Thailand Tourism is Reviving as International Arrivals Increase

Thailand welcomed 11.15 million foreign visitors in 2022, exceeding the government’s target for the year and implying that the country’s tourism sector will continue to recover this year, according to the country’s tourism ministry.

This was still far short of the 40 million or so international arrivals that the country had prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019. However, this is a significant increase from the 428,000 visitors the country received in 2021, when access was complicated by a slew of pandemic-related travel restrictions.

According to ministry data, the top three source markets for the country in 2022 will be Malaysia, India, and Singapore.

This is obviously good news for Thailand, whose economy is the second largest in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), but which is also unusually reliant on tourism. While the country managed to contain COVID-19 with relative success in 2020, the shutdowns and collapse in international travel brought international tourism to a halt. This contributed to the country experiencing the second-worst recession of the ten ASEAN nations that year, with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) reporting that its economy contracted by 6.1 percent.

Thai tourism officials are now aiming for 25 million international visitors by 2023, a target that will be greatly aided by the resumption of outbound tourism from China following Beijing’s earlier this month decision to abandon “zero COVID” and its associated travel restrictions. Thailand received a record 11.5 million visitors in 2019, but China’s protracted flirtation with its wacky “zero COVID” policy has slowed Thailand’s expected recovery.

Indeed, the return of Chinese outbound tourism has been warmly received throughout the region. Reuters reported this week that Filipinos dressed in traditional attire “played bamboo marimbas and handed out necklaces and gifts” to the first Chinese visitors to return to the country since the pandemic. Indonesian authorities put on a similar show in Denpasar, Bali, where the first direct flight from China in three years landed to an honor guard of traditionally dressed Balinese hostesses and lion dances to commemorate the Lunar New Year.

Meanwhile, at Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing personally greeted Chinese visitors arriving from Fuzhou with Lunar New Year souvenirs this weekend.

In 2019, the Philippines and Indonesia welcomed 1.7 million and 2 million Chinese visitors, respectively. However, as in Thailand, this fell dramatically last year, with only 39,627 visitors in the Philippines and around 100,000 in Indonesia. Malaysia experienced a similar decline, but has set an ambitious goal of attracting 5 million Chinese tourists this year, a 60% increase over the 3.1 million who visited in 2019.

In a related development, Singapore’s government announced this week that it is on track to fully recover its tourism sector by 2024. According to tourism officials, the city-state received 6.3 million visitors last year, down from 19.1 million in 2019, but slightly more than the government’s forecast of 4-6 million.

Singapore, like its neighbors, will benefit from the return of Chinese outbound travel. In 2019, the country welcomed 3.6 million visitors from China, the country’s single largest source of foreign arrivals.

 

 

 

 

Source : thediplomat

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Cayman Islands Tourism is On The Rise

Tourism in the Cayman Islands is experiencing a strong recovery, exceeding tourism officials’ initial targets for 2022.

The island had expected a 40% recovery of pre-pandemic tourism totals in 2019, but the destination is already at 53%, or 36,000 more visitors than expected.

This figure will rise as the second half of December tourism numbers are counted, implying that the territory will far exceed 200,000 annual visitors in 2022.

Last month was the destination’s best-performing month, with a total of 34,118 visitors, followed by July, when the destination reported 32,356 visitors.

Most importantly, tourism arrivals in October and November were 91 percent and 89 percent higher than in the same period in 2019—a very positive sign for Cayman’s tourism recovery.

Air arrivals have been close to a 90 percent average through the fourth quarter.

“A sense of renewed hope is increasingly taking hold in our Islands, where tourism is concerned,” said Cayman Islands Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan.

Cayman Airways, the island’s national flag carrier, had record-breaking months in October and November, breaking both total passenger count and passenger revenue records.

“For decades, tourism has been a significant part of our nation’s identity,” Bryan said. “Tourism is our past, our present and definitely our future. As we head into 2023 it’s time for us to once again dream big where tourism is concerned. We have the will, we have the way, and we must have the passion to make it bigger, brighter and bolder than it’s ever been before. I have the confidence that 2023 will not just be a good year for tourism, it will be a great year, and I am committed to doing everything possible to make that prediction a reality.”

 

 

 

Source : caribjournal

 

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Cambodia’s Tourism Recovery Rate is 26.3% 

Though tourism in Southeast Asia is recovering from the Covid virus, Cambodia ranks third among ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member states, with a 26.3 percent recovery rate from pre-pandemic levels.

According to the Tourism Advisory Board of Vietnam, Singapore ranks first with a 30.9 percent recovery rate, while Malaysia ranks second with a 27.5 percent recovery rate. Following Cambodia, Indonesia ranks fourth with a 22.9 percent recovery rate. Thailand is sixth with a 22 percent recovery rate, while the Philippines is fifth with a 22.1 percent recovery rate.

According to the Tourism Advisory Board, Vietnam’s recovery rate from pre-pandemic levels is only 18.1 percent, trailing neighboring countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Cambodia. It has also proposed several measures, such as relaxing Visa requirements, to help the country’s tourism sector recover faster.

Given the increasing number of international tourists, Cambodia hopes to welcome two million or more visitors by the end of the year and achieve pre-Covid levels of tourist arrivals by 2026 or 2027.

“In 2022, Cambodia is expected to receive about 2.2 million foreign tourists,” said a senior Tourism Ministry official. Before Covid struck in 2019, Cambodia had received over 7 million global tourists. Continuing with the trend of increasing footfalls during January-October 2022, the number of international arrivals increased by 991.1 percent compared with 10 months of the previous year, according to the Tourism Statistics Report for October 2022, released on November 30 and shared with Khmer Times by the Ministry of Tourism.

“The Thai tourism market ranks first with 590,000 tourists, accounting for 37.5 percent of the foreign arrivals, followed by Vietnam, China, the United States, Laos, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, France, and the United Kingdom,” said the Ministry of Tourism spokesman Top Sopheak.

According to the Tourism Statistics Report, the Asia-Pacific region was the Kingdom’s primary source of visitors.

To attract more foreign tourists, particularly from outside the ASEAN neighborhood, the Kingdom is attempting to establish direct air links with the destinations from which a large number of tourists originate, including India, which sends a large number of tourists around the world.

 

 

 

 

Source : khmertimeskh

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Brunei Tourism is on Path to Recovery

Tourist arrivals in Brunei Darussalam have been steadily increasing since the relaxation of travel restrictions and the reopening of land borders.

Bookings and visits from foreign tourists are increasing at hospitality and tourism service providers, indicating that the tourism industry is returning to pre-pandemic levels.

From August to September of this year, fifteen leading hotels in the Sultanate reported an increase in room bookings of 50 percent, from 8,271 to 12,406 (or a 50 percent increase).

Air travel is expected to follow a similar upward trend.

“As the national carrier, supporting Brunei tourism is one of RB’s top commitments,” said Captain Sabirin bin Haji Abdul Hamid, acting CEO of Royal Brunei Airlines (RB). The increased frequency of RB flights and the resumption of flights in the coming months will increase the number of visitors to Brunei.

“The travel industry is still very fluid, and with the reopening of the North Asian border, we anticipate a significant increase in travelers.”

Community-based tourism service providers are also in high demand, with some businesses unable to accept additional bookings for the December school holiday season.

The establishment is fully booked until January 2023, according to a manager at Eco Ponies Sdn Bhd, by a mix of local and international tourists, with the majority coming from Malaysia, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands.

The Tourism Development Department has been working hard to prepare for the return of foreign visitors.

Tour guides and tourism service providers were given training. Infrastructure development projects have also been carried out, such as the installation of signage in the Temburong District and information panels at the recreational parks of Luagan Lalak and Tasek Lama.

Although the tourism industry is relieved to see the return of international tourists, the acting director of the Tourism Development Department stated that efforts to promote domestic tourism will be increased to ensure sustainability and resilience.

Among the examples given was the ongoing Kenali Negara Kitani (KNK) program, which includes roadshows, carnivals, and social media campaigns to promote attractions and activities among local and foreign tourists.

 

 

 

Source : borneobulletin

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Morocco’s Long-Awaited Tourism Recovery Reaches 80%

Rabat—Governments all over the world are working to revitalize the tourism industry in the post-Covidien-19 era. Morocco’s tourism industry, which is vital to the country’s socioeconomic development, is now recovering at nearly 80% of its pre-crisis level.

In response to questions from the House of Councillors, Morocco’s Minister of Tourism, Handicrafts, and Social Economy, Fatima Zahra Ammor, stated that the country’s tourism recovery rate would reach 80% by the end of October 2022, surpassing the global level of 70%.

Ammor also stated that the country’s tourism revenue in foreign currency increased by 103% at the end of September compared to pre-COVID times in 2019.

Internal tourism revenues have also increased significantly, she said, noting that the number of overnight stays [at tourist accommodations] has increased from 30% before the pandemic to 45% as of late September.

The minister recalled that the government had approved MAD 2 billion ($186 million) to aid in the recovery of the tourism sector, which had been severely impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

Furthermore, MAD 1 billion ($93 million) was allocated for hotel unit rehabilitation, and Ammor stated that this initiative has benefited the industry.

The number of tourists visiting Morocco in June reached 3.4 million. The figure has quadrupled since the same period in 2021, but it still accounts for only 63% of arrivals in pre-covid 2019.

Morocco was recently ranked as the eighth most popular travel destination for 2023, ahead of Egypt, Thailand, Jordan, and Mexico.

 

 

 

Source : moroccoworldnews

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Vietnam is Reviving its Tourism Industry

HANOI, October 10, 2022: With tourism activities resuming, Vietnam addresses the skilled labor shortage that the tourism workforce is experiencing as travel demand outstrips labor supply.

Vietnam is a rising tourism star in the Asia-Pacific region, according to Nguyen Trung Khanh, chairman of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

He praised the country’s impressive growth rates for both international and domestic tourists. The rate of recovery, however, is outpacing the supply of skilled and professional tourism workers. Because of the limited capacity to deliver in these areas, accelerating tourism training and focusing on soft skills – English and other foreign languages, communication, and service skills – is a real challenge.

“Hard hit by COVID-19, we have witnessed this challenge which cannot be exaggerated. The tourism workforce has been severely impacted, many tourism enterprises have closed permanently, and tourism workers lost their jobs.

“At the early stage, when tourism activities are picking up, we face difficulties meeting demand and reinstating a healthy tourism workforce… many workers left the sector amid-pandemic. To mitigate the negative impacts, the Vietnam government has introduced numerous measures for the tourism sector, including financial and social support to boost tourism employment. At the same time, we cooperate with partners to conduct training programmes for tourism workers during this challenging time.”

According to Nguyen Trung Khanh, the government has taken numerous steps to protect people’s health while also ensuring socioeconomic development.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism collaborates with other ministries and agencies to revitalize tourist destinations and products, making it easier for visitors to visit Vietnam.

He added: “We completely reopened tourism from 15 March 2022. Vietnam was the first country in Southeast Asia to open international tourism without any entry restrictions. We are promoting communications to attract international tourists to Vietnam with the campaign “Live fully in Vietnam. We focus on smart and sustainable tourism development followed by green and responsible travel.

According to Nguyen Trung Khanh, the Vietnam tourism marketing plan for 2022-2023 highlights the country’s high safety rating and friendly hospitality. During the first nine months of 2022, Vietnam welcomed 1.65 million international tourists. Aside from the global market, the tourism industry aims to serve 60 million domestic tourists by 2022. However, domestic visitors exceeded the target, totaling 86.8 million.

“Domestic tourism is now almost recovering, and our goal in 2023 is to keep it at that level while we focus on attracting international visitors.”

Vietnam National Administration of Tourism will host the Mekong Tourism Forum 2022 in Quang Nam Province from 12 to 13 October. This year’s forum will focus on the theme of “Rebuild Tourism, Rebound with Resilience.”

“The MTF host province, Quang Nam, is a green tourism destination with well-known UNESCO world heritages of Hoi An Ancient Town and My Son Sanctuary. At the Mekong Tourism Forum 2022, we are pleased to introduce the optional tours that explore the rich cultural values, charming heritages and treasured islands in Quang Nam. It will contribute to the whole experience for delegates during their stay in Quang Nam,” Nguyen Trung Khanh noted.

Source : ttrweekly

 

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Istanbul Ranks First in Europe as Tourism Recovers

According to ForwardKeys, a travel data analysis company, Istanbul was the best performing city in Europe this summer, with a 2% increase in flight arrivals compared to the pre-pandemic period. It was followed by Athens, which was down 7%, Reykjavik and Porto, both of which were down 8%, and Malaga, which was down 13%.

Turkey and Greece, the two most popular air travel destinations, have increased international visitor arrivals by 9% and 2%, respectively, compared to pre-pandemic levels. Albanian air travel increased by 28%, despite the fact that the country accounts for less than 1% of all European flight arrivals.

While no other major country destination recovered to pre-pandemic levels (2019), Slovenia (7 percent down), Iceland (8 percent down), and Portugal (10 percent down) came close. According to the company, major factors driving Türkiye’s strong performance include the ongoing decline in the value of the Turkish Lira and its openness to the Russian market, from which direct flights to most of Europe have been banned.

In the summer of 2019, Russians accounted for 4% of all arrivals to Europe, but this figure is expected to fall dramatically by 2022. According to ForwardKeys, Greece has performed well as a destination throughout the pandemic by implementing relatively visitor-friendly COVID-19 travel restrictions.

According to the company, if the aviation industry had been better able to cope with the surge in demand for travel during late spring and early summer, European destinations could have attracted more visitors during the summer months. If there had been no disruption, the recovery in intra-European flight bookings would have been five percentage points higher.

The United States, on the other hand, was the strongest extra-European market, with only a 5% decrease from 2019. Colombia and Israel were the next to fall, both by 9%; South Africa fell by 10%; Mexico fell by 12%; and Canada and Kuwait both fell by 13%.

Non-European origin markets fell 31% overall. Meanwhile, MÜRRA ERESIN, the head of the Hotel Association of Türkiye (TÜROB), predicts that the upward trend will continue throughout the year, with August likely being one of the best months of the year.

According to Eresin, the diversity of nationalities among visitors will increase beginning in September. The focus will shift to Europeans beginning in September.

“We expect remarkable increases in our tourism markets such as Russia, Iran, the U.K., the Balkans, Bulgaria, Latin America, the U.S. and Azerbaijan,” she said. Eresin went on to say that unless something extraordinary happened, Turkey would be in a better position in 2023.

 

 

 

Source : hurriyetdailynews

 

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Tourism to Brazil is Recovering

The resumption of tourism in Brazil this year has been marked by the movement of the country’s international air network, which is one of the main indicators of the sector’s recovery. Brazil’s air connectivity with the rest of the world is increasing month by month, and it now operates at more than 80% of the capacity observed in 2019. Argentina, the United States, and Portugal had the most flights to Brazil in the first half, with a total of 10,800 arrivals.

With 3,972 flights, the United States leads the way among long-haul destinations, followed by Portugal with 2,661. Argentina, a neighboring country, sent 4,250 flights to Brazil, placing first in the country’s overall connectivity ranking.

According to Booking.com, the five most booked Brazilian destinations by international tourists during the month of July were: Rio de Janeiro, So Paulo, Foz do Iguaçu (the main base for visiting the Iguaçu Falls), Salvador (the capital of the state of Bahia), and Fortaleza (a popular beach city).

The Rock in Rio music festival, which took place from September 2 to 11, was another major draw. The show was attended by 10,000 international visitors from 21 different countries, according to estimates.  “This demonstrates the strength that major events, such as Rock in Rio, have to promote international tourism,” said Embratur president Silvio Nascimento.

As a whole, according to the Federation of Trade in Goods, Services, and Tourism in São Paulo, the tourism sector earned 100 billion Brazilian real (approximately $19.4 billion) in the first half of 2022. The amount is 33 percent higher than the result in the same month in 2021.

 

 

Source : breakingtravelnews

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Summer Vacation Tourism in China is Recovering

As of August 28, several Chinese domestic online travel agencies, including Ctrip, Qunar, Fliggy, and Tuniu, had posted data for this year’s summer vacation. Long-distance tourism saw a steady recovery during the first month of the summer vacation after the cautionary asterisk was removed from China’s travel code apps.

According to Tuniu data, 84 percent of travelers chose independent long distance trips in July. The number of travelers booking independent tourism products increased by 5 percentage points by the end of July compared to the same period last year.

People are more willing to travel as a result of more scientific, precise, and optimized epidemic control measures, according to Xie Xiaoqing, a senior researcher at the Ctrip Research Institute. Long-distance travel faced some difficulties in early August, according to Qunar data, due to sporadic outbreaks of COVID-19 in some cities. However, thanks to tourism consumption coupons issued by the government, local tourism saw some recovery and did not affect the entire summer vacation market.

According to data from the short-term rental booking platform Muniao, as of August 21, orders during the summer vacation period were 1.8 times higher than during the same period in 2019.

As the start of the school year approaches, the tourism industry is expected to undergo some changes in the second half of this year. Gu Huimin, a professor at Beijing International Studies University’s School of Tourism Sciences, told Beijing Business Today that the start of the new semester will result in fewer parent-child trips.

Meanwhile, because the Mid-Autumn Festival falls so close to the start of the school year, the National Day holiday will be the busiest time for tourists.

Gu predicts that people will still visit nearby destinations or choose to vacation locally during this year’s golden week, and that merchants may launch promotional events and improve product quality in order to stimulate consumers’ travel and shopping desire.

 

source : chinadaily

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