Boost to infrastructure stressed in ways to grow Thai tourism

[snoop1130]

Boost to infrastructure stressed in ways to grow Thai tourism

By The Nation

 

 

Thailand must thrash out a master plan to modernise its travel and tourism infrastructure for continuous growth in its tourism revenue in the next decade, according to report released today(August 20) by travel technology company Amadeus in partnership with Thailand’s Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa) and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).

 

Thailand’s travel and tourism sector grew by 6 per cent last year.

 

However, according to the ‘Thailand Towards 2030: Future of Travel & Tourism’ report, a number of the country’s airports are approaching capacity and popular destinations are starting to show the impact of ‘over’ tourism, both of which could limit the rate of future tourism growth if not urgently addressed. 

 

The report identifies four key priority areas for Thailand in the next decade – increasing airport capacity; improving inter-modal air-to-city links; scaling up public-private partnerships to improve the efficiency of inner-city transport networks; and reducing ‘over’ tourism – all of which will depend on the adoption of smart technologies.

 

Thailand received a record 38.27 million tourists in 2018 and Thailand’s Tourism Ministry expects that number to be even higher in 2019, driven partly by rising incomes across the Asia Pacific region. However, the ‘Thailand Towards 2030: Future of Travel & Tourism’ report warns that, in addition to planned physical expansions, the country's airports will also need to change how passengers move through the terminal in order to increase their capacities and fully profit from this opportunity in the next decade.

 

“If tourism continues to grow at its current rate, I would expect Thailand’s airports to hit capacity even sooner than is currently forecast. Physical expansion is helping to ease some of the strain, but smart technology will also be vital to increase the number of passengers that Thailand’s airports can accommodate in the near future,” said Dr Mario Hardy, Chief Executive Officer, PATA.

 

The report identifies self-serve check-in kiosks, automated bag-drop and use of biometrics for passenger identification as technologies that could significantly increase the efficiency of passenger movements. It also advises that off-airport check-in and bag-drop services – which use cloud technology to allow passengers to check into their flight and even deposit their luggage outside the terminal building – should be considered by Thailand’s busiest airports.

 

The report identifies the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) market – and the related trend of ‘leisure’ travel, where visitors coming for business extend their stay for leisure – as two significant opportunities for Thailand to diversify its tourism revenue in the next decade.

 

As well as developing direct rail connections between airport and conference centre to accelerate growth of the  MICE industry in emerging hot spots such as Khon Kaen, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Chiang Rai, the report advises that MICE destinations should also try to dovetail their rail and air schedules with typical conference start and finish times to encourage growth of the leisure market too.

 

Report co-author Simon Akeroyd, Vice President Corporate Strategy & Business Development, Amadeus and co-author of the report , also recommends that Thailand’s MICE destinations need technologies that support a seamless travel experience to effectively compete internationally.

 

“Ease and speed of travel will become major differentiators among the region’s MICE hot spots in the near future, so these cities need to invest in technologies that are designed for convenience – such as having off-airport check-in and bag-drop facilities at conference venues themselves. The technology needs to be best-in-class because Thailand is competing with MICE destinations across the region, not just domestically,” he said.

 

Smart mobility solutions – where data and technology are integrated to improve the efficiency of population movements around a city – are another priority area identified by the ‘Thailand Towards 2030: Future of Travel & Tourism’ report to reduce congestion and pollution in Thailand’s cities, and ultimately make them more attractive to both tourists and business investment.

 

“Smart mobility is still in its infancy in Thailand, but its potential to improve inner-city travel is enormous,” said Amadeus’ Simon Akeroyd. “Using transport data to inform travel management systems such as traffic lights in real-time, or to inform how ‘sharing economy’ services like Grab and Get are deployed, are just two significant applications. But this won’t be possible without greater public-private sector partnerships.”

 

According to the report, one major challenge is that Thailand’s public sector doesn’t currently know which companies to partner with, while private firms, especially smaller businesses, start-ups and overseas investors, often don’t know how to engage. Thus, third-party advisers may be important in bringing key players together.

 

depa identifies access to capital as another barrier in Thailand and recommends that cities will need to form ‘City Development Companies’ with private sector partners in the future – to better bid for funding and to formalise the nature of their partnership.

 

“Right now, we’re only just scratching the surface of what’s possible with smart mobility. More provinces need to follow the City Development Company model being piloted by Phuket, Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen to access vital funding and plan for the long term,” said Pracha Asawateera, Vice President Southern District Office, Digital Economy Promotion Agency.

 

The final priority identified by the report is the need for more action to be taken to protect Thailand’s tourist hot spots from the risks of ‘over’ tourism.

 

Amadeus, depa and PATA agree that giving tourism boards, local authorities and hospitality businesses access to accurate data for real-time analysis and predictive modelling will be integral to managing tourism in a more sustainable way in the future but, like smart mobility, this is still in its infancy in Thailand too.

 

“The data exists, but Thailand’s tourism industry isn’t quite there yet in using it effectively to manage peak periods. Education on how to interpret and use the data will be just as important as access. Done well, the potential is for the data to be used not only to control tourist numbers, but also to inform everything from ticket prices to infrastructure investments and long-term tourism policies,” said PATA’s Dr Mario Hardy.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/business/30375062

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-08-20

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[brokenbone]

bring it on thai bashers, ridicule all attempts to improve

anything

[Nyezhov]

I will say that infrastructure in Thailand has surely gotten better since the 1980s.

[Fex Bluse]

2 hours ago, brokenbone said:

bring it on thai bashers, ridicule all attempts to improve

anything

What some people call an "attempt to improve" others call more of the same talk that some of us have heard for decades. 

 

Talking does not represent an accomplishment

[timendres]

2 hours ago, brokenbone said:

bring it on thai bashers, ridicule all attempts to improve

anything

I am all for improvements. But the biggest improvement would be to stop trying to "grow" tourism. Better would be to optimize tourism. You simply cannot grow tourism forever. It is nonsense.

[Grumpy John]

Having only lived here for 10 years, 4 in Pattaya & 6 up country, I can see a lot of things that could be improved....but not all will be.  I don't drive down to Bangkok preferring taking the bus or train.  The quality of railway carriages needs a good lift and the quality of buses from Phitsanulok needs a huge lift.   Tourists who choose to take a bus somewhere must be horrified when they see the rusted out ancient clunkers we locals have to travel in!

[Nyezhov]

1 hour ago, Fex Bluse said:

What some people call an "attempt to improve" others call more of the same talk that some of us have heard for decades. 

 

Talking does not represent an accomplishment

Ja, because the rest of the world just jumped into modernity without a war to fix things in less than 100 years too.

 

 

[NCC1701A]

1 hour ago, Grumpy John said:

Tourists who choose to take a bus somewhere must be horrified when they see the rusted out ancient clunkers we locals have to travel in!

actually some tourist come here for just that reason.

 

[worgeordie]

It would be nice not to have the electric go off everytime the wind blows,or it rains.

that would be an improvement.

regards worgeordie

[Orton Rd]

4 hours ago, Nyezhov said:

I will say that infrastructure in Thailand has surely gotten better since the 1980s.

Except for the appalling state of the railways, in my experience. They should start with basics, sort out immigration lines, stop cheating taxi and tuk tuk drivers from ever driving one again, end the double charging and far more at national parks etc. Do away with claiming tax back at the Airport, do what the Japanese do- take it off in the shops over a certain minimum amount. End the idiotic licensing hours when a visitor can't get a drink for no good reason. Make the vans safer, or better replace them all. Sod all except hot air will happen of course.

[dcnx]

4 hours ago, brokenbone said:

bring it on thai bashers, ridicule all attempts to improve

anything

There isn’t an attempt to improve anything, it’s just talk and more talk. Should money actually be allocated for this it will turn into a pig feast of corruption. They just can’t help themselves.

 

When nothing actually ever improves and everything suggested is forgotten about and not enforced, there is only ridicule left.

[mommysboy]

I think they are on completely the wrong track.  People come (came) here for the freedom, fun, and cheap prices.  

 

Sure it helps to have good infrastructure, but not at the expense of the above.  And in fact some people like things a bit 'kranky' because there is a certain charm.

 

Above all they don't want to come to an army camp, where things they find enjoyable are banned.

[NCC1701A]

4 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

access to accurate data for real-time analysis and predictive modelling will be integral to managing tourism in a more sustainable way...

"Welcome to Thailand. Don't worry, I will be using real-time analysis and predictive modelling data to let your hotel know you will be a little late. Do you know your head is bleeding?"

 

[Nyezhov]

10 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

Except for the appalling state of the railways, in my experience. They should start with basics, sort out immigration lines, stop cheating taxi and tuk tuk drivers from ever driving one again, end the double charging and far more at national parks etc. Do away with claiming tax back at the Airport, do what the Japanese do- take it off in the shops over a certain minimum amount. End the idiotic licensing hours when a visitor can't get a drink for no good reason. Make the vans safer, or better replace them all. Sod all except hot air will happen of course.

Were you in Thailand in the 80s then?

[timendres]

9 minutes ago, dcnx said:

There isn’t an attempt to improve anything, it’s just talk and more talk. Should money actually be allocated for this it will turn into a pig feast of corruption. They just can’t help themselves.

I think that is half right. There are improvements, but they are quite inefficient due to the problems you've identified.

[Youlike]

Have you ever tried to speak english to the ferries on the river or at trainstations in BKK? Even at the immigration they can't speak english.

[fullcave]

More traffic lights on the highway might help. Tourists just love a good traffic jam. 

[Eric Loh]

13 hours ago, Nyezhov said:

I will say that infrastructure in Thailand has surely gotten better since the 1980s.

"A blind man groping his way will find his destination" say Nuff.

[Cadbury]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

........popular destinations are starting to show the impact of ‘over’ tourism,

Polite words meaning they are becoming garbage and untreated sewage dumps.

[superal]

Even new 4 lane highways would not help cos the Thai drivers pick a lane and stay in it doing 70 kph if your lucky and them there are the outside lane huggers who are the cause of accidents , oh and not to forget the insane u" turns .

Thailand needs a much improved rail network to get heavy transport off the roads and will serve the tourists needs .

A review of the provincial airports needed .  Why does it seem that most flights have to start and finish in BKK ?    Build an International airport in the north east . 

[Srikcir]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Boost to infrastructure stressed in ways to grow Thai tourism

This picture came to mind

Speed (2/5) Movie CLIP - Jumping the Gap (1994)

[heybuz]

Infrastructure is a good money spinner for the top boys.

[Solinvictus]

16 hours ago, brokenbone said:

bring it on thai bashers, ridicule all attempts to improve

anything

Well, wasnt Thailand already fun and exciting in the past? Changing Kao-San road along with various other "improvements" seem good on paper but dont really make-up for individual and/or family experiences here.