It’s easy to blame the baht as the butt of the problem for a decline in European arrivals to Thailand. The issues are wider and deeper than just currency appreciation.

 

The cost of a holiday in popular beach resorts in Thailand is now on par with or higher than those in Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey, and Egypt, which are closer to home for Europeans.

The cost of a five-star resort in Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Samed has reached around $500 per room per night including American breakfast. This is similar to the cost of a five-star beach resort in Greece, Italy and Spain, and dearer than a comparable property in Turkey or Egypt, which costs $350 a night, according to Diethelm Travel Group.

 

 

From: https://skift.com/2019/11/13/popular-thai-beaches-pricier-than-european-resorts-its-not-just-about-the-higher-baht/

Meanwhile Thais are wondering why the tourists arent coming

Popular Thai Beaches Pricier Than European Resorts: It’s Not Just About the Higher Baht

Raini Hamdi, Skift

 

 

It’s easy to blame the baht as the butt of the problem for a decline in European arrivals to Thailand. The issues are wider and deeper than just currency appreciation.

— Raini Hamdi

 

The cost of a holiday in popular beach resorts in Thailand is now on par with or higher than those in Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey, and Egypt, which are closer to home for Europeans.

 

The cost of a five-star resort in Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Samed has reached around $500 per room per night including American breakfast. This is similar to the cost of a five-star beach resort in Greece, Italy and Spain, and dearer than a comparable property in Turkey or Egypt, which costs $350 a night, according to Diethelm Travel Group.

 

It is even pricier than a mountain resort in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, which is $450 a room in the summer July/August high season for Europeans.

 

Full story: https://skift.com/2019/11/13/popular-thai-beaches-pricier-than-european-resorts-its-not-just-about-the-higher-baht/

 

-- Skift 2019-11-14

You can add Croatia and Montenegro as being cheaper too.

Just keep raising the prices because you don’t have customers. That will fix it. 

Yes of course.

 

Thailand with it s terrible driving standards, excessive noise and pollution, short changing and overpricing is not attractive compared to many parts of Europe.

 

Some friends of mine went to Cannes in France at a lower cost then a Thailand trip would have cost.

 

I had advised them to avoid Thailand.

Do people who use 5* resorts worry about the price?

I would have though the weather, service and beach/sea quality would be all that mattered.

Quote-

Singapore is the only one that stands out in the region for proper planning and development, said Kevan. “With Singapore, short-term thinking is the next 10 years, long term is 50 years. With virtually every other country in the region short term is yesterday and long term is tomorrow.”

 

The Thais can't see past tomorrow, as can be seen in their infrastructure planning 

3 minutes ago, seasia said:

I had advised them to avoid Thailand.

I stopped recommending Thailand a few years ago. There are so many better places to go for a holiday. Between the locals and the hordes of Chinese, I’m not sure who ruined things more but it’s incredibly difficult to actually relax here now unless you go somewhere during the off season or luck out. I can’t even grab a coffee at a cafe anymore without contemplating snapping the neck of at least one Chinese tourist who is either yelling across the room, trying to cut in line, or allowing their kids to use every chair as a their own personal jungle gym.

 

I didn’t think I’d ever despise a group of people as much as I’ve come to despise Chinese tourists. They are a plague upon the earth.

19 minutes ago, poohy said:

Meanwhile Thais are wondering why the tourists arent coming

Uh?? Didn't TAT announce recently that they would break again the record of visitor this year ?  For sure tourists are still coming !

i think this is the thing thailand doesn't understand, back when it was really popular you could stay on the beach for 300 baht and if you wanted some luxury 1000 baht max per night - now those figures are 2500 - 25,000 baht. i don't care how much the baht has rose, it has not rose 10 times and the beaches and resorts are not 10 times better, if anything they are 10 times worse.

 

oh and this of course:

 

Quote

Chic Locations’ business to Phuket and Koh Samui is down year-on-year, which Kevan puts down to overdevelopment and “overfamiliarity” rather than Brexit or baht.

These islands have lost their glamor, he said. “It’s very much been there, done that. 

 

i could not agree more with that, and not from a jaded expat perspective, but from a well read 40-something perspective. thailand just isn't cool anymore, its barely ever mentioned anymore in the types of articles it once was and when it is, it's lambasted for its uncleanliness and unfriendliness

 

 

A lot of stuff and services are priced crazy high for no reason but to exploit consumers by Thai Oligarchy

 

You can stick your wine bottles starting at 1400 THB / A$70 at an average restaurant and 140 THB A$7 for 330ml of beer imitation to the area where the sun doesn't shine.

 

You want quality food? You are looking at 400+ / A$20 per dish - that is on par with 1st world cities where everybody (bartenders, waiters, truck drivers) earn in an hour more than the staff in Thailand per day.

 

Just for that reason I try to spend as little as possible in Thailand and keep the cash to spend in countries not exploiting their citizens and guests like this.

Thailand's competitive advantage for Western tourists was always its cheapness, which one could offset against the airfare. All I can say is good luck with the Indians and Chinese. Actually, I think the presence of Western tourists here was probably part of the attraction for other nationalities. 

Yep I'm really worried for those who stay at 5* hotels and their $. 

Ridiculous. 

 

51 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Do people who use 5* resorts worry about the price?

I would have though the weather, service and beach/sea quality would be all that mattered.

 

Not true. Many people who can afford 5 star resorts created their wealth by knowing how to spot good value for money. They care about all the things you've said, but they also want to feel they are getting it for a fraction of its true value. They may not worry about the price, but many are still influenced by it. 

 

Thailand has most definitely lost the perception of being good value for money. That is going to hurt no matter how it occurred. There is still a market niche for travellers who really do completely ignore price, but there is now a glut of businesses fighting for that much smaller crowd. And anyone who isn't absolutely the best of the best is going to suffer in that environment.

 

It’s Not Just About the Higher Baht

..…....and it surely couldn't be insatiable greed either, could it? 

2 hours ago, dcnx said:

I stopped recommending Thailand a few years ago. There are so many better places to go for a holiday. Between the locals and the hordes of Chinese, I’m not sure who ruined things more but it’s incredibly difficult to actually relax here now unless you go somewhere during the off season or luck out. I can’t even grab a coffee at a cafe anymore without contemplating snapping the neck of at least one Chinese tourist who is either yelling across the room, trying to cut in line, or allowing their kids to use every chair as a their own personal jungle gym.

 

I didn’t think I’d ever despise a group of people as much as I’ve come to despise Chinese tourists. They are a plague upon the earth.

They call the Chinese the sleeping giant , I think more like the sleeping parasite and it’s awakening 55555 ???? Lol:) 

The article must be based on rack rates. Beach houses in Samui are dirt cheap at the moment!

3 hours ago, dcnx said:

Just keep raising the prices because you don’t have customers. That will fix it. 

Typical strategy. More vacancies, but if they manage to rent out just 1 room at such inflated prices, overheads for the day will be paid for. So, why worry about empty rooms?

An offensive troll post and the replies have been removed. 

4 hours ago, Creasy said:

You can add Croatia and Montenegro as being cheaper too.

I’m a bit of an expert here, as I’ve spent the last few years in those 2 countries in high season, as well as Jomtien in high season. I don’t know about 5 star resorts, but for apartments and cheaper hotels, Pattaya/Jomtien is WAY cheaper than Croatia and Montenegro. 

1 hour ago, Damaz6052 said:

The article must be based on rack rates. Beach houses in Samui are dirt cheap at the moment!

Where do you see and how do you get those dirt cheap rates? Agoda?

3 hours ago, Damaz6052 said:

The article must be based on rack rates. Beach houses in Samui are dirt cheap at the moment!

 

Probably these are the prices tour operators get when making packages for clients in Europe. And these are the prices people use to make their descison on about where to go.

 

When hotels or house owners drop their prices last minute if there properties do not get booked with the idea "something is better than nothing" you will attract a different group of clients.

 

 

The mediterranean sea is very clean, great beaches, security and loads of lifeguards....great boulevards, nice benches in the shade, icecreamshops, bars, restaurants, zebra's which are respected, silent cars, clean air, real police and ambulance, great cheap boat trips on real safe boats.

 

I save my money to go there and my wife loves it as well....we have seen loads of European countries together and are thinking to buy a house there.

The prices are normal, just as the California beach. Same same beaches same same prices.

The surveyors seem to use Samui and Phuket to represent beach locations...

 

in my eyes, they have plummeted to the bottom of choices in thailand....

 

the 2 most important factors are prices/value and garbage...

 

the above 2 locations are now priced like their Mediterranean sites way above other Thai beach locations...

 

garbage is everywhere in thailand so that’s a wash...

More isolation, lower level of  English speaking, stricter Visas, and an unwelcoming atmosphere for the expats will bring back the momentum !

16 hours ago, Pattaya46 said:

Uh?? Didn't TAT announce recently that they would break again the record of visitor this year ?  For sure tourists are still coming !

Isn't this thread about 5* resorts? The Chinese hordes don't stay in 5* beach resorts, far as I know. Zero baht tours don't have rich clients.

The problem for me is that the 5* resorts have ruined all the beaches I once went to, so I just didn't go anymore. I'm guessing I'm not the only one.

1 hour ago, fruitman said:

The mediterranean sea is very clean, great beaches, security and loads of lifeguards....great boulevards, nice benches in the shade, icecreamshops, bars, restaurants, zebra's which are respected, silent cars, clean air, real police and ambulance, great cheap boat trips on real safe boats.

 

I save my money to go there and my wife loves it as well....we have seen loads of European countries together and are thinking to buy a house there.

You have a wife. You probably don't know why farang men go to Thai beaches, or if you do, it's not important to you.

When such options are available on the Med, expect to see more single men there.

Racist and ignorant to cast a wide net based on minute empirical evidence. Unless you are white, tall, blonde, blue eyed, you’re not welcome!

 

Shocking