Most people believe the country’s tourism will improve by the end of this year now that the Covid-19 situation has eased off and the government has lowered its status from a “dangerous communicable disease” to a “communicable disease under surveillance”, according an opinion survey by Suan Dusit Rajabhat University, or Suan Dusit Poll.
The poll was conducted online between Oct 23-28 on 1,148 people throughout the country.
Asked about their assessment of the country’s tourism by the end of this year, based on the Covid-19 situation, a large majority, 79.88%, said it would certainly be better than last year, 17.94% thought it would be about the same and 2.18% said it would be worse.
Asked which province they thought was most suitable for visits during the New Year, Chiang Mai came first with 38.85%, Chiang Rai 19.30%, Nan 15.79%, Phuket 13.28% and Prachuap Khiri Khan 12.78%.
Regarding their favourable styles of tourism, with each respondent allowed to choose more than one answer, 55.62% put their emphasis on rest, hotels and facilities; 51.41% favoured seaside and beaches; and, 45.43% liked to visit temples and sacred places for merit-making.
Asked what would encourage people to travel more in the country, 71.65% cited affordable expenses; 68.50% travel convenience; and 46.98% promotional programmes and discounts on accommodations, travel and food.
Asked what the government should do to promote tourism, 60.16% said promoting tourism should be made a national agenda; 57.34% said tourism should be promoted for both main and secondary tourist cities; and 56.29% suggested opening of new tourist destinations and tour routes.
Asked whether they had planned to travel during the year-end, 54.01% said “yes”; 32.49% were still uncertain; and 13.50% said “no.”
As for those who had a travel plan, 87.58% said they would travel inside the country with an average expense of about 11,977 baht and 12.42% would travel abroad with an average expense of about 75,900 baht.