NamKangMan

2 hours ago, LivinginKata said:

 

It amazes me that the Baht is so strong with an unelected Junta Gov. Maybe this is the 'right' direction ?

I believe the baht is artificially strong because they withhold the amount that can be traded each day.

They restrict supply, to create stronger demand, therefore a higher price.  

1 minute ago, Soupdragon said:

I wrote Thailand "excelled", not Thailand managed to comply with regulations but if you feel the need to pour negativity on everything then that is your prerogative.

 

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2018/12/13/ptt-thailand-grand-prix-voted-best-of-2018/281178

Where's the negativity?  I said, "I read good reports about the Moto GP on this website."

I did not criticize the event at all.  I did direct some criticism towards the country, in general. 

Do you think Thailand is heading in the right direction????  They haven't even had an elected Government here for years. 

"Excelling" in hosting one sporting event does not prop up a whole country's tourism industry.   

On 12/22/2018 at 3:52 PM, cheapcanuck said:

Vietnam is what Thailand was 20 years ago. That's where my money is going this year. Bye bye Thailand, Hello Vietnam.

From what I see on my visa runs, and exploring the country, you are not alone in your decision.  

I have said for some time that I see Vietnam as Thailand's main competitor in the future.  I guess the "future" has quickly become the "present."

2 hours ago, Soupdragon said:

Thailand excelled when it hosted it's first MotoGP this year. Well organized with safety and security, cheap and free transport around the event. Many food and beverage outlets at reasonable prices. All in all a great event which was applauded around the world.

 

Now apply that same philosophy to what should be a great asset to Thailand and you may have a chance of turning Phuket around.

 

Waiting....waiting....waiting.....

 

"Thailand excelled when it hosted it's first MotoGP this year." - I think you will find in order to hold the event, the track, and associated infrastructure, MUST meet a certain standard, otherwise, the application to host the event is rejected. 

This is a little like air safety here. It's regulated from outside the country.

I read good reports about the Moto GP on this website, and would like to go next season.  I also read reports of people booking hotel rooms, only to have the hotel cancel on them, then advertise the room again, but at a much higher price. Typical "Thainess."  

How do you compare the Moto GP in Buriam, to the below event?

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.vietnam-to-host-formula-1-grand-prix-from-2020.5GwYlGbr56A0GCycMuUM0G.html

Vietnam is progressing so fast, whilst Thailand is still stuck in its old ways, which in this day and age, will see them going backwards, which, in my opinion, they already are. 

6 hours ago, madmitch said:

So many posts in this thread talking about the unfavourable exchange rates. I've been speaking to a number of tourists from Europe, America and Australia and so many of them are commenting on the prices here, and not just Phuket! With the pound, the Aussie dollar, the rouble and the Swedish Krona all having problems tourists are having to look after their cash more. That may mean eating at cheaper places, drinking a couple less beers, foregoing the extortionately priced wine etc.

 

I've noticed a distinct lack of backpackers this year? The main reason: Thailand is too expensive now.

 

A strong baht mainly benefits the richer Thais but as they are in control then we probably won't see any change in the foreseeable future.

 

Thailand have for a long time been after increasing the quality of their tourists. They are going about it the right way as soon it'll only be the well-off that will be able to afford to stay here!

 

 

So, why wouldn't the tourists go to where they get a more favorable exchange rate, and a better value holiday.  Oh, that's right.  They are.  ???? 

2 minutes ago, janclaes47 said:

There are plenty of tourists, but they are not the same kind of tourists that came here 10 years ago, so for TAT everything will be fine but not for those business owners that didn't move their business plans to accommodate the new kind of tourist.

 

The business environment changes all the time, and if you don't move with it you will lose out, and that is what happens today with all those bar owners and budget guesthouse owners who targeted the western monger.

 

To give you an example. Late eighties, early nineties, I ran a wholesale in VHS movies and had a small chain of video rental shops as well.

 

Believe I've made a killing, as did all video rental shop owners that I knew, and I retired when the DVD became popular.

 

Today there are far more people watching movies than in those years.

 

Try to make a living with a video rental shop today.

I understand your analogy. 

The thing is, the pace of change here has been soooooo fast.  How can a business owner with a 5 year lease, for example, change their business model, within their lease, and still remain profitable, especially when the change of tourist demographic involves cultural and financial capacity differences????

I have said on many occasions, the time will come when many here are left "holding the can." I believe this "season" is that time.

13 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Over supply of accommodation by 35% as I read the other day

And they keep building more.  Same with the housing market.

What do you think over supply does a market????

2 hours ago, xylophone said:

Whilst actively going after the cheap Chinese tourists and the budget Indian travellers............ahh the difference between dreams and reality!

"ahh the difference between dreams and reality!" - which is also quite often the difference between lies and the truth.  ????

18 minutes ago, Old Croc said:

https://www.phuket101.net/how-to-ride-phuket-bus/

Buses leave from either end of the route on the hour.

 

This was also publicized on one of the daily media rags at the time.

Thanks.  Yes, this link shows hourly buses to 2am. 

I will pass it on and will try the night service to and from Kata in the near future. 

I hope the service gets bigger and bigger and forces change here.

10 hours ago, Psimbo said:

Complete BS- there was one at the lights in Kamala today and it was standing room only.

 

This is a Phuket thread, NOT a Penang one by the way- the distances are completely different for a start.

I hope the bus has "standing room only" for every route, and every time.  ????

Will be interesting if they are allowed to add more buses, and more routes, in the future. 

1 hour ago, Old Croc said:

Phuket Smart Bus Night Run

Phuket Smart Bus that goes between beaches will run every hour until 2 am between Kata – Karon – Patong – Kamala for 150 baht per person.

I was going on the link SP posted. 

 https://phuketsmartbus.com/fare/

Can you post a link for the timetable between 8:15pm and 2am? 

4 hours ago, steelepulse said:

>>Patong Beach to Kata Beach - last time I asked was 400 baht by day, and 800 baht by night. 

 

How much is the "smart bus" that runs between Patong and Kata? Looks like it's 50 baht.   https://phuketsmartbus.com/fare/

Is ok to go between the beaches by day, but the last run is at 8:15pm. 

No good for those staying on another beach, and who want to experience the nightlife in Patong.  They are at the mercy of the transport mafia after the last bus. 

Still, better than nothing, but in my opinion, too little, too late, and hardly enough to lure back even a portion of Phuket's lost western tourist market. 

5 minutes ago, LivinginKata said:

 

I  can't compare with CM. But I am happy with Phuket Immigration, and I don't have to get there at 03.00 as read in many CM posts. Arrive 11.00, out by 11.40 at latest. Everything else on Immigration web site.

 

 

So, people chose to live on Phuket because it has a good immigration office.  Okkkkkkkkk.   ????

2 hours ago, Psimbo said:

Lets try this one more time- Phuket is an ISLAND, Pattaya is a CITY. Apples and oranges (or Durians and Coconuts if you prefer).

Let's try this one more time, indeed.

Pattaya has a beach.  Jomtien (Pattaya) has a beach.  Patong (Phuket) has a beach.  Kata (Phuket) has a beach.

Pattay Beach to Jomtian Beach - 10 baht.

Patong Beach to Kata Beach - last time I asked was 400 baht by day, and 800 baht by night.  Apples to Apples.  Oranges to Oranges (or Phuket transport mafia price gouging and an affordable transport system that moves thousands of locals, tourists, and expats, 24/7, if you prefer)  Yes, coconuts, indeed.  ????

Have you even been to Pattaya and / or hailed a baht bus????????

As far as Pattaya being a city and Phuket being an island.  I have said before, as Pattaya became a city by the sea, Phuket will become an island city. 

I'll even make it more simple for you, since we are comparing "like to like." 

Get a Phuket tuk-tuk from one end of Patong Beach Road to the other end, and the price is in the hundreds of baht.  Get a Pattaya baht bus from one end of Pattaya Beach road to the other end, and it's a flat 10 baht.  Get it????  How would you explain this to tourists who have been to Pattaya before, and are checking out Phuket for the first time????

You seem to think tourists want to get a tuk-tuk from one end of the island to the other.  In general, by day, tourists just want to go from their hotel to the beach, markets, shopping, restaurants etc, then back to they hotel.  Then, by night, from their hotel to the nightlife, and back to their hotel. 

1 hour ago, Old Croc said:

I thought someone would bring up that post.

It was a rare comment from me on a local forum about the universal subject of Immigration. It was not criticism of the Province or any aspect of normal life there other than dealing with the problematic Immigration Bureau of Thailand.  My post was reflective of comments made by locals and sympathetic to them for the way they are treated when reporting or extending visas.  I expressed gratitude that I didn't have to endure it. 

Are you treated any better by immigration on Phuket????

11 hours ago, LivinginKata said:

 

Thousands ? Over the years ? I think you are exaggerate dramatically ...

Exaggerating?  Really?

Do the maths, LIK. 

Approximately 150 to 200 people die on Phuket's roads each year.  For how long has the transport mafia been operating here????  How many years ago did the 200 baht minimum tuk-tuk journey collusion come in????  Remember, the minimum average daily wage here is 300 baht, and it's 200 baht just to get in the back of a tuk-tuk, with no air conditioning, no seat belts, no proper seating.

Taking an average of 175 deaths per year, that only 5.7 years to get into the "thousands."  Once again, how long has the transport mafia been pushing locals, expats, and tourists, onto motor scooters, and into cars????  

Once we hit four digits, than it can be described as being in the "thousands."

The baht bus system in Pattaya moves around locals, expats, and tourists, and at 10 baht a journey, a return fare it cheaper than the cost of parking your motorbike, but such a service does not exist here, so, people use their own transport.

Look at the death percentage involving alcohol in the article.  How many of these people may have caught proper public transport home, if it existed here, thus, still being alive today???? 

Here's a random archived article. (2015)

https://www.thephuketnews.com/it-official-phuket-worst-in-thailand-for-road-accidents-53869.php#BjbljsiIhS3WJzmq.97

Extracts:               

“According to statistics, the number of people in Phuket injured in traffic accidents is 4,952.55 per 100,000 and the death toll in Phuket is 72.04 per 100,000,” he said.

24 minutes ago, Tug said:

Thailand needs to in force a coi (certificate of inspection)program like here in the USA and all developed nations a vessels construction and design are followed from inception the crew licensing and training followed and documented I’m surprised that more of thease tragedies don’t happen imagine taking a bunch of bubble butt  newbies diving with a sketchy boat were no one follow the rules of the road(sea)that friends is a recipe for disaster no thankyou!

"that friends is a recipe for disaster" - yes, and that is Phuket.  Maximum money in, for minimum money out, with safety usually the short cut.  

2 minutes ago, LivinginKata said:

 

Fair comment. But it at last small small progress ... baby steps 

You would know I am very vocal on the transport issue on this forum, particularly as it has caused Phuket to have some of the most dangerous roads in the world -FACT, not my opinion. 

The transport mafia here have indirectly killed thousands over the years - yes, thousands. 

Everyone needs access to a vehicle on Phuket, or you will end up a victim of the transport criminals, hence, the traffic is bad on Phuket, with the flow on effect in parking, noise and air pollution, accidents, injuries, and fatalities.

In my opinion, the transport issue was the single biggest issue that went a long way to changing the tourist demographics on Phuket.  Many tourists complained about it, for years.  We all saw the photos of beaten up tourists, at the hands of tuk-tuk drivers.

With regards to the transport issue, Phuket didn't need "baby steps."  Phuket needed a "big stick" approach, and it should have came with the military coup, but didn't.

No one was asking for state of the art transport, just the same transport options that existed elsewhere in Thailand.  Nothing more, nothing less.  However, it was just too lucrative ripping off tourists for this essential service, so allowed to continue, to the detriment of the tourism industry here. 

On 12/17/2018 at 5:12 PM, Psimbo said:

You know he's a One Trick Pony!

Still waiting for an answer to the question I asked you in another thread, Psimbo.

Question:  Name one positive thing that have been implemented on Phuket, in recent times, for the benefit of tourists, expats, and locals? 

Shouldn't be too hard for you to come up with some examples.  Just put those rose colored glasses on.  ????

On 12/17/2018 at 3:37 PM, LivinginKata said:

 

Tuk Tuks are just one item in the list of higher prices compared with the rest of Thailand.

 

But NKM you must admit that there has been great progress with public bus from Airport to Rawai and the beach night bus. Plenty meter taxis, just need to press them to switch on meter, and Grab Taxi app. 

Transport is an essential service, especially so in a tourist destination, and the transport mafia raped tourist for decades here.  In many cases, tourists were paying more for transport, than their accommodation and F & B, thus, the majority of tourists to Phuket now are in coach buses.  The lack of proper public transport here went a long way to changing the tourist demographic on Phuket.

The transport you mention, whilst an improvement, in my opinion, is too little, too late. 

Transport was Phuket's number one issue for decades, and only now, in harsh times, do they allow some token transport to operate.