Japan model, open country for tourism

The first button that Thailand should study

Thairath Online

  • Thai Rath Scoop

  • Interview

17 Jun 2022 3:12 p.m.

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“Japan's open country model for gradual tourism

If you look closely, you will find that it is a good method and is also aimed at helping small tour operators in the country to gradually open their eyes.

after having to experience the crisis of the covid-19 epidemic

For a long time, almost 3 years, which is different from the project to stimulate tourism in Thailand.

at various tour companies

Especially the little ones have hardly any merits,”

said Mr. Den Mahawongsanan, Assistant President of the Tourism Council of Thailand.

and one of the tour operators both domestically and internationally

With more than 20 years of experience, told the Thai Rath Special News team online.

Mr. Den Mahawongsanan, Assistant President, Tourism Council of Thailand

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What is the Japanese tourism model :

1.

Traveling in Japan must be a group tour.

and must be booked through a travel agency in Japan

Only (land operators) who are certified and are members of the Japan Association of Travel Agents or JATA.

2.

Must have a Tour Leader who has the ability to coordinate with Japanese agencies and medical personnel.

(Can speak Japanese) Strictly supervise and direct the guests to adhere to social distancing measures throughout the trip.

3.

Do not separate yourself from the tour group to travel alone.

And tour groups must travel according to the travel route that has been pre-selected only.

what is the difference between

Thai model and Japanese model :

“In a situation where tourism is not normal

The form of booking tours or travel should also be unusual.”

It can be seen that Japan's tourism model

that is only open to tour groups and must pass

A certified land operator and member of JATA, in addition to directly helping Japanese tour operators

It also helps screening tourist routes.

tourist attractions, accommodation, hotels or even a standard tour company

to prevent the

"hungry tigers"

who look forward to taking advantage of tourists

especially foreign tourists as well

While the Thai government's tourism promotion measures, such as

the "Thai Teaw Thai Project"

or

the "We Travel Together" project,

allow tourists to have direct contact with hotel operators.

which is why tour operators

especially small companies

hardly any merit

from such a project, despite the fact that various tour companies

Have the readiness and expertise to link to other businesses.

related to tourism such as car rental business, restaurant operators

and tour routes

More than a hotel business that lacks personnel and less expertise at this point than tour companies

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis

in the past

“Know how people in the hospitality and tourism sector still exist.

And there is a need for tourism, it is not in the normal state.

But after everything has returned to normal for 1-2 years, it will return to the old style of tourism.

It should be no problem.”

Thai tour business after Japan opened its doors :

The price of the Japanese tour at this time is from

45,000-70,000 baht

for

a 5-day, 3-night trip to Japan, and this price does not include a visa fee of about 3,000 baht

, due to the fact that the airfare has increased considerably.

especially if going to go to Hokkaido

Because Thai Airways has canceled direct flights to Chitose Airport.

have to fly to Narita Airport

or Haneda Airport

before boarding the plane to Hokkaido again

which, of course, makes the tour price inevitably higher than before

Most of the time, customers will come to ask for information and tour prices.

But have not contacted to buy a tour very seriously

causing customers to travel to Japan at this time, most of them are group companies that still hold customers

Rewarding as a travel reward

As a result, the overall picture must be considered that this new Japanese tour is not as busy as it should be.

Stimulating Thai tourism must start with the first button right :

“If the government really wants to stimulate the tourism sector, in the 3rd quarter or the 4th quarter of this year, it has announced that half of the tour measure will pass.

Book through tour companies only.

half price on all routes.”

Although the government has announced that it is ready to assist tour operators in the country.

In particular, providing low-interest loans (Soft loans), but as far as checking with the members of the domestic tourism business association found that

"no tour operators have access to

low interest loan

that even one company can get it."

That's because under

"Strict Measures"

of the Bank of Thailand

that requires the submission of a balance sheet account

Must not be subject to credit bureaus and many more. The question is, in the past 3 years, tour companies, especially

SMEs

, have had almost no income for a long time.

How can these companies be subject to such conditions of the National Bank?

“Now it looks like the government

or even TAT has almost no idea to seriously assist Thai tour operators.

It's like letting us recover ourselves or let each other die.

which if that is true

The question is, who will the Department of Tourism work with next?

Therefore, if the government does not pay attention to come to help these people seriously.

When the country is open to welcome foreign tourists seriously

Thailand's tourism sector, which in the past has been able to generate enormous income for the country in the first place.

How much are you ready?

“For accepting and maintaining the service standards of foreign tourists”

“If you look carefully

At present, even staying in a 4-5 star hotel in Thailand, the question is, is the service of the staff still a 4-5 star standard?

That's because entrepreneurs are trying to save costs.

by hiring new employees

who do not have much experience to serve customers

or somewhere that doesn't have a very long string

It even has to hire employees on a daily basis.

to receive guests during the long holidays

And especially with the tour guide career, this is almost not to mention.

Many people have almost all switched to other occupations.

Therefore, if the government still does not try to maintain employment

service sector labor

as it is today

When the full tour is open

How ready will Thailand be to accept foreign tourists?

because people who can work in the service sector

It takes years of training to be ready enough.

Today, we should start putting the first button on the Thai tourism industry right.

before opening a full tour again

Not allowing the private sector to do as they are, as they are today.

Where is still not correct

should amend the regulations

or relax various regulations

to be reasonable.”

Failure to communicate to stimulate Thai tourism :

Personally, I want the government to speed up communication and there should be a more clear

single message

to communicate with various sectors.

of Thai tourism

Because before, there were unclear on many issues, causing entrepreneurs to confuse the government's measures.

“Earlier, we saw this whole province open.

This province is not open

This province must wear a mask.

This province does not have to wear

This hotel must check ATK first. This hotel doesn't have to meet like this. Tour companies are difficult to work with.

Because sometimes travel routes are placed in 4-5 provinces and the customers have already been sold.

But when arriving at accommodation in some provinces, they have to find measures that do not match the previously informed customers.

So everything looks like a mess.”

Stimulating the tourism sector on the national agenda:



It is time for governments to

Stimulating the tourism sector is a national agenda because in the past 3 years, we have to admit that many tour operators in Thailand have lost their lives.

As far as I know, from the past, there were more than

10,000 companies, and now there are probably less than 7,000 companies left

, while Thai tourism personnel have lost their jobs.

and almost all turned to other occupations

In addition, in terms of

"opportunity"

, it must be assumed that in the past 3 years, many natural attractions of Thailand have been able to rejuvenate themselves until they return to their beauty.

and should be attractive to attract more foreign tourists to travel in the country

Therefore, if the government initiates the development of tourist attractions

and issuing measures to support the entire Thai tourism sector in order to support the

BCG Economy (Bio-Circular-Green Economy)

, which is an economic model towards sustainable development to be concrete, perhaps a

"key turning point" for the "Jump Start" sector. New Thai tourism can be a whole system.

Special news team, Thairath Online reports.

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