Tourism minister pushes for cuts in tariffs on branded products to boost tourist spending

[Chongalulu]

3 hours ago, kevin612 said:

I will buy iPhone 11 in Thailand if he cuts the tariff.

Buy on Apple website Thailand. They send it free from Singapore and cheaper than retail shops here 

[Orton Rd]

1 hour ago, Sticky Wicket said:

The dross they sell here isn't even wine

It's the most expensive gnat's p!ss in the world

Compliments their so called beer then ????

[neeray]

40 minutes ago, simtemple said:

Many world class Casino venues in Manila and hundreds of thousands Chinese tourists and immigrants. 

 

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201907/09/WS5d2405d6a3105895c2e7c7b8.html

When I go to my local casino (in Canada), I am always amazed at the large number of Asians there.

It certainly is a draw.

[mikebell]

Weetabix!

[cedel]

2 hours ago, fruitman said:

Also beer-cheese-ham-electronics-tools and much more is so expensive in thailand. Thailand is not a holiday destination anymore for smart tourists.  Europe is so much better these days.

 

 

And maybe for the long term tourists or expats also cut the ridiculous taxes on all foreign goods like cars if not made in Thailand for example... 

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The minister for tourism wants cuts in tariffs on well-known brands

If only he could prove they were original !!!!!!

[unamazedloso]

What the hell is a luxury tax anyway? I live like sht, not rich yet have been paying luxury taxes on idiodic things for decades and what do i have to show for it? I cant afford true luxury items, full stop. 

Seems people are forced to buy fakes because brand names are so expensive but wouldnt hold your breath. I expect a story tomorrow where taxes are going up. Sure, there is so many more useless things the government needs.

[dallen52]

The land is full of brand name products already. 

Some slightly misspelled..

But certainly look like the real thing. 

 

Besides which, what will the thai airways crew bring back if the tariffs are removed from high end products.?

[jko]

The best and the most positive message he can send out to the travel industry is to announce a total ban on dual pricing on any product or service.

 

That would include cancelling the most recent and shameful announcement that tourists outside of ASEAN and foreign residents will be asked to pay double or triple the Thai national rate for treatment at government hospitals. The result for elderly expats above 75 who cannot afford private health insurance, needs little explanation.  

 

This is a disgrace, and it is based purely on greed, nothing else.

[ChipButty]

Even Singha beers is cheaper in England

[dallen52]

3 hours ago, Orton Rd said:

How about dropping the gouging tax on wine and foreign beers? In Aldi Spain last week where a bottle of decent wine could be had for 85cents, just over 30 baht!

Basic wines like Jacob's Creek are $8 in Australia. (160 baht)

Same wine in Thailand 700 baht.

That's $35. Australian. ????

[ubon farang]

Just another thing to talk about No action like the getting rid of TM 6 cards This time next year we will still have TM6 cards like we will   40% on imported goods Nothing will change They have to find money to build 112 million baht mansions for Navy boss My question is? Will Navy boss give back mansion after he resigns I will have stab at this NO

[PatOngo]

3 hours ago, mok199 said:

Casino's .....are we there yet?

It will take some time to catch up to Myanmar and Cambodia!

[Tropposurfer]

Lets hope so n if so I'll be out to buy a Benz lickety split ????

[Theredbaron]

The strength of the THB against most other currencies is the reason tourists don’t spend as much as they used to! For me the $AUS has gone from 32 to 20THB that’s close to 40% so naturally I spend less!

[fruitman]

5 hours ago, hotchilli said:

If only he could prove they were original !!!!!!

Well i've bought a lot of nike sportswear in the official outlets and the quality is not the same as abroad. Yes i got 30% discount but that's not worth it.

 

I suspect many shops in thailand to sell b-choice products, even in the real official shops.

[DLock]

16 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

It will take some time to catch up to Myanmar and Cambodia!

 

...and they are really bad role model Casinos...as is Manila.

 

Imagine how long it would take to catch up to Marina Bay Sands...

 

...actually scrap that thought...it can never happen.

[hotchilli]

2 minutes ago, fruitman said:

 

I suspect many shops in thailand to sell b-choice products, even in the real official shops.

It's the only way the majority of Thais can afford something with a "logo" on it... they except the "B" choice as their only alternative.

I remember a friend buying a "branded" handbag for little money.. I said you know it's a copy right?

She replied yes of course I know  but it's a good copy, and walked around as happy as if it was the real thing ! 

[fruitman]

5 hours ago, DLock said:

Imagine how long it would take to catch up to Marina Bay Sands...

 

That's where my wife loves to shop for LV and so.....The staff is very polite to her, not like those arrogant salesgirls in the Thai LV shops is what she said. I've seen Asians in there who bought several of those purses in 5 minutes...

 

The high standards are not only inside this mall, also outside they have free water/light shows, an aboretum, flower dome, electric tourboats, no streetvendors/soidogs.....everything is perfect and we're happy to pay extra for that.

[ChipButty]

You never know what you are buying here, I have a friend bought a pair of brand name sunglasses or she thought until they broke while she was back in Sydney she took them to the shop to fix them and was told they are copies, she bought them from one of the well known shopping malls in BKK 

[fruitman]

5 hours ago, hotchilli said:

It's the only way the majority of Thais can afford something with a "logo" on it... they except the "B" choice as their only alternative.

I remember a friend buying a "branded" handbag for little money.. I said you know it's a copy right?

She replied yes of course I know  but it's a good copy, and walked around as happy as if it was the real thing ! 

Last year my wife and me travelled around in Europe...in Italy the staff grabbed her 'samsonite' suitcase from a truck and it broke in 2 pieces haha....

They were very ashamed and immediatly offered her a new suitcase, samsonite again but this time a real one.

 

My wife was nervous because she knew her suitcase was a fake....

 

But she got a brand new one, latest model for free.

 

 

[Bangkok Barry]

4 hours ago, mok199 said:

Casino's .....are we there yet?

 

Everywhere else in the region, but Thailand - perhaps with some justification - treats its citizens like children who would not be able to control their gambling with potentially tragic consequences. Already, gambling behind closed doors causes plenty of problems. My sister-in-law recently bought a house that the owner needed to sell to settle gambling debts. A real bargain as the owner needed to sell quickly.  

[White Christmas13]

1 hour ago, dallen52 said:

Basic wines like Jacob's Creek are $8 in Australia. (160 baht)

Same wine in Thailand 700 baht.

That's $35. Australian. ????

Well I don't buy bottles anymore I buy in 4 liter casks, which is not top wine

but very drinkable, I pay 246 baht ( 12$ )

[overherebc]

34 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

It's the only way the majority of Thais can afford something with a "logo" on it... they except the "B" choice as their only alternative.

I remember a friend buying a "branded" handbag for little money.. I said you know it's a copy right?

She replied yes of course I know  but it's a good copy, and walked around as happy as if it was the real thing ! 

I would reckon that if you very lucky you might get a good brand name shirt, sweater etc if it comes from an over run at the factory. Most over runs go to or did go to staff at reduced price along with rejects. I've had a few in the past, rejects and if you get a good look you can find the fault somewhere.

If they get stuck together and mixed in with lower quality for the local market you might be lucky but unlikely to get one.

[Garbol56]

2 hours ago, Sticky Wicket said:

The dross they sell here isn't even wine

It's the most expensive gnat's p!ss in the world

The 7/11 sells Jacob creek wines for the equivalent of $40au which you can buy for $10 in Australia!

 

[Khun Paul]

So instead of dealing with the negatives, rubbish tourism infrastructure, scams by the transport sector, dirty streets, really dirty toilets, just get them to buy more expensive items because the tariffs are lowered. I rarely bought anything really expensive on holiday , if it goes wrong your home country will not service or deal with it. 

 

Like most Ministers might have a degree but does not have any COMMONSENSE 

[thaibeachlovers]

5 hours ago, quandow said:

Also known as the "Grasping At Straws Scheme."

Beat me to it.

Does anyone travel to buy brand names, and wouldn't be brand name products be available where one lives?

[Bangkok Barry]

4 hours ago, Orton Rd said:

How about dropping the gouging tax on wine and foreign beers? In Aldi Spain last week where a bottle of decent wine could be had for 85cents, just over 30 baht!

 

Wine is so cheap in Spain they have a Songkran-type festival where they throw wine over each other instead of water.

[Tops]

The same 1,950.- CHF Breitling watch that I bought in Switzerland when it came out in 2010, costed in Thailand in 2011 around 275,000 THB at Robinsons. The same watch is now in Switzerland lowered in price to 1,750.- CHF. However the same 1,750.- CHF watch at Robinsons costs now 390.000 THB, a 40% increase. The CHF - THB rate has dropped from 41.24 to a 30.60 today, an over 25% loss of value. Price in 2011: 80,000 THB in Switzerland to 53.500 THB now a days. The same watch was 344% more expensive in Thailand in 2011 and 730% more expensive NOW.

 

BTW. Breitling is NOT official sold in Thailand, it's imported from Singapore. Having to make repairs, it must be shipped to Switzerland, getting it back it will be taxed as a new watch. I know because the sapphire glass was scratched due to an accident. Repaing it through Robinsons in Thailand would have cost 120.000 THB. Just had a friend take it to Switzerland and only paid 325 CHF for a new sapphire glass. That is 10,000 THB or 12 times more !!!

Can someone explain ???

Is Robinsons making so much profit?

 

 

[Burma Bill]

5 hours ago, mok199 said:

Casino's .....are we there yet?

Nearly!