泰铢升值 中国游客锐减 泰今年恐难实现4000万入境旅游人次目标

泰铢升值 中国游客锐减 泰今年恐难实现4000万入境旅游人次目标

旅游业是泰国经济的一大支柱，当局希望今年能吸引4000万入境旅游人次，然而近来泰铢升值，加上中国游客数量锐减，导致该国旅游业陷入低迷，恐难以实现2019年旅游人次目标。

18国游客免签证入境延长至明年4月

为了带动旅游业增长以刺激疲弱的经济，泰国首相巴育昨天宣布延长对18个国家游客的免签证入境措施至明年4月，希望能在明年1月农历新年和4月泰国新年期间吸引更多游客到访。

泰国政府上周出台一项100亿美元（约139亿新元）的刺激经济配套，其中就包括增加开销来促进国内旅游业和对中国及印度游客实施免签政策。泰国原本收取2000泰铢（约90新元）的签证费。

泰国的访客以中国和亚洲区域游客居多，但该国每年也迎来数以百万计的欧洲及美国游客，泰铢升值多多少少影响了游客的旅游计划，尤其是那些预算有限的游客。

泰国旅行社协会会长维奇说：“（泰铢升值）对旅游业绝对有影响，因为在与亚洲其他货币比较之后，游客宁可选择到越南、马来西亚、新加坡或印度尼西亚游玩。”

早在泰铢升值之前，泰国的中国游客数量已开始下降。2018年7月，一艘载有中国游客的观光船在普吉岛附近海域倾覆，造成多人死亡和失踪，加上中国经济放缓，导致赴泰的中国游客慢慢减少。

根据官方数据，今年首六个月访泰的中国游客人数同比下降了5%。当局认为，中国游客人数激增的情形不会再现。

另外，2018年访问泰国的全球各地游客人数比2017年多了7.5%，但今年首六个月，游客总数只增加了1.5%。旅游业表现低迷和泰铢升值，打击了泰国经济表现，泰国今年第二季度经济增长放缓至2.3%，是五年来表现最差的一季。

泰国旅游局国际行销部副主任猜丹说：“这项新政策将能够让泰国两大游客来源市场的游客，更容易做出来泰国游玩的决定。”他承认，泰铢升值可能会对游客在酒店和消费方面有所影响，但他相信政府放宽签证条例会吸引更多游客到访。

由为泰党控制的泰国旅游及运动部原本也提出，豁免中国及印度游客的签证一年以提振经济，但遭到内阁反对。《曼谷邮报》报道，泰国副首相兼国防部长巴维警告免签证或危害国家安全。他与外交部的立场一致，认为中印两国各有十数亿的人口，泰国未必有能力应付大批旅客涌入、同时担忧有人趁机非法居留。

~早报网~

Tourism Langkawi, Malindo Air to launch promotion to lure tourists from Phuket

Tourism Langkawi, Malindo Air to launch promotion to lure tourists from Phuket

Tourism Langkawi, a local tourism development organisation, in collaboration with Malindo Air, will launch a promotion to introduce tourism products and hotel accommodation offered by its members, to lure tourists from Phuket to the island, next month.

Langkawi Tourism president Ahmad Phisol Ishak said Malindo Air’s Langkawi-Phuket-Langkawi direct flights had opened up a huge opportunity for the island’s tourism sector as it would ease the travel of visitors.

“Fifteen members of Langkawi Tourism comprising travel agents, hotel and tourism product operators are joining forces with Malindo Air to launch the promotion at Langkawi International Airport on Sept 2.

“We want to take this opportunity to attract more tourists from Phuket. During the launching ceremony, representatives from 10 travel agents and three media organisations in Thailand will also be flown in as part of the promotion.”

He said this when met after chairing a meeting with Malindo Air's North and Central Malaysia manager Arasu Soundarajan and members of Tourism Langkawi at Ombak Villa Langkawi here today.

Ahmad Phisol said the promotion was also being held as a result of positive feedback received by the organisation following the Tourism Langkawi products engagement mission in Phuket from July 19-22.

“The mission was very successful, Tourism Langkawi with Malindo Air received positive feedback on what we were able to offer as a result of the meeting with 25 travel agents there. Furthermore, we see Phuket as an attraction not only for Thai tourists but also from Europe and China,“ he said.

Meanwhile, Arasu Soundarajan said the airlines hoped the cooperation and the promotion would increase the number of passengers on its Langkawi-Phuket-Langkawi sector.

“We hope to push our load through this collaboration with the marketing support from Tourism Langkawi. Through this campaign, we can offer special fares to travel agents offering hotel packages,” he said.

Malindo Air has been offering flights for the Langkawi-Phuket-Langkawi sector every Monday, Wednesday and Friday since March.

-- BERNAMA