Travellers head to Asia-Pacific region ''in search of better deal''
Monday, March 30, 2009Conventional holidays are out this year as holidaymakers opt for destinations where their money will go further, according to Expedia.
Brits are choosing to avoid places with an unfavourable exchange rate - such as Europe and the US - and are looking to south-east Asia, claims head of product marketing at Expedia, Jonathan Cudworth.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), is predicting 14 million foreign visitors in 2009 - which some say is a conservative estimate as some 14.46 million people visited the country in 2007.
Mr Cudworth said there had been increased demand for trips to Thailand "as customers look for destinations where their spending money will stretch further".
The Thai government has waived the cost of tourist visa applications between March 5th and June 4th this year. Mr Cudworth thought that this was a "wise decision" by the authorities and could only be helping the destinations popularity.
TAT has anticipated tourism revenue of 505 billion baht (£10 billion) for 2009.
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