Travellers from Thailand are set to take fewer trips abroad this year as airlines reduce flight capacity and rising airfares push up the cost of travel, according to a leading industry representative, Bangkok Post reports.
Chotechuang Soorangura, vice-president of the Thai Travel Agents Association, says flight cancellations and route reductions by Thai airlines are expected to result in a 15-20% year-on-year decline in outbound travel during the low season, and around 10% for the full year.
Airlines are cutting or consolidating unprofitable routes, including services to destinations such as Japan and China, in response to weaker demand and higher fuel prices.
Chotechuang noted that while tour operators have not been significantly affected yet due to the seasonal slowdown, rising airfares are already pushing package tour prices up by as much as 20%.
Some travel agencies are responding by shifting focus towards domestic tourism, as fewer Thais are currently travelling abroad. However, he expects pent-up demand to return later in the year, particularly for long-haul destinations such as Europe, once prices stabilise and capacity improves.
Despite the short-term slowdown, China and Japan remain the top destinations for Thai outbound travellers.
