BIGD1

22 hours ago, Beggar said:

Pattaya is doomed. Look at the photo with the people on the beach. They are standing but not spending. Not a single person on this photo consumes anything. Some don't even watch the fireworks but are busy with their phones. This is the end. 

The traffic is so bad, so many busses, so many people in Soi Bua Khao you can hardly drive, I would hate to see the city if there were any more tourists. Less tourists certainly makes the city more livable for us that live there. They need to better control and reduce the number of tourists just as Spain is trying to do. Sustainable reasonable tourist numbers!!

5000k, she must by retired by now then?

i am sure he meant 5000 baht, and by the way, to the original post. I have never met anyone in any country that wasnt for sale, they all have their price, lets be honest, it's just a lot less here. A Shop girl, a waitress, a secretary, a bar girl, a sales rep, everyone's just trying to make a living, and maybe meet someone nice, you cant tell me that doesnt happen in your own country, it does, if you dont know it, its because you cant afford it.

Room occupancy rates are down 20% from this time last year in both Phuket and Koh Samui, both of which are package holiday destinations not just your average backpackers. What more do you want??? 20% is a significant drop if your business is tourism!

The drop is all from the business side of things, many companies have cancelled meetings and conventions, the individuals are still coming in droves, here at the Marriott in Phuket, we are running near full even in the off season, and many of my collegues in the major hotels tell me the same. We are still bringing in $200 plus per night.

So: When will -Farang- tourism to Thailand come to a halt ?

One doesn't have to possess the brain of Albert Einstein to see the decline in tourism coming.

Some 30+ years ago the long haul holiday destinations started to become popular and Thailand became one of the first countries I visited, outside Europe and the US.

The rising fuel prices (with some airlines more than 60% of the seat price is already 'fuel') will make it virtually impossible for a normal family with 2 kids to travel long haul for a 2-3 week holiday.

For singles and -young- couples it will take a bit longer before they also stop flying long distances for holidays. Expensive airline tickets will make them stop thinking about destinations like Thailand = too expensive. The same for Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Philippines and such.

But also the same for destinations like the USA (from Europe), Caribbean and South America.

Many (smaller) airlines are going bust or went under already; airlines stopped or cut flights already to certain destinations; look at new clippings 'Thai Airways' from today.

I received an email from the Caribbean just now from a company (Paradise Rebates) where dive companies, restaurants, hotels, resorts etc. bundle their efforts to try and comfort their clients with rebates because of increased prices with airlines and increased prices for luggage (divers).

Tourism from ASEAN* and East Asan countries to Thailand declined already in 2007 versus 2006 except from strange figures from Laos and Myanmar which are not really 'tourism' figures. (see: TAT: http://www2.tat.or.th/stat/web/static_download.php?Rpt=cre )

* ASEAN/East Asia accounts for more than 55% of total inbound Thailand tourism !

Tourism from Europe = 25.5 % of total still climbed with 11% in 2007 v. 2006 but for how much longer ?

Your comments please.

LaoPo

Never, people will always go on vacation, they will find a way to pay for it, lets face it, if they stay in UK or Europe they will spend just as much on the overpriced hotels and food, i think you will again see a 10-15% increase in tourism, Thailand has much to offer in terms of ease of travel, something for everyone, Tourists arent going anywhere.

wrong on most counts, there are a lot of great jobs in Thailand, many mulit-nationals hiring as well as local Thai companies, for the right skills, you can make more money here than back home. I find the women i meet through the course of everyday work, middle to high class Thai's enjoy my company. I am sure there are many dregs here but also certainly a lot of good people, just working and enjoying life...i think you need to find some new friends.