutely correct since the Tourism Authority of Thailand doesn’t know how to market outside Thailand.

He said that despite political problems, local travellers should help to substitute for slow international arrivals due to problems in some countries.

What problems?  Earlier in the article, the Governor said tourism from Japan was up 10% and from the Middle East it will increase by 35%.  Get your lies straight.

TAT will present its final plan to the tourism industry next week, and will ask for suggestions.

And, any suggestions will fall on deaf ears.  What about the 20 million Thai baht that TAT spent to bring in some tourism geniuses for a one-day conference.  Nothing has ever been mentioned after that meeting ended.

Suraphon said TAT had been granted a budget of Bt5.5 billion for 2012. Of this, Bt3.1 billion will go to overseas marketing and Bt1.4 billion will be spent in the domestic market.

I read earlier that it was 6 Billion Baht, but maybe that is what they asked for.  This is still an increase over FY 2011.  I just wonder where the other 1 Billion baht is going because 3.1 billion plus 1.4 billion only equals 4.5 billion.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has to be the biggest waste of Thai taxpayers and their hard earned baht.

Tags: arrivals governor japan lies middle east preah vihear Suraphon Svetasreni TAT tourism authority of thailand tourists world heritage