Tourism in northern Thailand decimated: Worst in ten years say hoteliers

[PerkinsCuthbert]

What percentage of tourists pay even a reduced 6000 Baht a night on their holiday, yet alone the full 10,000 Baht price? 

If you're going to do a comparison, at least do one using a hotel standard where more than 1% of tourists stay.

[NCC1701A]

"Honey you want to go on vacation to the dirtiest city in the world or dirtiest air, not sure what you said?"

[LomSak27]

21 minutes ago, Netease said:

I arrived CM Friday night very healthy Sunday morning coughing badly and very painful when I cough, the nights are impossible with the cough and phlegm, this is the second time its happened to me I'm so sick I can't even advise the builder what to do or drive the wife to get building supplies, I'm out near San Kamphaeng all night I can smell smoke while trying to sleep i got medication yesterday,

 

Its the rainy season ... the smog/smoke is here in the hot season  .... and while we need more rain. The atmosphere has been outstanding,  since the heat broke last week. If you look out the window right now its raining. Like it was yesterday. You are in San Khampeng?

[RotBenz8888]

7 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

decimated

 

what is happening? suddenly it is in fashion to tell the truth in Thailand?  what about your face thing?

They decided to tell the truth simultaneously, so they all have the same face. 1, 2, 3 go! Oh, wait, the TAT....

[neeray]

1 hour ago, Just1Voice said:

I live in Chiang Mai. You uses to see caravans of tour busses on the streets daily. Now you rarely see 3 - 4 in a month. 

I much prefer anecdotal reports over rigged figures. I believe you (not TAT).

 

And speaking of "rigged figures". This one gives me a good chuckle "Phakkanan Winitchai claimed that this initiative would boost tourism by 6.02% among Thais."  It's the .02 that cracks me up ! Had he given a range of something like 5 to 10%, the projection would have been much more plausible.

[Roy Baht]

2 minutes ago, neeray said:

And speaking of "rigged figures". This one gives me a good chuckle "Phakkanan Winitchai claimed that this initiative would boost tourism by 6.02% among Thais."  It's the .02 that cracks me up !

When pulling figures out of your butt, it's good to have them accurate to the second decimal place.

[spidermike007]

Who was it that said, if you tell the people something often enough, eventually they will believe it? Well, not us. We are not buying the simpleton lies of this administration. Tourism is declining by the day. Perhaps 50 years from now, in a hospitality industry class at a university here, they will discuss how Thailand lost the golden egg of Western tourism. Those tourists, unlike most Chinese tourists, spent anywhere from $100 a day, to over $1,000 a day. They brought real money into the country, and in exchange, were treated with utter and complete disregard, scammed, disrespected, and abused. Eventually, most said no more. Thailand thought the country was something very special, and that nobody would ever say no, or find alternative places to visit. The fact is that there are countless other spots, that offer better service, more expertise in food and beverage (especially wine), reasonable import duties to sustain a luxury goods market, better training, and far better english skills. Thailand simply lost sight of the big picture, and had very little vision, with regard to big spending tourists, who need to be catered to, instead of scorned.  

 

The real solution is about encouraging tourists, and ex-pats, from countries that spend real money, to come here and visit. That message seems to have gotten lost, in the fervor to court the Chinese and Indian tourists, many of whom do not spend much money at all here. So, what happened? 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. 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. 

 

The neighbors are trying too hard, and making too much effort, and investing money. Thailand is not. Though this topic relates mostly to tourism, in a way it pertains to ex-pats living here too. And I too am considering other spots. Currently the top spot under consideration seems to be Spain. So much culture, great wine, alot of fascinating places to visit nearby, reasonable real estate, a language I speak, and a reasonable standard of living. The other spots in this region offer too much similar nonsense, and bad infrastructure. I do not like Vietnam, on any level, Cambodia is ok, but there are too many issues, the PI is like one huge Tijuana to me, and Laos does not have much allure. Malaysia is beautiful, but I do think the people have the light heart that many Thai people have. Though most of those nations have far more progressive visa policy. However, it is not hard to have smarter policy, when you are being compared to the least progressive nation in the region, one that seems to be scared of foreigners, and has an administration that is racist, xenophobic, and seems hellbent on getting rid of the ex-pat community. 

 

It is a real shame, as I find most Thai people to be quite lovely, friendly, warm, helpful and fun to be around. There are many aspects of life here, that I truly enjoy. I am sure many feel the same way. Just wish the country was not moving backwards, (and was instead moving forward under the leadership of progressive minds) due to a system of meritocracy, and a complete lack of forward looking vision. A nice dream indeed.

 

Moving the country forward? I think not. More like "Moving Thailand backwards at an alarming pace".

 

[Lucifer999]

This is what happens when u mistreat your visiting guests at every turn ... Vietnam here we come ...  

[Somtamnication]

I understand the TAT math; there was in increase in the decrease of tourists in Northern Thailand.

 

[Berkshire]

I like the headline...but I wish the article would have tied the downturn to the pollution problems we've been experiencing.  Then at least the authorities will consider it a priority to do SOMETHING.  As for actual tourist numbers, I personally couldn't care less.  Even with fewer tourists, the traffic is horrendous every single day and it'll only get worse.  Just too many darn people in Chiang Mai.

[rumak]

56 minutes ago, MartinKal said:

It is hard to understand why the authorities have allowed things to get so out of hand.

I think its pretty easy to understand.      Phuket, Ko Samui, Ko Samet, Ko Chang, the list is endless

 

Its called  :   MONEY      

 

 

[holy cow cm]

2 hours ago, Just1Voice said:

I live in Chiang Mai. You uses to see caravans of tour busses on the streets daily. Now you rarely see 3 - 4 in a month. 

Yes and it is so much nicer now. 

[cerox]

Tourism can go down. They will just further raise prices, as food, normal massages and many things got more expensive here without considering the THB. I just do not get the logic. Less demand, prices rise.

[bluesofa]

2 hours ago, marcusarelus said:

I think Thailand really has tried to discourage Chinese tourists by the anti poop and drowning campaigns I wonder what else they could do?  Maybe have them fill out more immigration forms. 

Yeah, in triplicate rather than duplicate as I have to do. That would make me feel better.

[rumak]

34 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

It is a real shame, as I find most Thai people to be quite lovely, friendly, warm, helpful and fun to be around. There are many aspects of life here, that I truly enjoy. I am sure many feel the same way. Just wish the country was not moving backwards,

Good points throughout.    BUT  1.  I have moved from nice place (soon to go downhill as it became popular) to next nice place over a 40 year time period.  Growth has inevitably changed it to where I would not be happy .  The inevitable decrease in quality of life.   Whether it be overpopulation, drastic increase in cost of living,  pollution,  traffic,  changing attitudes due to increased growth, etc      2.  Getting harder in this Facebook age to find a pearl in the ocean .  And when reaching those "golden years"........just going out to do the normal things can get tiresome.   Let alone packing it all up to start once more somewhere far away.

Took me twenty years to get pretty good at Thai.    Learning another language ?  By the time i get good I will be able to say  "What day is it ?"   and  "am i still alive ?"   

[WinnieTheKhwai]

1 hour ago, Netease said:

I arrived CM Friday night very healthy Sunday morning coughing badly and very painful when I cough, the nights are impossible with the cough and phlegm, this is the second time its happened to me I'm so sick I can't even advise the builder what to do or drive the wife to get building supplies, I'm out near San Kamphaeng all night I can smell smoke while trying to sleep i got medication yesterday,

But I dont think Tourists getting sick and nearly dying from the smoke will stop them comming

 

Air is among the best in the world currently.  If you have health issues then these need investigating, but air quality isn't the problem.  (Unless there is something out of the ordinary going on in the place you live, either indoors or the immediate area.)

 

[Denim]

What's all the fuss? There is a perfect Thai solution. Just put all the prices up for tourists to cover any financial shortfall. Basic maths Thai style. That plus think up a catchy slogan like ' Thaitime ' and everything will turn out roses.

[cheapcanuck]

3 hours ago, Mikisteel said:

Vietnam for the family holiday this year. Suggestions welcome. Family friendly.

Da Nang

[bkk6060]

Online ST condo rentals are killing the hotel industry here.

[cerox]

Netease, you should close your windows during night time when it is dark / you sleep.

People will not stop burning their trash for you. I always use aircon at night, no matter what time of the year, just because I know someone is going to burn some plastic next to me, more often than not.

[trainman34014]

2 hours ago, ChipButty said:

I wonder how many expats have left CM? I know a few gone for good

There are still plenty of us left....for now.  The next burning season will determine how many more leave along with anymore new stupid Immigration rules that may appear.

[trainman34014]

2 hours ago, MartinKal said:

Worst year on record for bookings. What finally did for CM was the pollution - worst on record this year. It's left a city utterly devastated.

Chiang Mai could be so totally beautiful, truly rhe rose of the North, if only they'd clean it up. 

We need a strategy based on hard validated data and investment programs.

It is hard to understand why the authorities have allowed things to get so out of hand.

The 'Authorities' are only interested in what they get 'in their hands' and are not interested in what would be good for the City or its people.

[GeorgeCross]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Marketing manager at the Chiang Mai Orchid Hotel Watcharaporn Jongphaophan confirmed the bad news saying that bookings were 30% down and that rooms previously priced at 1,400 baht were now offered for 900 baht. 

 

There is also a group tour package for 9 rooms for 8,888 baht, she said. 

 

lol someone needs maths lessons..

 

i'll take the 9 rooms at 900 baht each please, that being 8100 not 8888!!

 

 

[bluesofa]

4 hours ago, darksidedog said:

With 9 rooms at 900 each making 8,100, the person who thought 8,888 was a good promotion is as bad at maths as TAT.

Which brings us to an interesting point. TAT are saying tourism is either slightly up, or only fractionally down, while hotels and other tourism businesses are saying 30-40% down across the country. I know who I believe.

You've forgotten the 788 Baht surcharge for "people stay too mutt".

[Bad boy 561]

4 hours ago, Mikisteel said:

Vietnam for the family holiday this year. Suggestions welcome. Family friendly.

Hoi an

[connda]

But but but - TAT insures us that tourist numbers are up!!!  
Pesky hotelier must be spreading fake news, 'eh?

[connda]

4 hours ago, Mikisteel said:

Vietnam for the family holiday this year. Suggestions welcome. Family friendly.

Vietnam or Nepal is my next vacation destination.  

[MasterBaker]

"would boost tourism by 6.02% among Thais"  Obviously, decimal points will add some credibility to numbers

[kingstonkid]

The problem for Thailand is the same for a lot of countries.  For decades the low cost of visiting, the temples and the night life were the main draws for Thailand.  Thailand was geared to a young, single crowd made up of partiers from AUS the US and England as well as backpackers.

 

The cash cow was great and people enjoyed it without making any attempts to change the draw and to keep current with the changing times and demographics.

 

These same pariy makers and singles have gotten older and now have families,  the night life is starting to get stale and over done with everyone and anyone opening a massage shop of bar with girls and thinking that that is all they need.

 

Other countries are now offering more or the same.

 

All you have to do is walk along Patpong, NANA, waling street and you can see it.  Every 5 feet you have someone shoving a sign in your face to go into the bar for ping pong show  or you can go sit in a bar buy a beer and watch girls stand on a stage.  Then you can buy them inflated drinks and or pay a large fee to take them home.

 

The old Brits and Aussies that come here do not have the large amounts of cash needed to sustain things.  People now are looking for family entertainment as well.  This is the big loss as really there is absolutely nothing for a family to do at any other the tourist areas.

 

For proof of what I am saying Americans can look no further than Vegas.  Sin City has gone through a major change in order to bring in the families with their money.  

 

Eventually someone may notice but i am not going to hold my breath.

 

 

 

 

[GeorgeCross]

1 hour ago, cerox said:

Tourism can go down. They will just further raise prices, as food, normal massages and many things got more expensive here without considering the THB. I just do not get the logic. Less demand, prices rise.

 

did you read the OP?

 

prices are going down! price wars between hotels

 

Quote

Both small and large size hotels were struggling to stay afloat with a price war being waged to attract what tourists there are - rooms are being offered at 30-40% less than normal, she said.