Galaxy Resorts calls for luxury strategy to maximise growth

As Thailand has already passed its tourism peak of 40 million tourists, the country requires luxury marketing and new public-private partnership investment in luxury tourism that targets the growing number of affluent travellers from Asia-Pacific in order to maximise growth, says Galaxy Resorts Thailand.

- MOLPASORN SHOOWONG

It also said the delay of the entertainment complex bill would make Thailand lose competitiveness with other Asian and the Middle Eastern countries.

“The battleground for Asia-Pacific now is the premium and luxury sector,” said Kevin Clayton, chief brand officer of Galaxy Resorts Thailand.

According to the Pacific Asia Travel Association, Asia-Pacific tourism generated over 648 million regional trips last year, and it is expected to reach nearly 700 million and 800 million trips, respectively, this year and in 2027.

Mr Clayton said Thailand is at the centre of the major growth and could benefit from the growing middle class in the region, such as those of India and China.

There were over 6.2 million affluent people and 168 million upper middle class people in China who are fuelling luxury consumption overseas and are opting for trips within the region.

He said although Bangkok is competing at the forefront as one of the top most visited cities worldwide along with London and Istanbul, driven by increasing air capacity, overall Thailand is highly unlikely to gain 35 million foreign arrivals this year.