Published on November 21, 2005

Three things most worry French tourists when making their travel plans, according to leading civil servant Jean-Paul Leotard. They are natural disasters, political risk and terrorism.

Yet French tourists were soon back in Thailand after last year’s tsunami, thanks to the Thai government’s efficient assistance programme and promotion campaign, said Leotard, who heads the International Affairs Department of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport, Territorial Development, Tourism and the Sea.

He said the economy was a small factor in deciding tourists whether to visit Thailand, though increasing unemployment in France has had some effect.

Unemployment in France is 9.8 per cent, and the country’s economic growth is expected to increase only 1.5-2 per cent this year.

European Union enlargement to include 10 Eastern European countries has not affected the Thai tourism industry due to the great differences between Thailand and those countries.

The Thai government hopes the industry will pick up in the current quarter, as the number of inbound tourists was lower than expected in the previous three months of the year.

Leotard is satisfied that new activities and value-added plans such as ecotourism, cultural tours and spa services will attract different groups of tourists to the Kingdom.

“Tourism is a complicated industry involving psychology and individual differences, but we recognise the Thai government has made a big effort to change any negative aspects and attract European tourists by mass tour packages,” the senior tourism official said.

About 200,000 French tourists visit Thailand each year, ranking third after those from Germany and Britain.

In winter most prefer to purchase tour packages that focus on beaches.

Leotard said European tourists, including the French, generally liked to visit at least two countries on one trip – such as Thailand and Laos, Laos and Cambodia, or Vietnam and Laos – and the target countries should agree to facilitate travelling throughout the Southeast Asian region.

The French and Thai governments are party to the regional Ayeyawady-Chao Phaya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy for tourism cooperation.

Under this plan, Thailand will be the gateway to the region, and tourist destinations will be developed, among them Unesco world-heritage sites Sukhothai in Thailand, Angkor Wat and Luang Prabang in Laos and Hue in Vietnam.

It is hoped local operators will be encouraged to improve services.

According to data released by the French tourism department, 6.2 per cent of French tourists visited Asia or Oceania last year, each of them spending an average of 11.9 days.

“We have an agreement with Thailand to implement local cultural and historical routes,” the French official said.

Leotard added that the riots in France had had little impact on French tourism because the government has the situation under control.

Skyrocketing oil prices have made all European tour agents, airline companies and hotels adjust service fees to cope with higher operation costs, but there has been only a small increase in the price of package tours.

France is one of the world’s biggest tourist draws in terms of culture, history, fashion, art and luxury goods.

Last year it ranked first with 75.1 million visitors, followed by Spain and the United States.

Its revenue from the industry ranked third with US$40.8 billion (Bt1.7 trillion).

The US and Spain came in first and second, respectively.

Leotard said Asians were French tourism’s best customers and doubted that a slowdown in Thai consumption would affect the industry.

Anoma Srisukkasem

The Nation

Paris

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