Punched in the Face: Plunge in Chinese Tourists Rattles Thailand

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Punched in the Face: Plunge in Chinese Tourists Rattles Thailand

By Randy Thanthong-Knight

 

>> Boat tragedy, assault on tourist are hurting Thailand’s image

>> Tourism is critical as it accounts for about fifth of economy

 

Chinese tourist arrivals in Thailand are tumbling, dragging down overall visitor growth in the Southeast Asian nation and dimming the outlook for an economy that relies on spending by holidaymakers.

 

Travelers from China slid 12 percent in August, the biggest drop in more than a year, keeping the overall pace of visitor growth near a 16-month low. Thai officials are rattled as Chinese visitors are the top source of foreign receipts in an industry that makes up about a fifth of the economy.

 

The trigger for the drop was a tour boat accident off Phuket in July that killed dozens of Chinese holidaymakers, sparking safety concerns. Thailand’s image in China has also been hurt by a dengue outbreak, the strength of the baht and, most recently, a viral video of an airport guard apparently punching a Chinese tourist.

 

Full story: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-02/punched-in-the-face-plunge-in-chinese-tourists-rattles-thailand

 

-- Bloomberg 2018-10-03

[davehowden]

 

"Chinese tourist arrivals in Thailand are tumbling, "

 

Every cloud has a silver lining!

[canuckamuck]

I wonder how the numbers are for western tourists. Have they also dropped?

[Somtamnication]

Not really. We want to punch them too!!!!

[bluesofa]

2 minutes ago, canuckamuck said:

I wonder how the numbers are for western tourists. Have they also dropped?

Depends on who you ask the same question:

Hotel and guest houses say recent months have been very quiet.

TAT will say tourist numbers higher than any previous year.

 

[Oziex1]

What is the truth of the economic damage caused by less Chinese visitors. If it is true that most are package tourists, their holidays paid for back home with little money spent in Thailand, are we hearing the bleating cries of distress from a few Thai elites who profit from the so called zero baht tourists. 

[bluesofa]

1 minute ago, Oziex1 said:

What is the truth of the economic damage caused by less Chinese visitors. If it is true that most are package tourists, their holidays paid for back home with little money spent in Thailand, are we hearing the bleating cries of distress from a few Thai elites who profit from the so called zero baht tourists. 

That sounds like a reasonable assumption.

It's that group who will have access to the media in order to bleat easily.

 

[Samui Bodoh]

"...Chinese tourist arrivals in Thailand are tumbling, dragging down overall visitor growth in the Southeast Asian nation and dimming the outlook for an economy that relies on spending by holidaymakers.

 

Travelers from China slid 12 percent in August, the biggest drop in more than a year, keeping the overall pace of visitor growth near a 16-month low. Thai officials are rattled as Chinese visitors are the top source of foreign receipts in an industry that makes up about a fifth of the economy..."

 

The chickens are coming home to roost!

 

The Junta has been so busy sucking up to their 'new best friends' and ignoring all the paying customers that they had, and now...

 

Most of the economic growth in Thailand since the coup has been from tourism, and most of that has been from Chinese tourism. It behooves the Junta to learn the lesson from S Korea a few years back; S Korea angered China, so China cut off tourism there for a bit and damaged their economy. How many points of GDP will be lost if China does the same here? And, they have already done it to S Korea to get their way, who would believe that they wouldn't do it again? Is the current drop in Chinese tourism due to accidents and safety concerns? Probably, but China could also assist and promote tourism to help their 'new' friends... Are they? Er... Ahem... Nope, it does not seem like they are...

 

The Junta has created a horrible dependence on China/Chinese tourism, a dependence that will haunt the Kingdom for years to come. Yes, it made/makes sense to develop the Chinese market, but to neglect the 'Western' market is the dumbest thing ever. And, the endless 'nationalistic' BS turns off westerners, not to mention all the visa crap... However, as we all know, "foreigners don't understand".

 

You reap what you sow; my only concern here is for the proverbial 'little guy' who will be hurt due to the stupidity of the higher-ups. And, on my tourist island, they are hurting already.

 

Sad, sad days for beloved Thailand.

 

 

Edited October 2, 2018 by Samui Bodoh

[liberty9133]

China is nearly on the ropes economically. This makes them more dangerous than ever and Thailand should not be coddling them.

[RichardColeman]

Maybe the government could offer to 'buy a tank for tourism'

[mercman24]

the Russian city called JOMTIEN has been devoid of Russians for  months HOORAY !! and at last the Chinese can see further than their noses, better and more welcoming places  (and cheaper) than Thailand to visit and spend their hard earned money, ( well they must spend it somewhere, but i have never seen them spending it) they arrive here get herded around like cattle, only go into Chinese owned establishments, i am baffled. as to where they do spend their money

[Lingba]

Thailand is about to sink big time....and who will replace the Chinese?....Nobody!

[Darcula]

There must be some way to put a positive spin on the dengue outbreak. Could dengue mosquitos be the new fish spa?

[Oziex1]

6 minutes ago, mercman24 said:

the Russian city called JOMTIEN has been devoid of Russians for  months HOORAY !! and at last the Chinese can see further than their noses, better and more welcoming places  (and cheaper) than Thailand to visit and spend their hard earned money, ( well they must spend it somewhere, but i have never seen them spending it) they arrive here get herded around like cattle, only go into Chinese owned establishments, i am baffled. as to where they do spend their money

At the 7/11?

[bluesofa]

1 minute ago, Darcula said:

There must be some way to put a positive spin on the dengue outbreak. Could dengue mosquitos be the new fish spa?

If only TAT had a Q&A option online. We could have the answer within minutes.

 

[inThailand]

We can only hope the balance of the Chinese head to Chiang Mai. The place few of us would live. 

[blackhorse]

Yessss... Next the Russians and it would be a dream country

[mercman24]

ridiculous statement trying to blame one person  for drop in Chinese tourism, typical Thai not facing up to their problems, this incident only happened a few days ago, one does not book a holiday and go 3 days later, the writing has been on the wall for some time,  wow one man can bring a country down, just because of a slap,, he he

[grumbleweed]

Fewer tourists could mean less of them:

• Murdered
• Ripped off
• Killed by negligent greed 
• Blackmailed and assaulted by officials

Go for TAT

... and while you're at it, you could throw in "Not a single tourist eaten by marshmallows"

 

The only downside I can see is this could negatively impact the number of  "Taxi driver saves the day" stories

[nausea]

I wonder how many Chinese come back, as many Westerners do year after year; or is it a been there, done that, got the T-shirt, sort of deal for them. Someone should be keeping figures on return visits, cos it really is an important part of the long term equation.

[kannot]

2 hours ago, davehowden said:

 

 

"Chinese tourist arrivals in Thailand are tumbling, "

 

Every cloud has a silver lining!

Punch some more????!

[mok199]

actions have consequences...Thailands '' Professionals'',Methed up tour bus operators belligernat boat operators ,raged out taxi operators , out of control security guards etc etc, must be trained better and paid a fair wage...Toursits need to be treated professionaly and with respect ,regardless......

[kannot]

35 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Maybe the government could offer to 'buy a tank for tourism'

"tank for tourism" the new TAT slogan although "w*nk for tourism " might be more Thai appropriate?

[kannot]

6 minutes ago, nausea said:

I wonder how many Chinese come back, as many Westerners do year after year; or is it a been there, done that, got the T-shirt, sort of deal for them. Someone should be keeping figures on return visits, cos it really is an important part of the long term equation.

According to  my Wife ( fountain of all knowledge) many are buying condos as its cheaper than Chinese major  cities, so maybe they are coming back or renting them out.

[pattayadgw]

A stat was published yesterday saying the average Chinese tourist spends 6000 bt a day when in Thailand... where 6k a day is spent is a complete mystery to me.  Obviously another one of those famous stats pulled from thin air.... ????

Edited October 3, 2018 by pattayadgw

[Gecko123]

30 minutes ago, Darcula said:

There must be some way to put a positive spin on the dengue outbreak. Could dengue mosquitos be the new fish spa?

Dengue fever outbreak triggers surge in medical tourism?

[bluesofa]

Just now, kannot said:

According to  my Wife ( fountain of all knowledge) many are buying condos as its cheaper than Chinese major  cities, so maybe they are coming back or renting them out.

<sarcasm mode>

Are they using the Chinese equivalent of Airbnb - is it approved for use in Thailand?

I do hope they're paying withholding tax on the rental income. Yes, I'm sure they are.

</sarcasm mode>

 

[bluesofa]

4 minutes ago, pattayadgw said:

A stat was published yesterday saying the average Chinese tourist spends 6000 bt a day when in Thailand... where 6k a day is spent is a complete mystery to me.  Obviously another one of those famous stats pulled from thin air.... ????

pulled from thin air - a.k.a. TAT

 

[baboon]

19 minutes ago, mercman24 said:

ridiculous statement trying to blame one person  for drop in Chinese tourism, typical Thai not facing up to their problems, this incident only happened a few days ago, one does not book a holiday and go 3 days later, the writing has been on the wall for some time,  wow one man can bring a country down, just because of a slap,, he he

To be fair, the article does state that the decline was triggered by the Phuket boat disaster.

[irwinfc]

1 hour ago, Oziex1 said:

What is the truth of the economic damage caused by less Chinese visitors. If it is true that most are package tourists, their holidays paid for back home with little money spent in Thailand, are we hearing the bleating cries of distress from a few Thai elites who profit from the so called zero baht tourists. 

they're probably most concerned about chinese visitors who flock to king power. as for the temple-pissing kind, they'd be happy to clobber them on the spot.