Thailand Shifts Tourism Strategy as Targets Cut for 2026

Same old 'quality tourist' fantasy.

To attract quality tourists you would need to be a quality country.

Like what joke is this they keep to repeat? They are seriously retarded. If they wanted quality people to begin with, that except the low standards of service and quality in Thailand, and accept all other BS, that's the people they now try to target as 'enemies' for being long stayers. That's your golden eggs lol, just 100K of those replace 50% of <deleted>ty 7 day low quality tourists, that they attracted themself!

Then secondly for actual rich people, they want quality and service, not what Thailand offers at all. And where it offers that, it's over priced or could be the same price in dozens of better destinations. You do not get to pick your tourists either.

Meanwhile the screamers got quiet already in reality and visa's stay as they are. Fking clowns with brains sized a peanut. If i ever got in charge of a country i would impose the dead penalty on ideas like this, working against the country and people their interests.

Can't these people do basic math? The average long stayers spends 2000-3000 a month, full time, 12 months a year. A tourist barely spends 1000 over 10 days, you obviously need boat loads more tourists than you would need long stayers, while needing less overbuild places and options to sustainability tourism on top.

Oh yeah the excuse is that they did come up with visa's but that in reality these visa's require paperwork most not have, or have unrealistic requirements, or that then not even allow you to also open a bank account, and not be sure when they out of nowhere just cancel the next extension on it entirely.

If i want quality and service I actually take a holiday, leaving Thailand, LOL. Singapore isn't even that much more expensive today while I got to see way better islands, pristine beaches and more. In fact its cheaper to fly from Samui to Singapore to Bangkok than it is direct. Hotel prices are the same available already too, and even all hawker areas in Singapore are the same price and better lol.

The biggest irony of it all is that that is where all this elite Thais and government politicians go to themself for weekends. Wait let me recap that, so they leave to other countries for something they want to attract tourists for in Thailand?

Meanwhile Thailand can't even fix a pothole in a road, after 10 foreigners died on the same road.

9 minutes ago, BuffaloRider said:

Like what joke is this they keep to repeat? They are seriously retarded. If they wanted quality people to begin with, that except the low standards of service and quality in Thailand, and accept all other BS, that's the people they now try to target as 'enemies' for being long stayers. That's your golden eggs lol, just 100K of those replace 50% of <deleted>ty 7 day low quality tourists, that they attracted themself!

Then secondly for actual rich people, they want quality and service, not what Thailand offers at all. And where it offers that, it's over priced or could be the same price in dozens of better destinations. You do not get to pick your tourists either.

Meanwhile the screamers got quiet already in reality and visa's stay as they are. Fking clowns with brains sized a peanut. If i ever got in charge of a country i would impose the dead penalty on ideas like this, working against the country and people their interests.

But now many locals have more money than Westerners. I think they can replace them. Otherwise why prices increase if quality of service is low? And why many tourists and youtubers loves it? They promote the place a lot.

1 minute ago, Maxbkkcm said:

But now many locals have more money than Westerners. I think they can replace them. Otherwise why prices increase if quality of service is low? And why many tourists and youtubers loves it? They promote the place a lot.

What are you even talking about? Singapore or Thailand? In case of Singapore i guess you need to do your homework, it's 50% foreigners that run it and live there to begin with.

For Thailand many locals have more money, you must be in some opium dream. Just 5 million Thais do as well as western europeans and the majority of those are struggling now too. And the rest of all Thais suffers for them.

Thailand simply is in denial. It needs us way more than we need them. This will only get worse as their population shrinks hardcore and they have almost no talent. The fact they behave this way towards us, makes all deals go to Vietnam etc etc.

2 minutes ago, BuffaloRider said:

2 minutes ago, BuffaloRider said:

What are you even talking about? Singapore or Thailand? In case of Singapore i guess you need to do your homework, it's 50% foreigners that run it and live there to begin with.

For Thailand many locals have more money, you must be in some opium dream. Just 5 million Thais do as well as western europeans.

What are you even talking about? Singapore or Thailand? In case of Singapore i guess you need to do your homework, it's 50% foreigners that run it and live there to begin with.

For Thailand many locals have more money, you must be in some opium dream. Just 5 million Thais do as well as western europeans.

2 minutes ago, BuffaloRider said:

What are you even talking about? Singapore or Thailand? In case of Singapore i guess you need to do your homework, it's 50% foreigners that run it and live there to begin with.

For Thailand many locals have more money, you must be in some opium dream. Just 5 million Thais do as well as western europeans.

Then how do you explain the new cars, new condos, fancy malls. Iphones 17. Buffet food. Prices that keep increasing. It’s booming. It’s no longer a third world. They even refuse to do labour job like restaurant or construction. Isn’t it a sign of prosperity to you?

1 minute ago, Maxbkkcm said:

Then how do you explain the new cars, new condos, fancy malls. Iphones 17. Buffet food. Prices that keep increasing. It’s booming. It’s no longer a third world. They even refuse to do labour job like restaurant or construction. Isn’t it a sign of prosperity to you?

Real estate and most business is owned by banks, it is not owned by buyers. Mortgages here are 30 years and result in almost paying the property twice with interest, while at that point the condo will be rebuild or the house needs a new mortgage for renovation. This is zero progress + highly inflated prices.

The same for iphones, this is nothing special either, and get real here, most Thais have cheap old android phones and older iphones too. Iphones are no longer special or expensive too.

Prices that keep increasing having anything to do with locals earning more? Are you retarded or something? Them refusing to do labour jobs meaning anything? Ok you are retarded.

You seem to not even have a clue how general economics work to begin with, perhaps not participate in such conversations. It's people like this that are in power in Thailand, fcking it all up lol.

5 minutes ago, BuffaloRider said:

5 minutes ago, BuffaloRider said:

What are you even talking about? Singapore or Thailand? In case of Singapore i guess you need to do your homework, it's 50% foreigners that run it and live there to begin with.

For Thailand many locals have more money, you must be in some opium dream. Just 5 million Thais do as well as western europeans and the majority of those are struggling now too. And the rest of all Thais suffers for them.

Thailand simply is in the denial that it needs us way more than we need them. This will only get worse as their population shrinks hardcore and they have almost no talent. The fact they behave this way towards us, makes all deals go to Vietnam etc etc.

5 minutes ago, BuffaloRider said:

What are you even talking about? Singapore or Thailand? In case of Singapore i guess you need to do your homework, it's 50% foreigners that run it and live there to begin with.

For Thailand many locals have more money, you must be in some opium dream. Just 5 million Thais do as well as western europeans and the majority of those are struggling now too. And the rest of all Thais suffers for them.

Thailand simply is in the denial that it needs us way more than we need them. This will only get worse as their population shrinks hardcore and they have almost no talent. The fact they behave this way towards us, makes all deals go to Vietnam etc etc.

What are you even talking about? Singapore or Thailand? In case of Singapore i guess you need to do your homework, it's 50% foreigners that run it and live there to begin with.

For Thailand many locals have more money, you must be in some opium dream. Just 5 million Thais do as well as western europeans and the majority of those are struggling now too. And the rest of all Thais suffers for them.

Thailand simply is in the denial that it needs us way more than we need them. This will only get worse as their population shrinks hardcore and they have almost no talent. The fact they behave this way towards us, makes all deals go to Vietnam etc etc.

No talent? Many big corporations like unilever are in Bangkok. Many young thais are hiso and have high paid jobs. They also have a strong soft power with muay thai. Cooking chef and so many.

2 minutes ago, BuffaloRider said:

Real estate and most business is owned by banks, it is not owned by buyers. Mortgages here are 30 years and result in almost paying the property twice with interest, while at that point the condo will be rebuild or the house needs a new mortgage for renovation. This is zero progress + highly inflated prices.

The same for iphones, this is nothing special either, and get real here, most Thais have cheap old android phones and older iphones too. Iphones are no longer special or expensive too.

Prices that keep increasing having anything to do with locals earning more? Are you retarded or something? Them refusing to do labour jobs meaning anything? Ok you are retarded.

Mortage for condos is the same in the west. Its 30 years and you pay twice. Plus in Bangkok you can make profit with your condo or house. Many foreigners wants to rent it. Its an investment.

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31 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Same old 'quality tourist' fantasy.

To attract quality tourists you would need to be a quality country.

I remember the times when they phantasized about quality tourists. Numbers were below 20 million.

Then quickly shifting to more more more...

20 million 30 million 40 million...

What a rubbish talk. TAT has no cluevwhat is going on or is it a way to keep the people quiet and undet control? Nobody knows what is going to happen and how long this war will take. Thailand only talks about numbers of tourists and their money. Quality tourists. But in Thailand they don't count. Double standards and a too expensive THB will even for the quality tourist a reason to avoid this place. Many places around the world that are welcoming them with more frredom and better visa conditions. And the low quality tourists will stay away too. It is not friendly to be named to be low quality. People work hard to get a nice holiday and because they aren't rich or big spenders, they are not respected? Amazing Thailand

12 minutes ago, Maxbkkcm said:

Then how do you explain the new cars, new condos, fancy malls. Iphones 17. Buffet food. Prices that keep increasing. It’s booming. It’s no longer a third world. They even refuse to do labour job like restaurant or construction. Isn’t it a sign of prosperity to you?

Sounds like the typical Bangkok / Pattaya perspective.

Visit the poor provinces and you might get a more realistic view.

And if the farmer has a pickup it's on leasing/credit. Struggling to pay the monthly installments.

Numbers say that Thailand has one of the highest private debt percentage in the world.

Banks have begun to tighten rules.

12 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

What a rubbish talk. TAT has no cluevwhat is going on or is it a way to keep the people quiet and undet control? Nobody knows what is going to happen and how long this war will take. Thailand only talks about numbers of tourists and their money. Quality tourists. But in Thailand they don't count. Double standards and a too expensive THB will even for the quality tourist a reason to avoid this place. Many places around the world that are welcoming them with more frredom and better visa conditions. And the low quality tourists will stay away too. It is not friendly to be named to be low quality. People work hard to get a nice holiday and because they aren't rich or big spenders, they are not respected? Amazing Thailand

I think they want to develop more and become like singapore. They no longer want to earn little. So they make themselves high value.

35 minutes ago, Maxbkkcm said:

I think they want to develop more and become like singapore. They no longer want to earn little. So they make themselves high value.

Maybe but than very big reforms are needed and it will take years even to a little close to Singapore. In the coming decade it will no be maybe over 3 or4 if they start to reform now

1 minute ago, ikke1959 said:

Maybe but than very big reforms are needed and it will take years even to a little close to Singapore. In the coming decade it will no be maybe over 3 or4 if they start to reform now

No very soon. Look prices are almost on par with singapore now. Malls like Paragon look luxurious. They learn fast. The new generation is educated and think for themselves. Many things getting better. They build pavement also.

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Thailand has shifted its national tourism strategy towards a “Quality Tourism” model, focusing on higher-spending visitors

Again?

1 hour ago, Maxbkkcm said:

Then how do you explain the new cars, new condos, fancy malls. Iphones 17. Buffet food. Prices that keep increasing. It’s booming. It’s no longer a third world. They even refuse to do labour job like restaurant or construction. Isn’t it a sign of prosperity to you?

I think that gives a very distorted view of Thailand in general. Yes in Bangkok it looks amazing, huge high rise buildings; stand on Sukhumvit and watch Bentleys, Porche, Ferraris roll by.........move out of BKK and it's wooden sheds, cars on the never-never, no holidays, no foreign travel, poor medical care, no savings, no welfare to speak of.

28 minutes ago, Maxbkkcm said:

No very soon. Look prices are almost on par with singapore now. Malls like Paragon look luxurious. They learn fast. The new generation is educated and think for themselves. Many things getting better. They build pavement also.

That is only in BKK but here a whole country must be lifted up. Railways, safer traffic, higher living standards for everyone. Who is going to pay or accept less profits?

Quality tourists – as originally suggested by Uncle Tu (Prayut Chan-o-cha) – makes good sense and also limits over-tourism...👍

3 hours ago, Maxbkkcm said:

No very soon. Look prices are almost on par with singapore now. Malls like Paragon look luxurious. They learn fast. The new generation is educated and think for themselves. Many things getting better. They build pavement also.

Maybe on the surface it looks ok but just maybe it is the same fake "rich" as in the US.

Big homes,multiple cars in the driveway and lots and lots of other toys but the bottom line is basically the same.

One month no income and things are going to be repossessed.

A lot of people are trying to maintain face but they are close to being broke!

The TAT's never accurate crystal ball is being used again

12 hours ago, Maxbkkcm said:

Then how do you explain the new cars, new condos, fancy malls. Iphones 17. Buffet food. Prices that keep increasing. It’s booming. It’s no longer a third world. They even refuse to do labour job like restaurant or construction. Isn’t it a sign of prosperity to you?

Nah, they are in drowning in debt, smallest deposit maximum term on everything they buy. Mostly living 3 generations per home with all the adults contributing.

Many people are struggling to earn 9kbht/month, my kid has a staff of 8, but she only gets 25kbht/month, doubt she'll ever recoup the years of wages she lost at university.

One of my wife's pals, age 54 about to lose her home because her husband broke his arm and can't work for 3 months (builder), and they're 3kbht behind on their house repayments.

Most Thais are living lives of quiet desperation.

is there any other country on earth that publicly talks such total rubbish about tourism ? do any other countries analyse the spend per head of tourists, and openly declare that their current visitors are not of the desired "quality " thereby effectively insulting those that have bothered to come here, despite the huge number of alternative destinations.

Their attitude speaks volumes, and is one of the main reasons for the declining numbers of tourists, those of a lower quality who may have saved up for years for their "holiday of a lifetime" are probably already disappointed , do not wish to be insulted as well. Those of a higher quality do not like to be thought of as fools who are only wanted for their money, they can and will go anywhere they like

I make no secret of what attracted me here initially, but take away the opportunities for a bit of "hedonism" and is there anything else unique here to attract tourists ?

I seriously doubt there are many repeat visitors from the west that fit their idea of "quality tourists" Why would there be when their attitude to repeat customers is the same as that commonly displayed in the beach rd "restaurants" of pattaya ?

KYC ( know your customer) is a phrase I hear quite a lot these days the TAT would do well to follow that advice, but I guess at the end of the day they can dream as much as they want, however they should keep their insulting views to themselves and maybe treat their existing clientele a little better

13 hours ago, Maxbkkcm said:

Then how do you explain the new cars, new condos, fancy malls. Iphones 17. Buffet food. Prices that keep increasing. It’s booming. It’s no longer a third world. They even refuse to do labour job like restaurant or construction. Isn’t it a sign of prosperity to you?

Quite easy to explain really....

TAT are like a Mamasan that talks alot. 😄

14 hours ago, Maxbkkcm said:

But now many locals have more money than Westerners

how many joints did you already smoke

very easy to resolve problem for people with a normal logical brain.

• easen the visa procedure and don't change it every two months

• enforce the rules concerning road safety. The best example is pedestrian crossings.

• Build a pedestrian infrastructure worthy of the name: reliable sidewalks, accessible to everyone including people with disabilities, and clearly separated from road traffic.

• Regulate the exchange rate; let market forces take their course. Do not intervene to artificially inflate it in the mistaken hope of profiting from it.

• In general, be open, frank, honest, and impartial when applying any kind of regulations to tourists. Double pricing, penalizing tourists in case of disputes with Thais, and harassment of tourists for traffic violations are common problems.

• and last but not least Take care of your roads, maintain them for our safety.

  But as initially stated, for this to happen, those in charge must act intelligently, logically, and impartially. Unfortunately TID, This Is Dystopia

1 hour ago, vangrop said:

how many joints did you already smoke

Go to thonglor , go to pukhet you will see lots of wealthy individuals locals. Plus Thai told me that westerners these days are broke and will never have money again. Now its indians and arabs who are rich.

11 minutes ago, Maxbkkcm said:

Go to thonglor , go to pukhet you will see lots of wealthy individuals locals. Plus Thai told me that westerners these days are broke and will never have money again. Now its indians and arabs who are rich.

That's because only broke westerners like yourself live in Thailand and you don't really know any wealthy Thais.

But the good news is a lot of digital gnomads have moved from Dubai to Bangkok, so there is that.

20 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

a “Quality Tourism” model,

But they don't, do they?

Every year they say something along these lines, but all they do is use it as an excuse to put prices up for the same mediocre product.

The men in grey suits are so out of touch; they have no idea what a "quality" product means on the international market... to them, it just means leather chairs and bigger ashtrays.