Tourism
New Expedia Report Shows Thais are the Most Frequent Travellers in Asia
BANGKOK – According to a new survey from global travel company Expedia, Thais are the most frequent travellers in Asia with an average of 10.1 flights per year, followed by Japanese and Indian travellers.
On average, travellers are taking five one-way flights per year, with personal flights (3.2 per year) accounting for two-thirds of these flights and another third being business trips (1.6 per year).
Business travel is particularly high in Thailand (4.5), Japan (3.9) and India (3.6). Economy-class travel predominates, especially for personal trips, with US and Thai business travellers being the most likely to travel in premium economy or above.
Most travellers still prefer a printed boarding pass, with nearly half (47%) using print only and a third (32%) using a combination of both print and mobile boarding passes, while 21% use a mobile device.
Americans (28%) and Italians (27%), along with select markets in Asia such as Thailand (30%), India (29%) and (South Korea 27%), lead the way for choosing mobile-only boarding passes, Expedia said.
Time to snooze … who loses?
When it comes to passing a sleeping passenger, most say they would wake them and ask them to move (42%) and a third would climb over them (20% with their back to them and 15% facing them), while nearly a quarter (23%) would just wait.
Travellers in Asian markets tend to be more likely to wake them, led by Hong Kong (60%), Thailand (59%) and Singapore (58%).
Nearly a third of passengers (30%) say they take off their shoes but not their socks, while 7% go barefoot on aeroplanes. The Japanese are the most likely to go barefoot (16%), while Swiss (48%) and British (43%) travellers were most likely to take off their shoes but keep on their socks.
Mexicans (85%), Thais (81%), Italians (80%), Indians (77%) and Spaniards (77%) were most likely to say that shoes should stay on.
Thais’ pet peeves
Though continents apart, Thais’ pet peeves when it comes to the most annoying in-flight habits don’t differ much from travellers from other parts of the world.
As far as annoying passengers go, the worst in most markets are the seat kickers/bumpers/grabbers, chosen by a majority (51%) of global travellers (vs 37% in Thailand), followed by the aromatic passenger (43% globally vs 42% in Thailand), the inattentive parent (39% globally vs 34% in Thailand), the personal space violator (34% globally vs 43% in Thailand) and the audio insensitive (29% globally vs 31% in Thailand).
When checking into their hotel rooms, guests are mostly annoyed to find bedbugs (61% globally vs 34% in Thailand), a used condom (55% globally vs 52% in Thailand) or cigarette odour and other foul smells (46% globally vs 59% in Thailand).
The most annoying guests include the inattentive parent (45% globally vs 40% in Thailand), the hallway hellraiser (41% globally vs less than 30% in Thailand) and the in-room reveller (41% globally vs 40% in Thailand).
Making travel decisions
Travellers are closely divided between booking a flight first and then a hotel (43%) compared with a travel package with a flight and hotel (38%), while relatively few would book a hotel first (9%).
Singaporean (64%), Malaysian (64%) and South Korean (63%) travellers are most likely to book a flight first, with Thais at 37%.
Choosing to stay at big chain hotels seems to dominate in most markets as a first or second choice (69% globally vs 52% in Thailand), with boutique hotels (51% globally vs 44% in Thailand) and vacation/holiday rentals (34% globally vs 33% in Thailand) as the next most popular option.
WiFi connection is by far the most important hotel amenity for global travellers and is the top hotel amenity for Thai travellers at 71%, followed by complimentary toiletries (34% globally vs 46% in Thailand), an in-room fridge (34% globally vs 45% in Thailand) and freebies such as spa credits and food/drink credits (47% in Thailand).
“Thai travellers are no doubt frequent travellers who love to stay connected to their friends and families back home,” said Lavinia Rajaram, regional head of communications for Expedia Asia. “It thus comes at no surprise that WiFi emerged as the most important hotel amenity among Thais, ahead of even price and location.”
Despite being a price-sensitive group of travellers, it was surprising to see that only 38% of Thai travellers book their flights and hotels together as a package.
“Package bookings remain the single easiest way for travellers to save hundreds [of dollars] on travel, both domestically and internationally,” Ms Rajaram said. “By booking their flights and hotels together, Thai travellers stand to enjoy up to 18% off their travel costs.”
Expedia’s global flight and hotel etiquette study looked at the flight and hotel habits of more than 18,000 adults worldwide and included interviews with more than 600 adult travellers in Thailand.
People from more nations will be now able to enter Thailand without a visa beginning Monday. This is part of an effort to increase tourism and encourage visitors to stay longer, Interior Ministry spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul said on Friday.
According to Ms. Traisuree, Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has signed four documents that will make it easier for foreigners to travel. These modifications will all take effect on Monday, provided they are published in the Royal Gazette.
The instructions include 93 more nations on the list of individuals who can visit Thailand without a visa, up from 57 previously. People from these countries can stay for a maximum of 60 days. Additionally, from 19 to 31, nearly twice as many nations will be able to obtain visas on arrival in Thailand.
To attract digital nomads, artists, and tourists interested in learning or practicing skills such as cooking and Muay Thai, the country will also introduce the Destination Thailand Visa service.
The new form of visa, which is valid for five years, allows travelers to stay for up to 180 days.
According to Ms. Traisuree, students holding visas for master’s degrees or higher will not be required to leave Thailand immediately upon graduation. They will be able to stay for an additional year to hunt for work or vacation.
In order to enhance the economy and tourism, the cabinet took a general decision on these additional measures in May. The statement was meant to be released in June, but it was pushed back.
Ms. Traisuree believes that this is the greatest sort of visa for persons who want to work from home in the Land of Smiles and explore the nation without the various restrictions and complications that come with conventional tourist visas.
Getting a DTV will give you a 5-year multiple-entry visa that lets you stay in Thailand for a total of 180 days a year, with the opportunity to stay for another 180 days.
Ms. Traisuree said that the Destination Thailand Visa is great if you want to work from home in the Land of Smiles and see the sights without the many restrictions and problems that come with a regular tourist visa. The Destination Thailand Visa will cost 10,000 THB.
Qualifications for the Thailand Destination Visa (DTV)
According to Thai Embassy, to be eligible for the visa, you must fulfill the following conditions (which could change):
- You have to be 20 years of age or older
- You have to be able to afford the cost of the visa
- To sustain your stay in the nation, you must demonstrate that you have at least 500,000 THB in your bank account
- Proof of your employment with a recognized company is required.
For digital nomads or remote workers who want to make the most of their travels and yet have the opportunity to work while they’re there, the Destination Thailand Visa is designed just for you. Additionally, it is ideal if you are traveling to Thailand in order to partake in any of the following activities:
- Thai food prepared with Muay Thai
- Instruction and conferences
- Sports medicine therapy
- International talent International music and art events
Thailand DTV Visa Benefits
Additionally, there is uncertainty about these details and they could change:
- In comparison to other Southeast Asian nations that provide comparable visas, Thailand has less stringent income requirements and charges for the visa. For another 10,000 THB, you can extend the visa once, for a maximum of 180 days.
- There are ninety-three foreign nations that qualify for the Thailand DTV Visa.
- With this visa, you can lawfully operate remotely for foreign clients and companies while in Thailand.
- Your spouse and any children under the age of twenty may accompany you.
- You are exempt from paying taxes on your foreign income because the visa allows you to stay in Thailand for up to 180 days.
Drawbacks of a Thailand DTV Visa
You are unable to work for a Thai company that needs a Thai work visa, even though you are still able to engage in some activities and make money. Your DTV will end if you decide to change the kind of visa you are currently on.
Additional information on the visa’s release date and application process will be available in late June or early July of 2024. You will most likely be able to apply for it via the Thai immigration office, a Thai embassy, or a Royal Thai Consulate.
Thailand’s Hotels Association (THA) reports that another German tour operator has gone bankrupt, but that this will have a far less effect than the recent bankruptcy of FTI Touristik.
Following notification from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Thai Hotels Association has now confirmed that the Cologne-based luxury tour operator Itravel Group has formally filed for bankruptcy.
Southern Thailand is home to numerous high-end resorts, which Itravel aims to attract, according to Thai Hotels Association president Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun.
As a result of Itravel’s bankruptcy, he said, the hotels association is currently collecting data from its members.
On Monday, the organization wrote to the TAT and the Foreign Ministry, requesting that they assist hotel operators in keeping up with legal developments surrounding the bankruptcy of the German tour operator FTI, which resulted in a loss of almost 111 million baht for hotels around the country.
Hotels having issues with Itravel
On Monday, during the THA monthly meeting, Mr. Thienprasit noted that they also emphasized the case’s urgency to Minister Sermsak Pongpanit of Tourism and Sports.
In response to allegations that hotel operators with business partnerships with Itravel were experiencing issues with financial transactions, the agency issued an alert to the industry, according to Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, TAT deputy governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas.
He speculated that the losses might be lower with Itravel, an online travel agency that focuses on the niche luxury market, than with FTI, the third operator.
According to the Bangkok Post, at Monday’s THA meeting, Mr. Sermsak stated that the ministry will look into measures to assist hotels, especially since the goal of 3.5 trillion baht in tourism earnings for this year is still very ambitious.
According to Mr. Thienprasit, the organization is opposed to the government’s plans to increase the legal foreign ownership of condominiums from 49% to 75%. This, he added, might lead to an increase in unlawful accommodations and make other condo residents feel uneasy about having more guests around the clock.
Unscrupulous investors
He said that some international investors are already breaking the law by renting out their rooms to day guests, even though the Hotel Act only permits rentals of at least 30 days.
An increase in the foreign ownership quota for condos, according to Mr. Thienprasit, could entice unscrupulous investors and lead to the construction of even more unlawful rooms, which now exceed the number of registered hotel rooms by a factor of two.
The success of Thailand’s hotel industry is highly dependent on the business of tour operators. These collaborations bring in a constant flow of visitors, particularly during busy seasons.
It is more convenient for passengers to book comprehensive packages offered by tour operators, which include hotel accommodations and activities. Because of this arrangement, hotels may anticipate a specific amount of bookings without having to spend a lot on advertising.
Additionally, hotels are able to provide more affordable rates, which appeals to guests who are mindful of their budget. But if tour operators go through slumps or start focusing on other places, this dependence might be disastrous.
Source: Bangkok Post, Thai PBS
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SEE ALSO: Thailand Named Top Spot for Most Popular Tourist Destination
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