Phuket tourism dodges ‘Chinese hit’, Vice Governor told

By The Phuket News

 

Chinese tourists remained the largest group of of tourists by number in Phuket throughout October, despite some hotels reporting that about 5-10% of bookings by Chinese tourists for the month were cancelled. photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot

 

PHUKET: Phuket Vice Governor Prakob Wongmaneerung was told by representatives from the local hotel and tourism industry yesterday (Nov 28) that the tourism situation on the island amid the “plunge” in the Chinese arrivals – in the wake of the Phoenix tour boat disaster that killed 47 Chinese tourists – was not as bad as previously predicted.

 

According to a report by the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department, local tourism business representatives told Vice Governor Prakob that occupancy across the island for the month of October was 71.13%, a fall of only 2.3% compared with October last year.

 

The news was delivered at a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall which was intended to cover the economic developments made to prepare the island to become the ‘Phuket Mice Destination’.

Read more at https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-tourism-dodges-chinese-hit-vice-governor-told-69508.php#uQabhk61fdcboSCt.99 

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2018-11-29

Anyone believe these figures?

 

 

5 minutes ago, madmitch said:

Anyone believe these figures?

He might.

 

 

Being in the hotel business I can say with confidence that business from the Chinese market is down and not only a little. If tour operators are even not requesting rooms for next Chinese New Year yet, the situation is dire in that market. Why always painting all "pink"? what good does it do escapes me? 

14 hours ago, Crossy said:

He might.

 

 

i see a lot of these in pattaya who say they dont pay their girlfriends 

I understand now why tourist numbers, especially Chinese, are down in other areas such as Chiang Mai etc. 

They all went to Phuket !!!!!!!!! of Course !!!!!!!....

They're probably flocking to Phuket because they heard of the Phoenix shrimp buffet.....only they don't know this time it was the shrimp dining on Chinese.

Does anyone really believe anything that comes out of the mouth of any government talking head?

Utter rot this propaganda nonsense. Look at hotel occupancies, and so many fewer buses on the road, quieter beaches....great !!!!!

47 minutes ago, catman20 said:

i see a lot of these in pattaya who say they dont pay their girlfriends 

"Wives" ????

5 minutes ago, fred110 said:

"Wives" ????

even worse 

Who do we to believe? ????

Does anyone really believe anything that comes out of the mouth of any government talking head?

As much as I believe anything posted in TVF


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

Maybe a better way to judge the figures is to look at the stock AOT that is listed on the SET stock market. They collect money for each passenger that arrives at the airport. Their revenue is down 19% from prior quarter. This is an indication that fewer tourist are coming. Another stock to watch is MINT (hotels) and to some extent AAV

"The wise man has the power to reason away what a fool believes...……" comes to mind from a great song.

I must say, many buses on the roads at the moment. But quite a few seem to be Russian (again).

just keep saying that there is no problem then i goes away by it self.

42 minutes ago, ebean001 said:

Maybe a better way to judge the figures is to look at the stock AOT that is listed on the SET stock market. They collect money for each passenger that arrives at the airport. Their revenue is down 19% from prior quarter. This is an indication that fewer tourist are coming. Another stock to watch is MINT (hotels) and to some extent AAV

Very good point. Thank you for the unique insight, which of course will be spot on with the results.

The Thai government wants to believe it to.

Their initiative to drop Visa fees is 3 weeks old , so it must be working by now...5555

 

Chinese down , but Russians appear to be up.

16 hours ago, madmitch said:

Anyone believe these figures?

 

 

Not me... just the other day it was posted by hotels that trade was seriously down??

43 minutes ago, stevenl said:

I must say, many buses on the roads at the moment. But quite a few seem to be Russian (again).

Havent seen them yet: in the past i saw the big Pegas buses everywhere filled with russians, now i see at best one or 2 vans of them driving around.

Nikki Beach Samui is averaging 10% occupancy and it is not expected to improve until a week before Christmas. Last year it was 90%. The only difference is that this year there are ZERO Chinese.

1 minute ago, Bob12345 said:

Havent seen them yet: in the past i saw the big Pegas buses everywhere filled with russians, now i see at best one or 2 vans of them driving around.

Sorry, you didn't look very well.

2 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Sorry, you didn't look very well.

I have studied the huge amount of quotes, links, and research you just supplied and must say you make an excellent case. Clearly i was in the wrong and didnt look well. 

The buses are not on the streets. Its way better now.

Last year was horrific.

 

13 minutes ago, Bob12345 said:

I have studied the huge amount of quotes, links, and research you just supplied and must say you make an excellent case. Clearly i was in the wrong and didnt look well. 

Ah, you want me to post a photo of a Russian bus? I have been on the road a lot these last days, many Russians this morning at the hotel I was, many, many, many at the airport a few days ago and many at e.g. Kata beach as well. Early morning, 08.30, and they're out in full force enjoying the sun.

19 hours ago, webfact said:

The news was delivered at a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall which was intended to cover the economic developments made to prepare the island to become the ‘Phuket Mice Destination’.

Have they called in Slartibartfast to deliver the keynote speech?

 

(Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, for those who remember it!)

29 minutes ago, Bob12345 said:

Havent seen them yet: in the past i saw the big Pegas buses everywhere filled with russians, now i see at best one or 2 vans of them driving around.

Anex tour buses seem to be the predominant ones right now, especially around Kata, where they have specific parking points. But just this morning I saw more Chinese buses than I've seen fo a while.

I've always measured the high season here in Phuket by the amount of big, fancy tour buses on the road, and the amount is down drastically. The boat owner who through extreme greed when over loading the boat and all those people died, also killed a lot of tourism.

The Western tourists started to decline in number, and the genius minds at the TAT decided it was time to "lure" the Chinese. They came. They came in droves. But, they did not spend much money. Hotels, restaurants, gift shops, jewelers, galleries, spas, massage shops, bars, and countless other businesses suffered, and will continue to suffer from this extreme myopia, on the part of the officials in charge of tourism. Oh well. Can't say they were not warned. Zero baht tourists are perhaps the majority who visit Thailand now. Sure, they spend some money in restaurants, and in 7/11. But, that is about it, for some of the super low budget Chinese tours. Not many rich Chinese are not visiting Thailand, for a dozen good reasons. They have too many other options.

 

I was recently with a group of friends, and we wanted to order a bottle of wine, at of one of those high end restaurants in the EmQuartier complex. It was Bella Rocca Restaurant. I asked about a 2011 Chianti they had on the list. I was told they were out of stock. I asked about a Barbaresco, at 2,600 baht. Again, out of stock. How about this Nebbiolo? Do you have the 2010, as stated on the list? No, we only have the 2015. OK, what is that wine like? Is it drinking well now? I do not know. Is there anyone here that is familiar with this wine list? No. Sorry sir. Wait a minute. You have 100 bottles on this list, ranging from 1200 baht to 10,000 baht per bottle, and NOBODY who works here knows anything about the wine? Are you serious? We all just looked at each other, and got up and walked out. We realized the restaurant was a pretender. And more than likely the food was marginal at best. It was all dressed up to look like a very nice Italian restaurant. But, it appeared to be only window dressing. High end tourists have little patience for that lack of quality and lack of service. 

 

But again, the lack of vision, combined with a naive, surly, silly, churlish, and ignorant sense of nationalism, bites the country in the butt. And again, who is the loser? The Thai people. 

The entire country is suffering from a declining tourism industry. And that will not change. It is a permanent declining trend. For a hundred valid reasons.