According to foreign media reports on May 6th, with the decrease in the price of unmanned aerial vehicles and the convenience they bring, drones have become one of the fastest-growing electronic tools. In recent years, the drone market in Southeast Asia has developed rapidly, with great potential for growth in the Thai drone market.
Colin Gunn, Chief Revenue Officer of 3D Robotics, a drone manufacturer based in the United States, said that the main reason for the popularity of drones is the decrease in their prices. In the past three to four years, the price of drones has dropped from $10000 to $20000 (approximately RMB 65000 to $130000) to $1000 (approximately RMB 6500), and the weight of the aircraft has also decreased from 10 kilograms to 1.5 kilograms. At present, drones have been widely used in agriculture, parcel delivery, construction, investigation, and mapping. In addition, they can also be used to deliver medical supplies to remote areas and collect blood samples.
Guien also stated that by 2016, the global market value of drones is expected to reach $3 billion (approximately RMB 19.5 billion), with a growth rate of up to 100%. Drones are becoming increasingly popular among tourists and amateur photographers, especially those from Southeast Asia known for its beautiful scenery. Currently, 3D Robotics has established drone factories in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand. This year, Southeast Asia's revenue is expected to account for 20% of global revenue, with revenue from Thailand accounting for 25% of the entire Southeast Asian revenue.
The product manager of a 3D Robotics distributor stated that there is a great potential for the development of drones in the Thai market, as a large number of photos need to be posted on social media. In 2016, the market value of Thai drones is expected to reach 500 million Thai baht (approximately 92.5 million RMB), and in 2015 it was 300 million Thai baht (approximately 55.5 million RMB).
