Leaver

AN member newative is quite vocal on this issue, particularly with residential property, but also with retail and hospitality.

2019 was the quietest high season I have ever seen, covid aside. Now that covid has come to pass, things will return to 2019, with struggling businesses.

Why would he care? He's not the one who will be taken out by an M1. It's the young Russian cannon fodder (no pun intended) who will pay the ultimate price.

Money Number One in Thailand. That's from the individual, all the way to government. Every part of Thai society is measured in baht, even their judicial system, which is a national disgrace.

It will be interesting to see if Thailand recognizes the young Russian men here are fleeing from conscription, and if they will make allowances to their visa policy to cater for them. Yes, they have access to funds, but they are well under 50 years of age.

Tourism aside, rather than join the western world with sanctions on Russia, Thailand has actually planned to increase trade with Russia. Thailand will be remembered for this. Now firmly aligned with China, Thailand is lost to western influence. Something that may bite them in the future.

Outdated. Songkhla is no more.

Would you say Chiang Mai is "thriving?"

Yes, you get press releases from government agencies and associations saying one thing, and business owners saying another thing. It appears both are correct. The numbers are up, but the spend is down. This was happening in 2019 as well.

Yet some continue to refute the oversupply here.

What about "the spend" though?

Fail.

Many people believe crow saliva has better medicinal properties than the "bird nest" saliva.

I agree. Have a look at everything sitting around your home, right down to the shirt you are wearing. If the label says "Made in China" are you prepared to go without it, or pay 3, 4 or 5 times, possibly more, for it? If the answer is no, then China can invade Taiwan.

What you describe is TAT's way of tourism. That is, just go for quantity, not quality. Yes, it's busy here now, but are the tourists spending in businesses that cater for tourists? The big numbers do not necessarily mean big baht. This goes back to the "zero baht Chinese" debate, and for yet another thread on the issue. At best, there are harsh economic times ahead for many of Thailand's traditional western market countries, and at worse, a global recession late 2023 or early 2024. This is not a prediction of mine, it has been in the media with many economists around the world predicting it, and I tend to agree with them that economic factor are pointing in that direction. You don't see these impending global economic conditions as having any effect on tourism in Thailand at all?

As I said, they didn't sell. Didn't YOU say you DO NOT work in real estate here? As usual, a lot of your post is just real estate waffle talking up the market here. Here's a link to one, only one, of many online real estate agents here. Then, there are brick and mortar agencies, and classified websites. Eg. AN, Baht Sold, Facebook etc. There are currently 536 "villa or condo" on the market in Pattaya. I agree there is some cross advertising, but there are still well over a thousand on the market here, hence the term, "thousands." https://www.siamrealestate.com/search/?location_phase[]=Pattaya&featured=1&as_otype=sale&object=villa-condo&as_bed_min=0&price1=0&price2=0&currency=THB&as_addl_indoor_area=&as_addl_land_area=&as_addl_minimum_yield=&asrh_di=&asrh_do= Once again, how can YOU claim Pattaya has a healthy property market with such a big oversupply of properties on the market, and they keep building more? Supply is bigger than demand here.

This what you said: "Remember, we're talking about over 6 million tourists traveling independently in 2019." Can you post the link where you got this figure from. I would like to read the article.

We don't want optimism, we want the facts. You are big on optimism, small on facts. What she should have, and the reality, are two different things. Is this article "fake news?" Why is she telling the journalist she is going broke, if she is not? What advice to you have for her so she can stay in business?

It's causing instability.

Her restaurant was forced closed for a lot of covid, just like all other hospitality venues here. Once again, what would your advice be to her? You post on here how well the tourism, property, and retail industries are going, yet, here is a cry for help from a restaurant owner on Walking Street. Are you saying it's fake news? Can you not throw some of your optimism her way, as she is hemorrhaging money every month?

Link, please?

The developer couldn't sell all the condo's, hence, a deal with authorities for daily rental to be allowed. And so did you, in a previous post. There really are "thousands" of properties on the market here. Do you deny that? There's no one stupid enough in the market to be looking for such a property. That ship sailed years ago, hence, "thousands" of properties on the market here, and more and more going on the market every week.

Yes, there is a lot of truth in what you say. Putin basically saying, "Make Russia Great Again." The EU didn't want the Ukraine, so it was ripe for the picking for Russia. Putin wanted to carve up the Ukraine into a mini Soviet Union style of states. Of course, it's not working out so well on the battlefield, but working out quite well as far as influencing global economics. Perhaps that really was their end game. It goes far beyond just a land grab in Ukraine.

They are forcing governments / countries to chose a side, mainly based on trade, and mainly for energy. The Russian intelligence services would have been better off blowing up a few bombs in Russia over the last few years, and blaming it on Ukraine nationalist, due to Russia's annexing of Crimea. Basically, creating a false flag terrorist organization, thus, trying to legitimize their invasion. Think, the war on terror in Afghanistan, and then Saddam's weapons of mass destruction thate were never found. It's been working for the Israeli's against the Palestinians for decades. Russia / Putin didn't need, or want, a UN go ahead. That's not what this war is about. Remember Bush's call to arms for the "coalition of the willing?" "You are either with us, or against us." So, many countries went in. Russia is just trying to make countries chose a side, with the west not allowing any each way bets. Sure, they are using energy reliance to manipulate the decisions. Interesting times ahead. I have no doubt Russia and China are watching western moves, with China having an eye on Taiwan. Not because they need Taiwan, but it forces countries to chose a side, and given China is the world's manufacturing hub, how can western governments sell a war against China that sees ZERO imports with the "Made in China" label to their people? Bottom line is, the west has become reliant on China for just about every consumer item. I can see the day coming where China will move on Taiwan, not because they need to, but just to make a statement to the west that China has now overtaken the USA and is the the biggest super power in the world, and there will be very little the west can do about it, and when this happens, who will be right along side them, their friend, Russia. The sleeping dragon has awoken.

Russia finding out who is its friends. Divide and conquer.