Chelseafan

5 minutes ago, Esso49 said:

Yes never thought of that aspect about a pink scooter.  Suggests he may be gay perhaps ?

Pink doesn't have the same connotation as it does in the west.

52 minutes ago, berybert said:

Yes because him saying he did it and also evidence of him being there isn't enough.

I'm not disputing that he isn't guilty, I'm saying mob rule isn't the way to deal with this.

Incidentally the Police said he had confessed, not necessarily "him saying it".

5 hours ago, newnative said:

     Chinese pull out?  Only 10% or so even have passports so tourists numbers from China aren't likely to be going down.  Yes, there was the boat accident but tourist memories are short.  Add to that the fact that they are buying condos and houses like crazy--another reason to keep returning.  And, let's not forget that China seems to see Thailand as a future S.A.R. (Special Administrative Region).  I was at the mall the other day and I picked up a couple of new condo brochures on the run.  Got home and when I went to look at them I discovered the brochures were written only in Chinese, not a word of Thai.  

Only needs some political issue for something like this to happen

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/2156979/palau-asks-us-and-japan-help-after-china-imposes-tourist-ban

or in South Korea

https://www.ft.com/content/9fc4b1b4-ffb1-11e6-96f8-3700c5664d30

or making it difficult for them in South Africa

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-05/18/c_137187117.htm

Also I believe Bali or some island was once heavily reliant on Chinese tourism until the government stopped their citizens from visiting, it took the island years to recover.

China will use tourism as their new weapon and if they don't get what they want they will have the ability to seriously damage economies

1 hour ago, Esso49 said:

There will soon come a time that the falsified claims made by TAT will mean that there are more tourists coming to Thailand than people on the planet.    That can only mean one thing and that is Thailand is now welcoming Aliens.

When the Chinese pull out, as surely they will one day, it will be interesting to see what stats they start spewing.

5 hours ago, Srikcir said:

Comparing top ten arrivals for first seven months 2018 to full year 2017 shows that

• the UK dropped from being in the top ten at #10 while having the 5th highest total revenues for 2017
• Australia and Germany were not in the top 10 for 2017 or 2018 while in 2017 had the 8th and 10th highest revenues respectfully
• Vietnam was not in the top ten in 2017 for either visitors or revenues
• Laos was in the top ten at #4 in 2017 but not in the top ten for revenues

https://www.thaitravelblogs.com/2017/12/top-10-foreign-tourists-to-visit-thailand-during-2017/

Really need to see the total revenues by country in the top ten for 2018 for any meaningful trend analysis. Otherwise, it appears that Thailand is losing visitors from nations generating high revenues for visitors generating lower revenues. That's not a sustaining revenue growth trend.

Well said. I've mentioned on numerous occasions that the ToT should tell us how they measure revenues.

I do not frequent shopping malls but I do spend a lot of money in bars and (historically) on girls. Is this being taken into account ? I doubt it very much.

7 hours ago, UPDEHSOI said:

The a**hole already confessed. Good enough for me

"Police said that Thossapol told them he was high on crystal meth and beer when he drove a pickup truck from his house in Lat Prao, where he lives with the girl’s mother, to the girl’s house at 1.30am on Friday. 

He allegedly said he planned to rape her but the girl fought back, and so he strangled her and left the shophouse at 3am to drive back to his house."

How do you know he confessed ?

9 hours ago, Lupatria said:

Basically right! On the other hand, maybe it's the many court decisions made in favor of the untouchables, that makes people questioning if there is a fair and equal 'justice system' and thus turn to an alternative.

Yep but that argument can be given for any court in any country around the world. There are always going to be injustices, the key is that they are kept to a minimum.

17 minutes ago, BestB said:

So naturally numbers from July to January would be on decline then? Or by miracle another 10 % rise

Well given that we think the numbers are made up, could be anything ?

1 hour ago, BestB said:

Just last month numbers were up and hardly anyone around .

 

this month numbers are even higher and yet even less people around.

 

i am predicting next month would be record breaking .

 

keep in mind last month had 700000 Chinese cancellations due to boat accident yet this still did not stop numbers to rise ???

Figures are Jan - July.

1 hour ago, bluesofa said:

Going on previous experience of TAT, and a lot of people's perception of them, I'd say take any figures they publish with a grain of salt.

 

Exactly. Even the TAT themselves say " Estimated visitor expenditure rose by 14.44% to 1.18 trillion baht" .Could be down 20% then right ?

What annoys me about these reports is that the TAT never release details of how they arrive at their numbers, something that wouldn't happen in a western country.

Visitors are up. Do they include laborers from Myanmar, Loas and Cambodia who are looking for work ?

Do they include visitors who are in transit to other countries ?

Until such time as they tell us how they calculate out their reports I too will take this as a pinch of sale.

3 hours ago, mfd101 said:

Yes, a sensible combination of (1) basic infrastructure paid for by the taxpayer (on the basis that everyone benefits whether directly or indirectly) and (2) user pays (on the basis that those who actually use the infrastructure - ie benefit from it directly - should pay more).

A more sensible solution would be to increase fuel prices so that only those who use the road pay for it. It would also stop those who avoid paying road tax. Of course the flip side is that it opens up a market for bootleg petrol

33 minutes ago, boonrawdcnx said:

It’s a bit like a road that you paid for with your taxes and then they make you pay again to use that road.
Pretending it’s necessary for
“maintenance “ and “service improvement “which is virtually non existent or at least kept to an absolute minimum - but a great way to skim of a lot of money for “friends” in need - (of a new watch? - sorry I could not resist! )


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

Do you live in the UK ? We pay road tax each year and then have to pay extra to drive on certain roads. ......It's already here my friend

22 hours ago, sanemax said:

Didnt they already have machines by then ?

Might have.

My first trip was in 2000 and I know somewhere along the line I was handing 500 baht to the check-in girls.

18 hours ago, wump said:

Isn't the international departure fee 700 Baht already?

Yeah it was 500 baht 10 years ago when we had to hand over the cash at check in.....

Do the figures include those in transit? If so then its a whole new story.

9 hours ago, joecoolfrog said:

So Laos , despite being the poorest nation in SE Asia , had nearly a million of its citizens visit Thailand ?

Visa runners , foreign backpackers and village traders perhaps but hardly tourists !

I suspect they are workers and are being bracketed into the total figures.

18 minutes ago, Kaalle said:

Almost every single thai person I have met and had more than one meal with has tipped sometime even if ordinary local restaurant.

Sent from my MI 5 using Tapatalk
 

Is that because they are with you and have to save a little face ? If The same Thais ate without you would they still tip ?

If in a restaurant I will tip the waiter/waitress directly.

6 hours ago, bristolboy said:

It's a matter of fact that the government said it. It's a matter of speculation whether or not the government will enact it.

6 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Wonderfully droll old chap.

 

And by the logic of your own statement, the government’s claims of a ‘Brexit Dividend’ are also pure speculation.

 

The Government’s promise to spend the speculative ‘Brexit Dividend’ on the NHS, pure fantasy.

I quoted a soundbite from the government with evidence to back me up. As I said, whether they enact on their promises is another kettle of fish.

The poster just speculated.

Just for the record, I voted to remain but I'm not going to shout that it's all doom and gloom. The biggest problem is that we are throwing ourselves into the unknown but I'm a positive guy and like to think we can come out of it relatively unscathed. Time will tell.

2 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

Yep.

 

Just as brexiteer tories claim it is a brexit dividend. 

 

May has provided no evidence brexit will fund the proposed increases. 

 

Read the bbc report attached to that post. 

What report ?

2 hours ago, bristolboy said:

As no one really knows what's going to happen, the extra funding for the NHS is only speculation on your part.

I didn't speculate, I reported what the Government had stated and had been printed in the media...whether it happens or not is another matter...

1 minute ago, bristolboy said:

Yes, the government claims that there will be a Brexit dividend. What the government doesn't say is that since the most likely result of Brexit will be a slowing of the economy, whatever "dividend" may be realized by exiting the EU will most likely be lessened if not eliminated by lowered tax revenue. 

Anyway, the realization of the plan is dubious given the Tory devotion to lowering taxes on the rich.

As no-one really knows what's going to happen I can only assume that's speculation on your part.

Just now, Bluespunk said:

“Last night, some Remain-supporting Tory MPs said the timing and content of the announcement was “cynical” and designed to give a misleading impression that Brexit would make the country better able to fund public services.”

"some Remain-supporting Tory MPs "

1 minute ago, Bluespunk said:

The money has not come from any “brexit dividend”. 

 

It’s money that that could be spent on the nhs regardless of brexit. 

"Government sources said the increases, which would be paid for in part by a “Brexit dividend”, would amount to around £600m a week extra for the NHS in cash terms within six years."