Thailand's decision to attract the Chinese tourists and discourage western tourists and ex-pats by implementing draconian visa rules is absurd. The average Chinese tourist will spend about 5 to 10 times less on a vacation than a western tourist or expat. So, you have 5 to 10 times the number of Chinese spending the same amount as the traditional visitor to Thailand. This doesn't even take into consideration the environmental damage caused by the Han hordes. 

What is the government thinking?

6 minutes ago, soistalker said:

What is the government thinking?

You assume too much.

Dig a little deeper and see who controls the monopolies for the tour operator licenses and the numerous kick backs involved, big money for a select few at the top of the chain.
These dont concern themselves with the benefit of the country as a whole. It's been highlighted before in the zero dollar tour industry, just pushed to one side as with a lot of things until the media dies down


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32 minutes ago, soistalker said:

The average Chinese tourist will spend about 5 to 10 times less on a vacation than a western tourist or expat.

 

Don't make me laugh.

The Chinese come in tour groups, stay for a couple of weeks and then are gone.

 

The Farangs they are trying to discourage are the ones that want to stay here.

1 hour ago, theguyfromanotherforum said:

 

Don't make me laugh.

If I come here for two months, I'll spend about $4000. That's on the low end of what most guys spend. How much do you think a Chinese tourist will pay for a two week trip not including airfare?

If you have an opinion, state it. Don't just be dull.

Tasty/cheap I like a chinese now and again.........

Why eat at an All-You-Can-Eat buffet when you can dine at a 5-star restaurant or vice versa? 

Answer this question and you'll have the answer to your first question. 

It's all about kick-backs then?

What draconian visa rules are stopping Western visitors?   

 

 

Any data to back up your claim that Chinese tourists spend "5 to 10 times less" than a western tourist?  And, to start, which is it?  5 times less or 10 times less?  Big difference right there.  

7 minutes ago, newnative said:

Any data to back up your claim that Chinese tourists spend "5 to 10 times less" than a western tourist?  And, to start, which is it?  5 times less or 10 times less?  Big difference right there.  

I can show you evidence that its actually the opposite, Chinese have the highest daily spend but tend not to stay a long time. Its one of those barstool myths that Chinese dont spend

 

 

http://www.thaiwebsites.com/tourism-income-Thailand.asp

8 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

I can show you evidence that its actually the opposite, Chinese have the highest daily spend but tend not to stay a long time. Its one of those barstool myths that Chinese dont spend

 

 

That's right. 

 

Even the so-called zero dollar Chinese spend more than the average sexpat. I see hotels like Centara and Avani full of Chinese tour buses. Let's say they paid 50% (unlikely, but let's say) of the posted price to have those rooms filled, well..... they still spent money and the hotel in return got paying guests, so the hotel will continue to remain operational and pay taxes.

 

Also, the 2 week Chinese tourist will buy "Thai" presents for 200 members of his family, not to mention  friends. You see Big C and other "souvenir" establishments always packed with Chinese especially in the last day. On the other hand, barstool Farang has no friends, so will just buy another beer and drown in sorrow.

 

It is just ridiculous to think that Chinese don't spend money. Heck, I joined a certain Pattaya facebook group just for fun and noticed that they even spend more money on women (and get played).

 

Thailand will be sailing through thanks to Chinese. Only an environmental disaster or a civil war will stop this.

 

From another thread... expect 10 baht to Aussie dollar in 10 years. 

 

 

 

 

18 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

I can show you evidence that its actually the opposite, Chinese have the highest daily spend but tend not to stay a long time. Its one of those barstool myths that Chinese dont spend

 

 

http://www.thaiwebsites.com/tourism-income-Thailand.asp

And, the myth of the 'zero dollar tourist'.

2 minutes ago, newnative said:

And, the myth of the 'zero dollar tourist'.

You only have to look around at any of the tourist attractions, tiger parks, floating markets etc, they are full of fee paying Chinese.  My local (Thai owned) outdoor Thai bbq place used to be mostly Thai and maybe 10% westerners, nowadays its probably 50% Chinese, 3-4 buses pull up every-night. It has recently double in size. There is nothing zero dollar about it, its a Thai business thats doubled in size.

 

 

If I only came  here for a week or two or a few days like most of these Chinese tour groups.... I’d prob spend 10 x more..... no prob 20 x who knows. But overall the Chinese are spending more overall through the sheer numbers of em coming.  Yes there will be the odd comments about Iv seen Chinese spend a fortune on high end shopping blah blah blah . But generally the wealthy Chinese are not coming here, they are on holiday in London, Paris and New York. 

 

By by the way I have no links to back any of my comments up . It’s just my thinking ?

Great stats.  I guess I was wrong (If the figures are correct, not inflated). But i never spent even close to $140 a day before I was an owner here . Do you guys?

9 minutes ago, soistalker said:

Great stats.  I guess I was wrong (If the figures are correct, not inflated). But i never spent even close to $140 a day before I was an owner here . Do you guys?

I dont spend that living here but as a 2 week tourist I spent that before lunch, lol

 

I read a great article (tried to find it to post a link) that said at one end of the spectrum its Chinese that spend big but only stay 2 weeks, at the other end there are Europeans/Scandinavians that stay 2-3 months but have a low daily spend. The perfect tourists, as far as TAT are concerned, are Australians who stay a 1-2 months and still have a high daily spend.

 

This is Thailand.

2 hours ago, connda said:

Why eat at an All-You-Can-Eat buffet when you can dine at a 5-star restaurant or vice versa? 

Answer this question and you'll have the answer to your first question. 

The Chinese and All You Can Eat buffets are certainly not compatible. 

2 hours ago, seancbk said:

What draconian visa rules are stopping Western visitors?   

 

 

You mean you don't know?? I bet you are not under 50 years old, or have never been here except on an exempt.

With the Thai  tourist authorities its all about the number of arrivals .Each quarter has to show an increase over the last one irrespective of the damage to the country .Many former pristine locations in Asia have been closed to tourists following  damage caused by the sheer  volume of visitors .Thais are blinded by a short term quick buck  to the detriment of the environment and quality of life .   

Just let the hordes of those hot busty chinese hookers come over, take up the bar stools and crash prices as they know how to....the Thai's will then suddenly wake up !!

6 hours ago, theguyfromanotherforum said:

 

Don't make me laugh.

The daily spend may be similar but the average Western tourist certainly stays far longer so will undoubtably spend more.

Ive been on one Of the China tours (was married to Chinese) Thailand/China have made It fairly easy for Chinese to visit Thailand. 

In general other countries a more of a proces. Chinese do like to 

buy a lot of local things to give as gifts and boast their travel abroad. 

Most do have habits like setting and making messes. 

While I certainly don't enjoy the ongoing Chinese "invasion", I must admit that it may not be a bad deal for Thailand.

 

First, China is a close neighbor, and soon the hordes will be able to come by train.

Such a proximity already saves them a thousand dollars compared to what Westerners have to pay just to reach Thailand.

That's a thousand dollars that can be spent in Thailand rather than paid to United or British Airways.

 

Then, economic prospects are far better for China than for the West, especially Europe with its euro under respiratory assistance (thank you doctor Draghi).

 

On top of that, China is set to invest huge sums in the region in order to complete its Belt and Road Initiative...the high speed train being one of them.

 

Unfortunately, for us Westerners, the future may be in Morocco and countries within easy reach and an even worse economy than ours...

4 hours ago, soistalker said:

If I come here for two months, I'll spend about $4000. That's on the low end of what most guys spend. How much do you think a Chinese tourist will pay for a two week trip not including airfare?

If you have an opinion, state it. Don't just be dull.

I will ( excluding air fare ) spend approx £3000 on a months trip , £5000 on my last 2 month stay . The average 4 -7 day Chinese zero tour guy will be spending a fraction of that and they constitute a large percentage of the increased footfall.

In addition the repeat /long term visitors have often previously done the ' tourist trail ' and do not contribute to the mayhem now apparent at certain beaches and sites.

6 hours ago, theguyfromanotherforum said:

 

Don't make me laugh.

There are Chinese and Chinese. Some well educated and wealthy, others, newly prosperous and less educated. They will behave differently. However, as a whole they behave better than Western tourists. Considering the numbers. They dress decently, they don't get into fights and brawls like Western tourists. They don't come here for sex like Western tourists. As far as spending money. I think they spend more than Western tourists, many of whom stay in very cheap guesthouses

9 minutes ago, gamini said:

There are Chinese and Chinese. Some well educated and wealthy, others, newly prosperous and less educated. They will behave differently. However, as a whole they behave better than Western tourists. Considering the numbers. They dress decently, they don't get into fights and brawls like Western tourists. They don't come here for sex like Western tourists. As far as spending money. I think they spend more than Western tourists, many of whom stay in very cheap guesthouses

Fair enough, but i never heard yet of hordes of Chinese going to bars and splash the cash on the ladies

2 hours ago, Peterw42 said:

I can show you evidence that its actually the opposite, Chinese have the highest daily spend but tend not to stay a long time. Its one of those barstool myths that Chinese dont spend

 

 

http://www.thaiwebsites.com/tourism-income-Thailand.asp

It would be useful to have these numbers cross referenced with length of stay. My experience is that the average European would stay 2 -3 weeks on vacation , if the average Chinese tourist stays as long then obviously they are more valuable.