20 minutes ago, bangkokbonecollector said:

Would you accuse Japan of the same? They haven't fully opened yet.

As this is a Thai forum, plus I don't own any property in Japan or call it home, I have nothing to comment on about Japan.

Why can’t the Thai Govt speed up opening the doors to tourism?

As the title says. Stupidity, ignorance, lack of worldly understanding, blatant sabotage, organised disruption, strategic pilfering.

I could go on.

8 hours ago, hotchilli said:

I'm old school... live out of my ar$e pocket... 

I am old school too (traditional). I was always taught never spend beyond your means. Besides a mortgage I had one time in the UK many years ago, I have never borrowed and never will again.  I save up for it (including a house) and pay it off straight away. The banks hate me, as they get no interest from me on credit cards, loans etc.

Advice I would give to anyone.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The Thailand Tourism Authority of Thailand, known as the TAT, has very well-paid executives trying to promote the land of smiles to a global audience.

Get rid of them as they have failed, continue to fail and are so out of touch with reality.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

They are spending huge sums on getting tourists to choose Thailand rather than other destinations

This is failing miserably. Who are they very well paid executives. Whn you continue to keep making the same mistakes it is difficult to defend the term stupid.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

However, in reality Thailand has not lost its appeal, so perhaps TAT should look at what attracted people here in large numbers in the past.

Never a truer statement.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

So, you see Thailand already has a number of events that will attract foreigners before we remember that Thailand’s beaches, hospitality, and incredible cuisine are also huge attractions.

Not when you have to jump through hoops to get there.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Although hotels have upped their rates significantly, travellers are willing to pay these soaring prices. I suppose you cannot blame the hospitality industry for trying.

You can blame them as its disgraceful. Hopefully intelligent people will remember and boycott the hotel in the future, as there are lots of choice around.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Police leave has been canceled as they try to stop the madness on the roads at a time when it is the most dangerous time to drive. 

I think we all know how effective that will be. the stats are showing how ineffective this is having already with the death rate.

I wonder is this article hype or a genuine account of what is and will happen.

The TAT are priceless in their ridiculous predictions. They are good for one thing only. Making you laugh.

9 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

TPN notes, however, that this is a far cry from pre-covid numbers of tourism arrivals which often saw up to roughly 200,000 people on the busier days of Songkran in 2019! In 2019, the Phuket Airport was averaging about 65,400 people a day during Songkran. That number is now just above 2,000.

So this is the crux of it.

9 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Tourist associations and business owners say that a significant reason for still low arrivals is that Test and Go and Thailand Pass remain huge obstacles for many travelers, especially concerns of testing positive on arrival and being sent to quarantine.

What everyone with half a brain cell knows.

5 minutes ago, webfact said:

TAT expects the 3rd Quarter to be a suitable time for market-driven operations, which will have a positive effect on the Thai tourism industry within the second half of this year. In a best-case scenario, some 10 million foreign tourists are expected to visit Thailand in 2022, generating tourism revenue of 625.8 billion Baht.

The TAT never cease to disappoint with their exorbitant figures. I applaud optimism but this is a pipe dream and once again shows the TAT are delusional and haven't a clue, yet again. 

I wonder if who ever made tis bold statement will be held accountable at the end of the year when the kingdom gets nowhere near 10 million figures or does the TAT just make things up like they have done for the last couple of years and never hit their target.

So basically the government are inept and have a poor track record on sorting the countries economic woes. Who would have thought! Less submarines might be a first step and then spending money where it is needed, to the poor.  If ever this wasn't the catalyst for people to vote this lot out, nothing is.

I wonder if the taste changes after been stuck under UV light for hours as this is a practice here in China for all goods and materials coming from overseas. Personally I always found Durian smells like vomit and tastes like poop. The locals crowd around Durian like flies does around waste.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The Thai economy is highly likely to grow at a rate of 2% to 3%, with inflation staying at 5% this year if the Russia-Ukraine conflict is prolonged throughout this year,’ Mr Thanavath said. ‘This scenario will lead Thailand to enter technical stagflation in 2022.’

I see they have jumped on the bandwagon of using the war in Ukraine s a reason for the economy in the gutter. shameful. Try looking at home for the abysmal economic policies and handling of the pandemic first.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Bangkok – The Tourism and Sports Ministry is planning to propose the cancellation of the “Thailand Pass” scheme

Finally the penny has dropped.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

and introduce a single ATK test to welcome international tourists and spur tourism growth.

But they still don't get it.

Eventually they will but already that is too late.  When they do eventually see sense i wonder will they ever admit how slow they were, like with the closing of borders, vaccination programme etc.

I imagine they will not and it will be 'slaps on the back' on what an amazing job they have done, yet again. The land of no accountability.

That is an easy one, no. I will wait until they come to their senses and the tourism industry is decimated (Yes I know it already is).

I am looking forward to another TAT prediction of tourist numbers on these new rules.???? Guaranteed to make you cry with laughter.

When you have a government and its not just this one that treats its nation like children with no alcohol on certain days, drinking restrictions during certain hours every day (2pm-5pm) and often cite alcohol as a demonic reasoning for many of the downfalls of Thailand's culture, such as  bad driving. I can't see them opening everything up in one swoop.

It will be the typical Thai way. One little pinky in the water at a time.????

Lets wait and see but it would seem that it is difficult in Thailand to cure stupid!

6 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

House buyers are being warned that they may have to pay an additional 5-8% next month because of rising construction costs, driven by the conflict in Ukraine which has spurred an increase in global oil prices.

Really!.

6 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

President of the Home Builder Association Worawut Kanchanakul said today (Tuesday) that the costs of building houses have been increasing since last year, long before the war in Ukraine, due to the cost of steel reinforcement rods, which went up by over 50% last year.

So now the contradictory statement. It looks like any excuse to use to counter deflect that for the last few years the economy and pandemic has been totally mismanaged, which is one of the main reasons that prices are going up.

Anyway lets jump on the bandwagon and blame anyone and anything else, except the truth.