Thailand sees rare but significant drop in tourist arrivals

[gk10002000]

On 4/26/2019 at 10:30 PM, petedk said:

And treat tourists with more respect.
And stop overcharging them. Thailand is no longer cheap for tourists.

Sent from my SM-C710F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Thailand is reminding me of a casino I used to frequent in the san diego area.  I go for fun and relaxation.  Play some slots, a little pai gow poker.  Not trying to win or make mega bucks.  Just chill out and look around and enjoy the free buffet they give me. But lately the floor people have been jerks and give me a hard time.  So I voted with my wallet and stopped going.  There just becomes a point where some places are too frustrating to deal with.

[Essecola]

Yes, it's really enticing to fly into a country where the first thing you see is people getting pulled aside left and right so they can be denied entry. The country wants people visiting ONCE or once in awhile, spending their money, and LEAVING. Too much headache to go to Thailand anymore. It is easier and cheaper to just stay home and not travel rather than flushing your money down the toilet of a place where - behind their little smiles - they don't like you at all. 

[stickyrice2000]

After several visits, Thailand is no longer a wow factor for me.  It's slowly losing the charm and attractiveness.  I will change my destination to visit South Korea first.  Then head to my destination.

[HuskerDo]

12 hours ago, Gecko123 said:

 

Not sure if I fall into the demographic you are disparaging, but...

 

...since the beginning of March practically every day the temperature has been 100 degrees plus. Might help explain people being indoors more than usual. I live in a 3 bdrm 2 bath house, no aircon, just fans. Aircon would be nice, but worry about global warming. Same reason why I don't drive my 2012 Isuzu pickup much. Won't get into not wanting to go anywhere because I don't feel like running to immigration to fill out TM-30 forms after every trip.

 

Lunch was home-made pizza: mozzarella, Agnesi pesto, tomatoes, feta, onions, garlic, anchovies, olives, hot peppers, but I make a mean fried rice too: jumbo shrimp, minced carrot, onion, ginger, garlic, hot pepper, oyster sauce, soy sauce, two fried eggs, chopped, added at the end. Cancelled True Visions cable end of last month because got sick of having to call them to replace remote controls every 6 months. Sleeping much much better not having a TV in the bedroom, but admit to spending more time on line.

 

Keeping my fingers crossed that my lifestyle meets with your approval.

Many move to Thailand to escape the cold winters in their home country that keep them trapped indoors for 3 months each winter. Now it looks like the heat in Thailand has them trapped inside for 2+ months as well. 

 

Considering all the issues so many are describing it might be better for folks to try to be happy where they are instead of looking for a greener pasture in another part of the world.

 

[HuskerDo]

2 hours ago, stickyrice2000 said:

After several visits, Thailand is no longer a wow factor for me.  It's slowly losing the charm and attractiveness.  I will change my destination to visit South Korea first.  Then head to my destination.

All places lose their WOW factor after a few visits. Why did you expect it to be any different in Thailand?

[mike787]

2 hours ago, Essecola said:

Yes, it's really enticing to fly into a country where the first thing you see is people getting pulled aside left and right so they can be denied entry. The country wants people visiting ONCE or once in awhile, spending their money, and LEAVING. Too much headache to go to Thailand anymore. It is easier and cheaper to just stay home and not travel rather than flushing your money down the toilet of a place where - behind their little smiles - they don't like you at all. 

 

[whitemouse]

17 hours ago, Gecko123 said:

 

Not sure if I fall into the demographic you are disparaging, but...

 

Lunch was home-made pizza: mozzarella, Agnesi pesto, tomatoes, feta, onions, garlic, anchovies, olives, hot peppers, but I make a mean fried rice too: jumbo shrimp, minced carrot, onion, ginger, garlic, hot pepper, oyster sauce, soy sauce, two fried eggs, chopped, added at the end.

 

I think the issue was number of living rooms, or maybe, bedrooms.  

 

This sounds like a really, really tasty pizza! No pepperoni, though? How come?

 

 

 

[whitemouse]

7 hours ago, Kieran00001 said:

 

Of course there are middle class, who do you think it is having all the debt piled on them? 

 

This is not middle class, these people are working poor, wage slaves.

The Al Jazeera link confirms staggering income inequality in Thailand, these people are not in the middle, they are poor. And you can feel the anger all around, Thais are not happy. They work 6 days a week, long hours, just to barely keep up with debt. This is not middle class, these are struggling, desperate people, and it seems getting worse, not better. 

 

[DrTuner]

On 5/4/2019 at 11:34 AM, Father Fintan Stack said:

You have to earn respect, not automatically expect or demand it. 

For the millenial generation everything is expected to be given for free. The most entitled generation ever. They need 100 bitchslaps a day for the next decade to be brought back to ground.

[NCC1701A]

almost grid lock traffic on a Saturday night here in Khao Takiap, four kilometers south of Hua Hin.

 

Tourists everywhere you look. My local 7/11 which is normally empty or slow is jammed with Chinese and Thais.

 

the massage girls say it is slow and many are going home until high season, but Chinese are not their customers. 

 

this may be my last transmission as I am being over run. I will call in a air strike on my own position.

 

 

 

 

[bbi1]

What an absolute load of crap! If anything, now is the most tourists Thailand has ever had. Arrived around 2am flight in BKK, the Immigration line has been the longest it's ever been in 6 years, had to wait about 40mins in the line!! 90% full of Chinese in the line. And that's arriving at 2am in the morning. I can only imagine how long the queue most be during busy hours during the day & night time, not when most people are fast asleep.

[AtoZ]

3 hours ago, bbi1 said:

had to wait about 40mins in the line!! 90% full of Chinese in the line. And that's arriving at 2am in the morning. I can only imagine how long the queue most be during busy hours during the day & night time, not when most people are fast asleep

No, it's busy late at night with Chinese because these flights are the cheapest

[Thunder26]

It's true. The other day during Songkran I was walking along Beach Rd. in Pattaya and I didn't see many tourists. Most restaurants and bars were empty. There were way more tourists in the past then now. Eyes don't lie.

 

[Thunder26]

The other day I went shopping at Pratunam in Bankok and the attitude of vendors towards tourists was abysmal. I don't think those offended tourists will be coming to Thailand back soon.

 

[Chrisdoc]

almost grid lock traffic on a Saturday night here in Khao Takiap, four kilometers south of Hua Hin.
 
Tourists everywhere you look. My local 7/11 which is normally empty or slow is jammed with Chinese and Thais.
 
the massage girls say it is slow and many are going home until high season, but Chinese are not their customers. 
 
this may be my last transmission as I am being over run. I will call in a air strike on my own position.
 
 
 
 

So are you saying Chinese tourists are driving cars so traffic is gridlocked? Lot's of Thai tourists for the long weekend I would say.

Sent from my Nokia 2 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[josephbloggs]

59 minutes ago, Thunder26 said:

The other day I went shopping at Pratunam in Bankok and the attitude of vendors towards tourists was abysmal. I don't think those offended tourists will be coming to Thailand back soon.

 

Can you elaborate?  Were the tourists being polite and being treated that way unfairly?  Or were they perhaps treating the vendors poorly?

 

Genuine question.  I've always been treated pretty well.

[OneEyedPie]

Not sure why a drop in tourists during the King's coronation. 

 

Wish I was in BKK watching the King's procession.  Absolutely fantastic and glad it's cooled down just a little for those in uniform.  

 

 

[Icedoctor]

Another thing to consider is the on-going debate in Europe to put tax on flights in order to reduce carbon-dioxide emission.

As far as I know they have already done that in Sweden and in Denmark they are ready to put a tax on a one-way ticket to Thailand , app 2000 baht. For a family that can be a bit and might lead to another holiday choice !

i am sure this trend will spread out over Europe soon!

 

[HuskerDo]

24 minutes ago, Icedoctor said:

Another thing to consider is the on-going debate in Europe to put tax on flights in order to reduce carbon-dioxide emission.

As far as I know they have already done that in Sweden and in Denmark they are ready to put a tax on a one-way ticket to Thailand , app 2000 baht. For a family that can be a bit and might lead to another holiday choice !

i am sure this trend will spread out over Europe soon!

 

What do they use the proceeds from the tax for? Some sort of global warming something-or-other?

[baboon]

1 hour ago, Icedoctor said:

Another thing to consider is the on-going debate in Europe to put tax on flights in order to reduce carbon-dioxide emission.

As far as I know they have already done that in Sweden and in Denmark they are ready to put a tax on a one-way ticket to Thailand , app 2000 baht. For a family that can be a bit and might lead to another holiday choice !

i am sure this trend will spread out over Europe soon!

 

So it is an ongoing debate. Why would that affect arrivals here and now?

 

I was through Immigration on April 25 from flight BA10 in about 15 minutes, for anyone interested. I have become accustomed to a wait of 40 minutes to an hour on that flight...

[garyk]

1 hour ago, garyk said:

 

how can a decline of 0.7% represent 3.5 million people?
if that's the case what's the total of visitors to thailand in 2018?

 

It should of said 7%. 7% = .07.  So 3.5 million  = .07 = 50,000,000 

Which is in line with the tourist info I think. 

They had the 3.5 million right but the .7% should of been 7%

 

On a side note, the Chinese economy is not doing good. I have some Chinese stock and it is in the toilet. Trump is going to up the tariffs next week with another 300-400 billion ready to put in place. IMHO if that happens Thailand could see another significant drop in tourists from China.

[Okis]

1 hour ago, garyk said:

how can a decline of 0.7% represent 3.5 million people?
if that's the case what's the total of visitors to thailand in 2018?

 

It should of said 7%. 7% = .07.  So 3.5 million  = .07 = 50,000,000 

Which is in line with the tourist info I think. 

They had the 3.5 million right but the .7% should of been 7%

 

On a side note, the Chinese economy is not doing good. I have some Chinese stock and it is in the toilet. Trump is going to up the tariffs next week with another 300-400 billion ready to put in place. IMHO if that happens Thailand could see another significant drop in tourists from China.

 

 

Read the original article. It's thaivisa that don't even have the capability to copy paste correctly. 

[StayinThailand2much]

11 hours ago, AtoZ said:

No, it's busy late at night with Chinese because these flights are the cheapest

Not to mention, tourists' benefit is only limited (to few companies) if they mostly eat at the same (Chinese) restaurants, or just shop at 7-Eleven or Big C (visit Big C opposite Central World Bangkok any day; it is "overrun by Chinese nationals)...

[StayinThailand2much]

8 hours ago, HuskerDo said:

What do they use the proceeds from the tax for? Some sort of global warming something-or-other?

Tax cuts for the multis or 'emergency' funds for mismanaged banks? ????

[StayinThailand2much]

On 5/5/2019 at 4:54 AM, stickyrice2000 said:

After several visits, Thailand is no longer a wow factor for me.  It's slowly losing the charm and attractiveness.  I will change my destination to visit South Korea first.  Then head to my destination.

I live in Thailand. My 'wow' factor these days is travelling to Australia and New Zealand.

[HuskerDo]

11 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

I live in Thailand. My 'wow' factor these days is travelling to Australia and New Zealand.

I'd say you are scrapping by. FAR better places to visit. When it comes to Aussie-land and NZ I'd say the only Wow factor would be "WOW! Why did I come here?". ???? 

[nausea]

A tipping point will eventuslly be reached and teflon Thailand will think <deleted> happened. IMHO this is the whole problem - you don't need to change, you don't change. They seriously underestimate the millions brought into this country by guys like myself. 

[DLock]

3 minutes ago, HuskerDo said:

I'd say you are scrapping by. FAR better places to visit. When it comes to Aussie-land and NZ I'd say the only Wow factor would be "WOW! Why did I come here?". ???? 

Why would you say that?

[HuskerDo]

10 minutes ago, DLock said:

Why would you say that?

Because I've been there and done that. FAR better places to visit and spend time.

[Fex Bluse]

3 hours ago, HuskerDo said:

Because I've been there and done that. FAR better places to visit and spend time.

What are 2 places you like more than Thailand? Or, is Thailand your favorite?