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Saturday, October 22, 2005
RP tourism equal to Thailand’s but needs full gov’t support
Full government support, not its tourist attractions, is the reason behind the success of Thailand’s tourism industry.
“The tourism sites of Thailand are basically the same with those in the Philippines. Some of our beaches are even better than their (Thailand’s) beaches. But the Thai Government gives all out support to the industry because it has recognized that the tourism industry is the number one dollar earner of the country,” Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)-Philippine marketing representative David de Jesus said.
Calamity
He said Phuket, the province that was drastically hit by a tsunami in December 2004 is already back on its feet barely a year after the calamity that claimed a thousand lives, mostly tourists.
“The beaches are even better now than they were before because of full government support,” he said during Thai Airways’ informal dinner with the press at Krua Thai-Banilad Town Center last Thursday.
In a separate interview, former Finance secretary and current president of the Asian Institute of Management Roberto de Ocampo echoed de Jesus, saying he has heard many tourists, including Filipinos, say that the Philippines has everything that Thailand offers.
Lack
“We just lack promotion (which needs financial support from the government),” he said.
The Tourism Council of Thailand, TAT, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau and Thai Airways are supporting efforts to help Phuket and the rest of the Andaman region recover from the natural disaster.
One of the activities conducted by these organizations is the Mega Fam-Andaman Recovery Inspection Trip, in which they spent some 34 million baht for a familiarization tour of more than 800 journalists and travel agents from 24 countries worldwide to Krabi and Phuket.
De Jesus said the Thai Government invests in tourism infrastructure such as the Suvarnabhumi Airport that costs over 155 billion baht. The new airport, occupying an area of 3, 200 hectares, is five times larger than the present Don Muang facility and caters to 45 million passenger movements annually.
The Thai Government also invests on roads to make the transfer of tourists from one tourist spot to another convenient aside from giving support to the private sector, especially hotel operators.
Accommodation
Low cost accommodation in Thailand is also another reason tourists prefer to go there instead of the Philippines.
“One can spend three days and two nights in a hotel (not five star hotel) in Thailand, free breakfast with just $3,” Thai Airways passenger sales supervisor Malu Oclarence-Dueńas said.
To keep the income within the country and to help promote and develop its tourist attractions, de Jesus said Thailand also encourages domestic tourism.
Earlier, Skal International national president Charles Lim said promoting destinations among domestic tourists can help the Philippines save on advertising costs as locals, who have visited these attractions, would recommend the sights to friends and family. (JBN)
(October 22, 2005 issue)
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