Thailand a harder sell for repeat travellers, but local experiences offer bright spots

By Yixin Ng

 

European agents are increasingly finding Thailand (Krabi pictured) a harder sell, as DIY travel gains favour

 

Long a top Asian destination for Europe’s travellers, Thailand today is not the easy sell it once was for tour operators and travel agents, who are finding that they have to dig deep to have a shot at attracting repeat clients with the “been there, done that” mindset.

 

“European numbers are stable for Thailand, however there’s not much growth opportunities from the region’s market,” admitted Tobias Fischer, director of business development, Go Vacation Thailand.It appears that the destination may have lost its lustre after many years in the spotlight, some buyers at ITB Berlin shared.

 

Tina Bach Thogersen, destination manager, Denmark’s Viktors Farmor World-wide Expeditions, said: “We sell (pretty much) all of Indochina. We offer one itinerary for Thailand, but it doesn’t sell.

 

Full story: https://www.ttgasia.com/2019/03/11/thailand-a-harder-sell-for-repeat-travellers-but-local-experiences-offer-bright-spots/

 

-- TTG ASIA 2019-03-11

If for some strange reason (probably immigration) i had to return to Aus i would not come back rather if i could i would holiday in Bali or Malaysia .

Probably the strange restrictions on alcohol have something to do with it as well, work hard a book a holiday to enjoy yourself and then find you cant buy a beer because of some local custom which was not  a problem 6 years ago! If it were me I would not get caught twice, plenty of other destinations in the world.

I'm sure the ones who fed fish while the guide watched, picked up dead coral or dropped a ciggie but at the beach won't be back. 

15 minutes ago, keith101 said:

If for some strange reason (probably immigration) i had to return to Aus i would not come back rather if i could i would holiday in Bali or Malaysia .

Thats what my mates that used to come here do now plus Vietnam,they are tired of all the rorts and its cheaper,,

I think that is becoming increasingly true. Thailand has been known as that perfect holiday haven for decades, whether you're coming alone, as a couple or a family it can cater for anything.

 

However, I do think it is getting to the point where people from the Western world aren't as interested in coming here anymore. Apart from my parents, nobody I know who has been here on holiday whilst I have lived here (25+ people) have come back for a second visit.

 

The Chinese etc will continue to come in droves, but for many it is definitely a one hit wonder. 

35 minutes ago, Oziex1 said:

I'm sure the ones who fed fish while the guide watched, picked up dead coral or dropped a ciggie but at the beach won't be back. 

And the woman caught Vaping

Not "been there done that" but "been there seen that and never going back". Too many Chinese, Russians, dirty, often overpriced, long flight from Europe, worn out "attractions" and so on. US, OZ, EU all have nicer places closer to them. 

Add to that the ones who have packed and gone never to come back

A clear trend in all departments it seems... +1.  MS>

2 hours ago, webfact said:

they have to dig deep to have a shot at attracting repeat clients with the “been there, done that” mindset

More like "once bitten, twice shy." 

Thailand isn't so cheap or cheerful anymore. 'Freedom' was always a big pull, but when you can't even vape........ And of course I am also using this as a metaphor too.

Thailand's USP used to be its culture. But that no longer exists.

I've had guest comment how dangerous the roads are, tourist do like to feel safe

3 hours ago, Oziex1 said:

I'm sure the ones who fed fish while the guide watched, picked up dead coral or dropped a ciggie but at the beach won't be back. 

And those longtailboats look fun but once you've heard the noise they make the fun is over...i cut a piece of my new towel to stick in my ears or i would have been deaf now.

"...attracting repeat clients with the “been there, done that” mindset..."

 

Could be the mindset is "Fool me once..."

The gold and emerald colors that once glittered and attracted droves of tourists have been replaced with military green...not quite the same feel as once was...

Hand 3 large beer laos in savannaket today,bag ice and a bottle of water.114b.pork steak,pepper sauce,chips salad 99b....if it wasn't that I have a wife in udon thani I wouldn't be going back....Thailand has burnt itself and none of my Brit mates are coming out again.

36 minutes ago, Puchaiyank said:

The gold and emerald colors that once glittered and attracted droves of tourists have been replaced with military green...not quite the same feel as once was...

Go back only  5 years ago  how was the  street life sukhumvit soi 7 to 15 including nana aera and TODAY....= near empty of tourist today....why ?

My mate came for the first time last month. Apart from other dislikes he was scammed out of 1000k as soon as he got into arrivals. Tour staff for a trip round Bkk that he had paid for claimed he needed to pay the tax on it strangely coming to exactly 1000k. The tour was rubbish apparently with the usual stops at a gem shop having a last day bargain sale.

Edited March 11, 20197 yr by Orton Rd

Back in the US for 10 days now. I can breath again. My god the air pollution is off the charts. Filthy beaches, scams.. 

Immigration's nonsense!  Yuck.

Let the Chinese have the place as far as I am concerned. Nasty place.

 

4 minutes ago, garyk said:

Back in the US for 10 days now. I can breath again. My god the air pollution is off the charts. Filthy beaches, scams.. 

Immigration's nonsense!  Yuck.

Let the Chinese have the place as far as I am concerned. Nasty place.

 

I live here with my Thai wife so I am stuck in a wonderful little rural village.

But I have toured all over Thailand for many years and have watched in dismay as the tourist destinations of Koh Samui, Phuket, Pattaya and

others have turned into dirty little cesspools. Where Bangkok is a gridlocked, choking,  air polluted and over priced scam.

And where the politics is as polluted as the country. And where Thailand is quite happy to lose visitors from the west and increase 

visitors from China and India. The hassles of immigration.

I have just talked a potential wealthy long stay man from migrating here. It is all too hard now. 

4 hours ago, Khaeng Mak said:

Thailand's USP used to be its culture. But that no longer exists.

I guess you mean the pre-facebook culture?

Damn I like it here and will be back in the Fall. I think its one of the best places in the world to place to visit, snowbird and/or retire. Its great being happy here without bad experiences. If you had a bad time yourself, or left bitterly, or hate it here, well it sucks to be you.

I think everyone is being a bit harsh,

I quite enjoy living here, it's better than living in the UK, but Vietnam, Cambodia and The Philippines are my holiday destinations of choice.

Nothing lasts forever. That's what Buddha said two and half millenniums ago. Thailand's economy is export based economy. It is not a consumer economy. What Thailand needs is to increase its consumer economy, educate its people and develop their skills Three decades of dependency on foreign tourists and retirements did not achieve it and unless Thai people gear up to participate in ASEAN market, they will be left behind. 
 

The is no shortage of tourists from India and China. China only has 9% passport holders. There is huge opportunity for its growth. The same goes for India also that is raking more than 7% growth per year. Thailand should focus on other 21st century economy not the decadent economy of the 20th century based on Tourism and retirement money only.

Edited March 11, 20197 yr by onera1961

I have experienced the beach condo and NE Thailand living...NE wins...more laid back, less people...tourist...pollution...and crime.  Cost of living is good...always plenty of fresh meats and veggies...adequate shopping and entertainment...

 

If you are a whiny bitch...please stay at the beach... ????

The TAT partner with inbound crooks to promote the country and these tour operators are awful.

 

I tried to book transfers, tours and hotels for a group of 17 and my god the prices were 4 times what I could do it for via Klook and other direct channels.

 

Thailand simply isn't the deal it once was by a long way now and the word is out along with a lot of bad press stories coming out. Back in the day, before it started going slowly downhill in 2005-6, it was value for money, exotic, carefree and mai-bpen-rai etc. plus you were genuinely welcome. That has all mostly gone now and it is far from reasonably priced these days plus the scams, whilst still present back then, are out of control now. Also, the whole vibe of the country has changed...hardened would probably be a good word for it (maybe as a result of the tourist industry going to industrial scales) and that was never really so in the fore as it is now. The authorities have gone control freak on everything plus making it as hard to stay as possible, everyone is greedy as hell and the mai-bpen-rai factor has mostly gone. I would guess a lot of people don't consider Thailand as an adventure now plus the safety issues and it's crammed full of rude Chinese and roving gangs of Indian tourists...which most would probably not consider a plus to their holiday experience. 

The main reason imho is that there's much more competiton all over SEA as as ten or twenty years back. Burma is opening its doors, vietnam is a rising star, cambodia a few years ago was an even worse shithole than now.