Domestic travel growth hit by flooding

Thailand’s domestic tourism industry is experiencing a slowdown due to growing fears of potential flooding. During a monthly meeting between the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) and other related agencies, the Association of Domestic Travel (ADT) disclosed that package tour sales in the first half of October dropped following bouts of heavy rains across the country. Due to concerns over possible flooding, Thai travelers opted to stay home in order to save money for post-flood home repairs. Meanwhile, TAT Deputy Governor Sansern Ngaorungsi said during the meeting that the rapid growth of low-cost airline flights had enabled younger tourists to travel independently with more ease. In the next 8 years, this demographic group will comprise around 50% of the total number, leaving the other half to those traveling in package tours. The TAT suggested that tour operators should offer wider choices of tailor-made holidays to accommodate all budgets and tastes. The TAT also projected that the number of international tourist arrivals will reach 22.4 million, up from the previous projection of 20 million. The number of Asian tourists is estimated around 15 million out of the total tourist arrivals.