VISITOR ARRIVALS HIT 2.69 MILLION IN FIRST QUARTER 2001

International visitor arrivals to Thailand totalled 2,686,172 in January-March 2001, a healthy growth of 7.98% over the same period of 2000.

Arrivals from major markets included East Asia (1,506,962), Europe (750,365), the Americas (178,574), South Asia (77,324), Oceania (95,505), Middle East (56,350) and Africa (21,092). All of the regions reported strong growth. Arrivals from East Asia were up by 5.91%, from Europe 8.82%, the Americans 11.52%, South Asia 12.83%, Oceania 15.85%, the Middle East 23.08% and Africa 15.31%.

Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Mr. Pradech Phayakvichien commented, “It was very gratifying to see the strong growth across the board. It shows that all through our winter high season of 2000- 2001, the Thai tourism industry has done very well.

“The political and economic stability of Thailand is providing a strong foundation for our marketing campaigns. Arrivals are also being facilitated by good economic conditions in major source markets,” the Governor added.

The result is a good mix in growth between countries which generate mass- market arrivals and mature markets from where visitors are beginning to focus more on niche-product, lifestyle holidays like golf, health & spa, food and culture.

Japanese visitors were the biggest source market with a 13.24% (355,589) share of overall visitors to Thailand during January-March 2001. This was followed by Malaysia (8.94% share or 240,221), China (6.28% or 168,781), Taiwan (6.22% or 166,999) and Hong Kong (5.73% or 153,835).

Visitors stayed an average of 8.62 days during January-March 2001, a slight growth from 8.52 days in the same period of 2000.

In the same period, the number of female visitors totalled 1,074,075, an above- average growth of 8.01% over 2000. Repeat visitors accounted for 52.95% of the total and grew by a very healthy 18.22%.

Among the various age groups, visitors aged 65 and over showed the highest growth of 11.64%. Business travellers, too, grew by 8.56% and students/youth travellers by 10.79%.