Thailand extends visa fee waivers to boost tourism as growth slows

[Max69xl]

23 minutes ago, sunnyboy2018 said:

No. They chose the most anti social, l, poverty stricken and criminal countries in the world. I thought Saudi and Thailand had frozen diplomatic relations. And why does the article use the ghastly PC term Lunar New Year when they mean Chinese New Year?

” The Chinese New Year is based on the Chinese lunar calendar.The Lunar calendar, is a calendar based on complete cycles of phases of the Moon.  Basically, the Chinese New Year marks the start of a new lunar year."

[Fadgie3]

Many of the countries listed are places where the common people could not afford a bus ticket let alone a plane ticket.

 

[spidermike007]

There are countless things the government could be doing, if they wanted to attract the high quality tourists. Waiving visa fees will have very little impact. They are completely lost, and Thailand’s new Minister for Tourism and Sports Pipat Ratchakitprakarnis is in completely over his head. They literally do not have a clue, how to tackle the dramatic decline in tourism. Especially the decline of big spending Western tourists. They are not attracting the big spending Indian and Chinese tourists. That plan has failed dismally.

 

They are only getting the middle to lower end of that market, and it is becoming a national catastrophe, with millions of jobs at stake.

 

The very first thing they could do, if they were smart, serious and visionary, would be to repeal the anti fareng wine bill, that was passed by a few very corrupt senators way back when, to protect an anemic and truly pathetic local wine industry. They are losing billions of dollars a year in revenue, that could be had from a 100% wine duty, instead of over 300%. The five star hotels would have major wine events, and the entire industry would flourish here. If you are a rich tourist, spending $600 a night at the Banyan Tree in Bangkok, it is difficult to even find someone to have an intelligent conversation with, about the intricacies, the best vintages, and the qualities of the wine you want to order, here in Thailand. The expertise in F & B is really lacking. 

 

The same applies to luxury tax. If it were reasonable, Thailand would be able to attract rich tourists from around the world, who want to spend $25,000 on luxury goods, while on vacation. Will they buy a Prada handbag here for $16,000, that costs $5,000 in Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, London, New York, Paris, Rome, Milan, Monaco, Prague, Moscow, Istanbul, or Dubai? Of course not. What will they do? They will choose any one of those spots, and others for vacation, and Thailand will never even be discussed. 

 

Sorry to say, but the high spending tourists are lost for good. They WILL NOT come back to Thailand, for a dozen different reasons. 

[Traubert]

11 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

There are countless things the government could be doing, if they wanted to attract the high quality tourists. Waiving visa fees will have very little impact. They are completely lost, and Thailand’s new Minister for Tourism and Sports Pipat Ratchakitprakarnis is in completely over his head. They literally do not have a clue, how to tackle the dramatic decline in tourism. Especially the decline of big spending Western tourists. They are not attracting the big spending Indian and Chinese tourists. That plan has failed dismally.

 

They are only getting the middle to lower end of that market, and it is becoming a national catastrophe, with millions of jobs at stake.

 

The very first thing they could do, if they were smart, serious and visionary, would be to repeal the anti fareng wine bill, that was passed by a few very corrupt senators way back when, to protect an anemic and truly pathetic local wine industry. They are losing billions of dollars a year in revenue, that could be had from a 100% wine duty, instead of over 300%. The five star hotels would have major wine events, and the entire industry would flourish here. If you are a rich tourist, spending $600 a night at the Banyan Tree in Bangkok, it is difficult to even find someone to have an intelligent conversation with, about the intricacies, the best vintages, and the qualities of the wine you want to order, here in Thailand. The expertise in F & B is really lacking. 

 

The same applies to luxury tax. If it were reasonable, Thailand would be able to attract rich tourists from around the world, who want to spend $25,000 on luxury goods, while on vacation. Will they buy a Prada handbag here for $16,000, that costs $5,000 in Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, London, New York, Paris, Rome, Milan, Monaco, Prague, Moscow, Istanbul, or Dubai? Of course not. What will they do? They will choose any one of those spots, and others for vacation, and Thailand will never even be discussed. 

 

Sorry to say, but the high spending tourists are lost for good. They WILL NOT come back to Thailand, for a dozen different reasons. 

Hurrah!! The wine again.......and the Prada handbag.

 

Is there a 'd' in the day today?

[Traubert]

1 hour ago, sunnyboy2018 said:

No. They chose the most anti social, corrupt, poverty stricken and criminal countries in the world. I thought Saudi and Thailand had frozen diplomatic relations. And why does the article use the ghastly PC term Lunar New Year when they mean Chinese New Year?

The correct name for Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year is actually Spring Festival. All the Chinese festivals/holidays are based on phases of the moon. That's why they never fall on the same dates every year, Labour Day and National Day excepted. They're historic celebrations.

[ChipButty]

14 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

it is difficult to even find someone to have an intelligent conversation with, about the intricacies, the best vintages, and the qualities of the wine you want to order, here in Thailand. The expertise in F & B is really lacking. 

 

 

A friend of mine went to a well known Italian restaurant one night and ordered a bottle of wine like you do, the waitress just plonked the bottle on the table and walked away my friend said hey you not going to open it? 

[spidermike007]

7 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

A friend of mine went to a well known Italian restaurant one night and ordered a bottle of wine like you do, the waitress just plonked the bottle on the table and walked away my friend said hey you not going to open it? 

Much less pour you a sip, in a nice wine glass, and ask you how it is? God forbid that you ask them a question about the wine. Would you recommend the 2012 over the 2014? How was that vintage in Tuscany? They look at you like you are from Mars. Ok, can I speak to the person here who is in charge of wine? Huh? What? Can you repeat the question? Say again? Sorry, nobody here knows nothing about wine. But, you have a hundred bottles on the list, ranging from 1,000 baht to 8,000 baht a bottle. And nobody knows anything?

 

It is no wonder wealthy tourists come here once, and near return. They walk away and say I just do not want to be surrounded by village people who are culturally illiterate.

[RotBenz8888]

10 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Much less pour you a sip, in a nice wine glass, and ask you how it is? God forbid that you ask them a question about the wine. Would you recommend the 2012 over the 2014? How was that vintage in Tuscany? They look at you like you are from Mars. Ok, can I speak to the person here who is in charge of wine? Huh? What? Can you repeat the question? Say again? Sorry, nobody here knows nothing about wine. But, you have a hundred bottles on the list, ranging from 1,000 baht to 8,000 baht a bottle. And nobody knows anything?

 

It is no wonder wealthy tourists come here once, and near return. They walk away and say I just do not want to be surrounded by village people who are culturally illiterate.

Ask anyone at any department in a shopping mall about origin quality etc of an item,  they don't have a clue. But like a robot, they'll inform you about the price, discounts, promotions etc.

 

Your master sommelier is your smartphone.

Edited August 21, 2019 by RotBenz8888

[Nicknoodle]

20 hours ago, Peterbilt said:

• Bulgaria
• Cyprus
• Georgia
• Malta
• Romania
• Bhutan
• China
• India
• Kazakhstan
• Saudi Arabia
• Taiwan
• Uzbekistan
• Mexico
• Ethiopia
• Fiji
• Papua New Guinea
• Vanuatu
• Nauru

Source:

https://www.thai.lt/thailand-travel/thailand-visas/thailand-visa-on-arrival

So they’re not really serious about stimulating tourist numbers are they? Just look at that list! Make it free for all nations!

[Caldera]

There you have it, Chinamen and Indians. Thailand sees you as cash cows, but first and foremost as security risks. Welcome and please enjoy your holidays, but do keep them short.

[JayBird]

The visa fee was the only money going to Thai people that Indians and Chinese spend here.

Oh, and 7.

[ThailandGuy]

As long as they keep the baht as strong as it is now, and all the troubles with the TM30 form they won't see me again. Goodbye !

[Traubert]

8 minutes ago, JayBird said:

The visa fee was the only money going to Thai people that Indians and Chinese spend here.

Oh, and 7.

Of course it was, and equally of course, the more often you say it, the truer it becomes.

 

Mercy me. Have the Indians hit six to a bottle yet? Seven?

[jirathama]

I think they have choosen these countries , besides China and India, as an alibi list. They have chosen the countries with the less visitors possible. They didnt want it to look as they only look at and focus on these 2 countries.

[Artisi]

Growth slows, reported as fake news by TAT.

[Artisi]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

There are countless things the government could be doing, if they wanted to attract the high quality tourists. Waiving visa fees will have very little impact. They are completely lost, and Thailand’s new Minister for Tourism and Sports Pipat Ratchakitprakarnis is in completely over his head. They literally do not have a clue, how to tackle the dramatic decline in tourism. Especially the decline of big spending Western tourists. They are not attracting the big spending Indian and Chinese tourists. That plan has failed dismally.

 

They are only getting the middle to lower end of that market, and it is becoming a national catastrophe, with millions of jobs at stake.

 

The very first thing they could do, if they were smart, serious and visionary, would be to repeal the anti fareng wine bill, that was passed by a few very corrupt senators way back when, to protect an anemic and truly pathetic local wine industry. They are losing billions of dollars a year in revenue, that could be had from a 100% wine duty, instead of over 300%. The five star hotels would have major wine events, and the entire industry would flourish here. If you are a rich tourist, spending $600 a night at the Banyan Tree in Bangkok, it is difficult to even find someone to have an intelligent conversation with, about the intricacies, the best vintages, and the qualities of the wine you want to order, here in Thailand. The expertise in F & B is really lacking. 

 

The same applies to luxury tax. If it were reasonable, Thailand would be able to attract rich tourists from around the world, who want to spend $25,000 on luxury goods, while on vacation. Will they buy a Prada handbag here for $16,000, that costs $5,000 in Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, London, New York, Paris, Rome, Milan, Monaco, Prague, Moscow, Istanbul, or Dubai? Of course not. What will they do? They will choose any one of those spots, and others for vacation, and Thailand will never even be discussed. 

 

Sorry to say, but the high spending tourists are lost for good. They WILL NOT come back to Thailand, for a dozen different reasons. 

yep - shoot yourself in the foot and then repeat the process on the other one, but only just to see if it also hurts.

[Artisi]

3 hours ago, fraggleRock said:

Maybe offset half of the money to build x 10 the number toilets, and double up on the urinal's -- I remember the sign at the White Temple Chang Rai saying no Chines allowed, I remember Chalermchai Kositpipatwent nuclear.

yes, no chinese in his pristine toilets, all for a very good reason - believe he knocked together a couple of corrugated iron dunny's in the backyard especially for their benefit.

[Thaifriends]

22 hours ago, Peterbilt said:

• Bulgaria
• Cyprus
• Georgia
• Malta
• Romania
• Bhutan
• China
• India
• Kazakhstan
• Saudi Arabia
• Taiwan
• Uzbekistan
• Mexico
• Ethiopia
• Fiji
• Papua New Guinea
• Vanuatu
• Nauru

Source:

https://www.thai.lt/thailand-travel/thailand-visas/thailand-visa-on-arrival

 

Nauru.....?. Is this the Guantamo Bay of Australia ???? ?

 

[losworld]

21 hours ago, RotBenz8888 said:

Apart from India and China, did they put on a blind fold and throw dart arrows to pic the countries?

no they just picked the least likely to visit and said let's screw the yanks and brits again...

[Thaifriends]

3 hours ago, altback said:

Why do so many beggars and criminals from UK and Australia come to stay in Thailand? Have they not gotten rid of their criminal and colonial mentality?

 

 

 

Wow 

[Thaifriends]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Much less pour you a sip, in a nice wine glass, and ask you how it is? God forbid that you ask them a question about the wine. Would you recommend the 2012 over the 2014? How was that vintage in Tuscany? They look at you like you are from Mars. Ok, can I speak to the person here who is in charge of wine? Huh? What? Can you repeat the question? Say again? Sorry, nobody here knows nothing about wine. But, you have a hundred bottles on the list, ranging from 1,000 baht to 8,000 baht a bottle. And nobody knows anything?

 

It is no wonder wealthy tourists come here once, and near return. They walk away and say I just do not want to be surrounded by village people who are culturally illiterate.

Observation: Drinking wine for Thai, "Reflect wealth and more cultured" whereas the same person drinks whisky throughout adolsence and early professional life. 

 

Many dont even know the types of wine.

[bubba45]

Thats quite a list!

Edited August 21, 2019 by bubba45

[losworld]

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

There are countless things the government could be doing, if they wanted to attract the high quality tourists. Waiving visa fees will have very little impact. They are completely lost, and Thailand’s new Minister for Tourism and Sports Pipat Ratchakitprakarnis is in completely over his head. They literally do not have a clue, how to tackle the dramatic decline in tourism. Especially the decline of big spending Western tourists. They are not attracting the big spending Indian and Chinese tourists. That plan has failed dismally.

 

They are only getting the middle to lower end of that market, and it is becoming a national catastrophe, with millions of jobs at stake.

 

The very first thing they could do, if they were smart, serious and visionary, would be to repeal the anti fareng wine bill, that was passed by a few very corrupt senators way back when, to protect an anemic and truly pathetic local wine industry. They are losing billions of dollars a year in revenue, that could be had from a 100% wine duty, instead of over 300%. The five star hotels would have major wine events, and the entire industry would flourish here. If you are a rich tourist, spending $600 a night at the Banyan Tree in Bangkok, it is difficult to even find someone to have an intelligent conversation with, about the intricacies, the best vintages, and the qualities of the wine you want to order, here in Thailand. The expertise in F & B is really lacking. 

 

The same applies to luxury tax. If it were reasonable, Thailand would be able to attract rich tourists from around the world, who want to spend $25,000 on luxury goods, while on vacation. Will they buy a Prada handbag here for $16,000, that costs $5,000 in Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, London, New York, Paris, Rome, Milan, Monaco, Prague, Moscow, Istanbul, or Dubai? Of course not. What will they do? They will choose any one of those spots, and others for vacation, and Thailand will never even be discussed. 

 

Sorry to say, but the high spending tourists are lost for good. They WILL NOT come back to Thailand, for a dozen different reasons. 

Yes that may help in Bangkok but let's face it the real high end spenders won't waste much time in polluted and crowded Bangkok when they can relax in Beverly Hills or Nice or Singapore.  Someone who is loaded won't care too much about a few hundred dollars here or there.  But the sad fact is that Thailand has lost the mid and mid to upper tourists in droves as well as backpackers.  I used to run a Tourism Department for a government in the West and here is what Thailand should be doing:

 

1) lower the baht

2) loosen Visa restrictions

3) recreate the welcome and smile image not talking too much about busting unfavorable westerners

4) clean up the road carnage and offer regulated and safe travel options within the country

5) PICK UP THE GARBAGE AND CLEAN THE BLOODY BEACHES.  The amount of pollution here may not bother the Chinese or Russians but it is a huge turn off for westerners.

6) Fix the dog problem.

7) Try to maintain an elected government and skip the coups.

 

But in reality what will likely happen:

1) continued increase in Chinese and Indian tourists with many simply overstaying and starting businesses or taking Thai jobs

2) continued breakdown of infrastructure with bus busting roads and high rise construction

3) more money laundering resulting in empty units

4) continued pollution for lack of enforcement with cars, buses, motorbikes, factories and littering.

5) loosened visa restrictions for Chinese resulting in more pressure on infrastructure

6) continued bashing of westerners

7) possible Casino openings in places like Pattaya transforming it into a Sihanoukville setting

 

Could be wrong but I doubt it.... in ten years the only havens may be parts of ph, malaysia and indonesia.... the rest look screwed....

 

 

[Yinn]

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Much less pour you a sip, in a nice wine glass, and ask you how it is? God forbid that you ask them a question about the wine. Would you recommend the 2012 over the 2014? How was that vintage in Tuscany?

If you clever why you need to ask the staff about it?

 

Quote

 

Sorry, nobody here knows nothing about wine.

You think the staff on 10,000 baht a month going to care about Grape Juice?

 

Quote

 

But, you have a hundred bottles on the list, ranging from 1,000 baht to 8,000 baht a bottle.

We have a lot of wine. You say to expaensive. 

 

 

We have have lot of high spend tourist come to Thailand. Millions.

Stay in the five star. I don’t think you see them. You stay five star?

You like the cheap wine right?

 

Quote

 

 I just do not want to be surrounded by village people who are culturally illiterate.

You live in Thailand. Can you read Thai? Or just the illiterate guy?

you want the staff to be grape juice expert and speak your language right? And Italian, Spanish, Greek etc. right? Where the wine come from?

Edited August 21, 2019 by Yinn

[Yinn]

12 minutes ago, losworld said:

 But the sad fact is that Thailand has lost the mid and mid to upper tourists in droves as well as backpackers.  I used to run a Tourism Department for a government in the West and here is what Thailand should be doing:

Oh, you the tourist expert right.

How your country with tourist with the clever idea? More than stupid thai right?

can you send me the chart please. I interesting to look. And compare.

Thankyou for your help.

 

 

[Percy P]

6 hours ago, Isaan sailor said:

Whatever.....just please—get that damned Baht down—for the benefit of all.

More tourist means the Baht will stay high. It a matter of supply and demand. The more the tourists the more demand for the Baht and  every  tourist who enters the Kingdom is expected to bring  in 20,000 B with them.

[losworld]

28 minutes ago, Yinn said:

Oh, you the tourist expert right.

How your country with tourist with the clever idea? More than stupid thai right?

can you send me the chart please. I interesting to look. And compare.

Thankyou for your help.

 

 

something that must be noted is that cross border crossings even for a few minutes are recorded as visits among other inconsequential factors so it is necessary to see the data in its entirety... I wouldn't take too much at face value coming from some sources here... I don't profess to be an expert but I hope common sense does prevail..

[losworld]

34 minutes ago, Yinn said:

Oh, you the tourist expert right.

How your country with tourist with the clever idea? More than stupid thai right?

can you send me the chart please. I interesting to look. And compare.

Thankyou for your help.

 

 

the thais have done many things well to build their tourist industry but I think they are paying too much attention to the Chinese numbers and not caring much anymore about the western tourists which may be a mistake...

[sunnyboy2018]

 

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Much less pour you a sip, in a nice wine glass, and ask you how it is? God forbid that you ask them a question about the wine. Would you recommend the 2012 over the 2014? How was that vintage in Tuscany? They look at you like you are from Mars. Ok, can I speak to the person here who is in charge of wine? Huh? What? Can you repeat the question? Say again? Sorry, nobody here knows nothing about wine. But, you have a hundred bottles on the list, ranging from 1,000 baht to 8,000 baht a bottle. And nobody knows anything?

 

It is no wonder wealthy tourists come here once, and near return. They walk away and say I just do not want to be surrounded by village people who are culturally illiterate.

In most countries in the world, unless at a wine tasting event  many such questions would be classified as the pretentious waffle of a snob and would remain unanswered. Wine is not part of Thai culture.

 

5 hours ago, altback said:

Why do so many beggars and criminals from UK and Australia come to stay in Thailand? Have they not gotten rid of their criminal and colonial mentality?

 

 

Beggars?

[Knocker33]

Desperation