Thailand should set an ambitious target of 45-60 million arrivals by the period of 2030 to 2035, pushing stakeholders to cooperate and keep pace with fast-growing Asia-Pacific tourism, says Galaxy Resorts Thailand.
“It’s not unthinkable to achieve those numbers with the right plan and growth strategy, as Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing tourism region worldwide and Thailand stands at the centre of that region,” said Kevin Clayton, chief brand officer of Galaxy Resorts Thailand.
Earlier this month, Tourism and Sports Minister Artthakorn Sirilatthayakorn said Thailand was no longer a “tourism giant” as he urged related stakeholders to adjust their working mindset.
Mr Clayton said foreign arrivals to Thailand this year are likely to number 33 million, below the pre-Covid level in 2019.
Having an ambitious target would make related tourism bodies and stakeholders become more progressive and inventive in working to achieve the goal, he said.
Although Thailand is known for its tourism assets such as hospitality, street food, beaches and historical sites, these are insufficient to drive the industry in the current context, said Mr Clayton.
Several recurring issues must be addressed, including ensuring safe travel, accessibility, digital marketing upgrades and curating unique experiences to target high-spending tourists, he said, which requires the right partnership between the public and private sectors to drive tourism forward.
ENTERTAINMENT TOURISM
As Thailand’s entertainment complex bill was shelved because the current government does not support it, Mr Clayton said Galaxy Resorts Thailand remains patient about its expansion in the country.
“When the new government is formed, hopefully there can be a process to advance thinking around integrated resorts. We would be more than happy to participate in that process,” he said, noting that man-made attractions can be a key supplement to Thai tourism.
Japan, the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines and Singapore are expecting new or expanded integrated resorts over the next few years, which will intensify competition in the region, said Mr Clayton.
Global entertainment tourism is estimated to tally US$267 billion by 2030, he said.
“If Thailand plans to compete with other countries in Asia, it needs to think through how it can headline major events and offer new man-made attractions,” said Mr Clayton.
Earlier this month, Galaxy Resorts brought Jackson Wang’s “Magicman 2” World Tour to Thailand.
The concerts spanned two days at Impact Arena and were sold out, with an audience of more than 24,000, underlining Thailand’s place as a top entertainment destination.
The company also supports Jackson Wang concerts at Galaxy Arena at Galaxy Resorts Macau.
The Macau resort comprises nine hotels featuring more than 5,000 rooms, suites and villas, with roughly 16% of its revenue derived from the non-gaming segment.
Regarding Thailand’s 300-baht tourism tax scheme, which the tourism and sports minister plans to revisit, Mr Clayton said such a fee is already implemented at other destinations.
Before levying this fee, he said several factors should be considered, such as the collection method and timing to avoid denting traveller sentiment.
The government should also ensure the fund will be used effectively for insurance and infrastructure improvement, said Mr Clayton.