kinyara

At least you were prepared to give it a go, the guys I'm talking about who are all computer literate and were professionally qualified successful people in their careers wouldn't even entertain the idea of trying to make their life easier. I can only say those of us that do of my mates who are in the majority have not had any issues. My first one after receiving my new passport even worked despite reading on here that I'd have to go in person for that one. Nothing to lose giving it another try 14 days before your next report, you might get a pleasant surprise and if not you can give us a report on the new office. ????

From the level of arrivals to date I think it's more likely around the middle rather than the top end of their 2023 24-30 million forecast range i.e. 27 million. To reach the high end would require Chinese arrivals to double from current levels through July-December, no sign or indication of that happening yet from what I've read.

Retiree experience vs Tourist experience. The opening of a new building for Retiree related services will not alter the experience of those requiring tourist related services in Feb peak demand tourist high season. It should help ease numbers in the main building a bit, but I reckon the absence of the Russian tourist war effect that happened this high season would help more.

I would be shocked if France didn't generate a higher income per tourist than Thailand, Thailand not unnaturally draws the majority of its tourism from countries in Asia that have lower per capita income than France's Western neighbours and main customers. The market is priced accordingly. Do we really need to highlight the higher cost base of France compared to Thailand resulting is obviously higher cost of services and necessary higher spend ? That said, is the French government or those in their tourist industry from top to bottom complaining about its success in attracting 66 million visitors, more than 50% higher volume than Thailand's peak to date, despite the overwhelming majority of them not eating in Michelin starred restaurants or staying in 5 star Paris hotels. My first foreign holiday was to France as a student inter-railing through the country and to fit our budget we stayed at campsites not higher cost hotels. Just googled it and there are now over 8,000 campsites serving tourists in France alongside lower cost Pension's, hostels, guest houses through to expensive hotels, something to fit the different levels of tourist budgets even in France, just like Thailand.

The maybe not surprising thing I found in my social circle was that when the new 90 day online reporting system was updated and working perfectly through the Jomtien office, it was those that complain the most about having to report to immigration in person that haven't yet taken advantage of the improvement and still insist on going there, bizarre. Not happy unless they are complaining about immigration, some of the spurious linkage in this thread disconnected from the news of this positive development kind of demonstrate that mindset.

They have an adverse impact on figures the Tourism Ministry publish by reducing the average length of stay per tourist by country and the average daily spend per tourist by country.

Good news, another improvement for us retirees using the Jomtien office.

Agreed, but the multiplier effect of all additional money in the economy is a hugely important economic driver, especially in the tourist industry which is supported by hundreds of thousands of small independent vendors who make just a few baht from every sale, as opposed to the sale of 1 luxury high margin item in a high end Bangkok shopping mall. I recognise there is a tax benefit to the latter which hopefully filters through, but that is also true with every tourist that arrives in one form or another in how they get here, where they stay and how they get around etc etc.

Useful to know, I haven't been in to that branch of Home Pro but would appreciate the easier access.

Probably a 10 minute drive to Homepro in the Big C on Pattaya Klang or you could continue on Sukhumvit and try Index Living Mall past the Klang turn-off.

I've never come across any country with a heavy dependency on tourist income actively campaigning for lower tourist numbers or imposing a minimum financial spend on those entering, higher tourist numbers = higher tourist income. Thailand is a mass tourist market because people like it, however if quality is defined as high spending Thailand must still attract them as there are 5 star options in all the main tourist areas.

Yes China running at a mere 25% of 2019 numbers is why TAT forecast a range of 24-30 million. Where do you get the idea that Malaysian's are day-trippers ? Their average length of stay has always been around 4 days, some may be but that is clearly compensated by those staying a week or longer.

You clearly can't see it, I think I'd start with a visit to Specsavers. ????

Trying to draw comparisons between 2 outlets measuring this years numbers against 2 different timeframes and expecting the same result is ridiculous, nothing to do with Thailand.

One news outlet is comparing 2023 to 2022, the other agency is comparing 2023 with 2019. The discrepancy between the articles is hardly difficult to understand.

Correct, it is running at a mere 25% of 2019 monthly arrivals which is main reason why TAT estimated a range of 24-30 million this year as opposed to the 2019 peak of 39 million.

You're looking at it from a Western country tourism perspective and ignoring the reality of the weighting where Thailand draws its tourism from. For example as the numbers of US and UK visitors dropped in May as per usual in low season, tourist arrivals from the larger or near equal sized Asian markets of India, S.Korea, Singapore and Vietnam all increased. To suggest tourism will drop to 1 million a month in the second half of the year as you are, when Thailand got that number from only Malaysia, China, India, S.Korea, Vietnam & Singapore in May alone has no basis in reality.

TAT's forecast range was 24 million to 30 million, no real surprise at figures within that range being mentioned, i.e. 25 million, when you have 6 months of actual arrivals data within that range to go on. I personally like to look at the monthly numbers compared against the same month in 2019 to see how well the tourism situation is going as it takes account of the seasonality. Yet to see a decline despite the fact Chinese tourism is only running at a paltry 25% of average numbers in 2019. January : 58% February : 59% March : 64% April : 68% May : 74%

Disappointing, I liked having a Thai meal at the Tops breakfast bar while getting my car cleaned at the carwash next to the KFC. Of course the the convenience of them being quieter outlets no doubt contributed to their demise. The Baan & Beyond has been deserted the times I have been in recently, I think that points to some degree of weakness in the property sector compared to past times

I wonder if any of the old guys drinking beer at 9 am in the morning on Beach Road ever saw him doing his exercise walks.

Per the predictable script I'd expect the political situation will start to deteriorate from next week onwards as the obstacles to Pita's selection as PM have to formally materialise in line with the parliamentary timetable. Whether it's Pheu Thai, the Electoral Commission, the Constitutional Court or just the Senators it's going to happen. In light of that political/civil disobedience uncertainty I'd expect the baht to continue to weaken in the short term, the economy seems shaky at the moment even without the inevitable political strife.

Chinese tourist arrivals Jan-May actual - 1,131,121 ( monthly average 226,246 ) Jun-Dec for 5m - 3,868,879 ( monthly average 552,697 ) May saw 285,547 arrive so a near doubling of current numbers for the rest of the year required to achieve 5 million target.

They were spot on in 2022 for the overall tourist numbers, not that they'd get any credit on here from all the experts that said throughout 2022 that their 10 million target was pie in the sky. Strangely silent surprise surprise when they were the nonsensical fools not TAT. Looks like 2023 will also fall within their realistic range of 24-30 million, nothing ridiculous or exorbitant there.

ME TOO. Not disputing your observations of airline pricing pre/post Covid having personally experienced it, not much Thailand can do about it unfortunately for them.

I notice a lot of comments regarding increased pricing regards Thailand often comparing to when long-term visitors first came here. I really don't understand why people expect Thailand to be immune from the effects of inflation over time just like every other country in the world. Obviously Thailand can't control the global airline industry's pricing either.