UK Tourists Now Consider Thailand a Year-Round Holiday Destination

Britain’s Ambassador to Thailand Mark Kent has welcomed news that UK tourists now consider Thailand as a year-round holiday destination.

Mr. Kent, guest speaker at a networking luncheon hosted by Skal International Bangkok, was responding to comments made by Club President Dale Lawrence that the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s marketing efforts in the United Kingdom were finally paying dividends.

The TAT has been pitching Thailand as much more than merely a summer destination for British holiday makers.

TAT is expecting some 838,000 arrivals from the United Kingdom this year, and Mr. Kent welcomed the news that the average length of stay by Brits in Thailand (17 days) was above average, with a significant average daily spend of Baht 3,800.

Mr. Kent did however warn of the dangers of travelling without adequate health insurance, but refused to be drawn on the Thai government’s proposed, and controversial, compulsory Baht 500 health insurance scheme.

Thailand is one of two countries in the region considering such a scheme. Mr. Andrew Herdman, Director General of AAPA, talks about them in a press conference in Hong Kong earlier this month. You can watch that press conference here.

Mr. Kent said that most injuries and fatalities amongst UK nationals visiting Thailand are a result of motor bike accidents where the victims were not wearing helmets.