Tourism minister in Samui: Hints at baht action and "new group" of tourists - all revealed next month

 

Picture: TNA-MCOT

 

TNA reported that the Minister for Tourism and Sports went to Koh Samui on a fact finding mission to hear local opinion as the tourism sector suffers a downtown in the number of visitors. 

 

Main excuses for the lack of visitors were the high value of the baht and the world economy. 

 

No mention was made of regional competitors in the report.

 

Pipat Ratchakitprakarn's presence created a stir but there were few concrete details as a result of his visit to the island. 

 

He hinted that the government had plans for the baht and stimulus measures to lure foreign tourists. He promised a "new group" of tourists, more domestic tourism and sustainable tourism. 

 

Picture: TNA-MCOT

 

All would be revealed next month, he said before handing out shields to brave Thais who had helped tourists escape drowning and honest ones who had returned wallets. 

 

Then he was off to examine a waste disposal area in Maret and take in a trip to the Na Muang waterfall. 

 

Source: TNA-MCOT

 

 

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"All would be revealed next month, he said before handing out shields to brave Thais who had helped tourists escape drowning and honest ones who had returned wallets." 

 

WooHoo! Time to pick up more microwave popcorn. This will be classic!

 

 

Its gonna get a whole lot worse before it gets better.

 

The people running the country are in dire need of attitude adjustment. Until that happens the slide in the economy , tourism included , is going to continue this downward trend.

36 minutes ago, webfact said:

"new group" of tourists - all revealed next month

Which country will they both be coming from?

13 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

Which country will they both be coming from?

Why are you so negative? They could be coming from two different countries. ????

6 minutes ago, aripengu said:

20 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

Which country will they both be coming from?

Why are you so negative? They could be coming from two different countries. ????

'cos I'm practising to be a wit. I'm halfway there.

23 minutes ago, kelboy said:

It's all to late,all the tourist have heard and are going elsewhere. Also saving a lot of money. 

Yes it is too late.  The above mentioned is a product of years of this kind of behavior.   People are going elsewhere where its cheaper and foreigner's are welcomed. 

Koh Samui has been hit very hard by the downturn. The thing is, thailand isn’t a popular destination anymore. The Thai baht will likely stay overvalued for years to come and there’s no immediate fix. Another problem is that Thailand is marketing tourists to visit during the raining/monsoon season which is a deplorable time for travels since they expect sunshine and crystal waters, but upon arrival they will be welcomed by thunder showers and flash floods. They need a new marketing strategy. December is probably the worst month to visit south of Thailand. Especially in the gulf. 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

as the tourism sector suffers a downtown in the number of visitors.

Is it only me, or what in the world is "a downtown in the number of visitors???

6 minutes ago, Matzzon said:

Is it only me, or what in the world is "a downtown in the number of visitors???

It must have be written by a Petula Clark fan.

These people better wake up.

It was never all about the baht! Read my lips....NEVER about the BAHT

 

You think for instance an American is going to change vacation destination because now he only gets

30 baht for a dollar instead of 31-32-33??? Heck no !

 

Instead look at all the bad press Thailand has gotten

Start with a Military Junta/Seudo elected govt

 

Next add onerous immigration

Then look at things like visiting Thailand is dangerous to your health

60 dead per day on roads is not very enticing is it?

The list goes on & on  it is a cause & effect now in motion that will take years to clear

 

Because as this gets worse regular Thai's sellers/businesses get depressed / economically stressed

There goes the land of smiles

 

Next as folks move off to find better vacation spots they do not instantly come back because now you get 32 instead of 30 baht to a dollar

Instead they have already booked next years get away & will only return when they read once again favorable reviews from reliable sources

that Thailand is once again a nice vacation spot

 

The imbeciles confuse tourists with expats. Expats care most about income conversion to Baht tourist are tourist aka: two week millionaires

I cannot believe those in charge do not know this

 

Lastly do not forget there are still many folks in the world who will never support a Seudo govt like this no matter how good the

deal is

 

I'm intrigued by the mention of recognition for acts of honesty & administering of CPR. Were there really no ferangs in this category?

Breaking the airport monopoly might help too. Currently a domestic flight to /from Bkk is dearer than from say London to new York. No idiot wants to pay that!

26 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

It must have be written by a Petula Clark fan.

Maybe even as old as Kafka. Not easy to understand what that guy meant sometimes. 

51 minutes ago, Matzzon said:

2 hours ago, webfact said:

as the tourism sector suffers a downtown in the number of visitors.

 

51 minutes ago, Matzzon said:

Is it only me, or what in the world is "a downtown in the number of visitors???

Very well spotted. This is a classic case of 'reading what you expect read' and missing what ought to be obvious. I missed it completely.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

He promised a "new group" of tourists, more domestic tourism and sustainable tourism. 

God help them if they start to target rich Africans (There are lots of princes there that need help) as Thai racism struggles with the Indians, not sure about that market.

If it wasn't for the family ties in Thailand I would never go back. I do not have rose coloured glasses, I don't have thick skin so don't p[ss down my back and tell me it's raining. As long as Thailand is in a "D" I will not move back. The fact is I would never have come to Thailand in 2002 if Thailand was under military rule then. So many more welcoming places in Asia to go to. 

The main problem is the rip off flights that Bangkok airways charge that has a lot to do with the downturn of visitors people will put up with a strong baht or a little rain but the cost of living compered to the rest of Thailand is a big factor on Samui , Phangan   
and Tao

5 hours ago, webfact said:

He hinted that the government had plans for the baht and stimulus measures to lure foreign tourists. He promised a "new group" of tourists, more domestic tourism and sustainable tourism. 

How can you promise? Want to go get the tourists personally?
Begin to understand, if you don't change course 180 degrees, no tourist will come!

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Main excuses for the lack of visitors were the high value of the baht and the world economy. 

Stop blaming the world economy, take a look at all the famous destinations in the world, drop it? Yes, very little though, here is really the fault of the economy!
In Thailand: Baht kept by you artificially too high, growing criminality, discrimination by the police and last but not least, the danger of injury or death in Thai traffic!

4 hours ago, meechai said:

These people better wake up.

It was never all about the baht! Read my lips....NEVER about the BAHT

 

You think for instance an American is going to change vacation destination because now he only gets

30 baht for a dollar instead of 31-32-33??? Heck no !

 

Instead look at all the bad press Thailand has gotten

Start with a Military Junta/Seudo elected govt

 

Next add onerous immigration

Then look at things like visiting Thailand is dangerous to your health

60 dead per day on roads is not very enticing is it?

The list goes on & on  it is a cause & effect now in motion that will take years to clear

 

Because as this gets worse regular Thai's sellers/businesses get depressed / economically stressed

There goes the land of smiles

 

Next as folks move off to find better vacation spots they do not instantly come back because now you get 32 instead of 30 baht to a dollar

Instead they have already booked next years get away & will only return when they read once again favorable reviews from reliable sources

that Thailand is once again a nice vacation spot

 

The imbeciles confuse tourists with expats. Expats care most about income conversion to Baht tourist are tourist aka: two week millionaires

I cannot believe those in charge do not know this

 

Lastly do not forget there are still many folks in the world who will never support a Seudo govt like this no matter how good the

deal is

 

Hit the nail straight on the head.  Cost of flights from bkk don’t help either.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

as the tourism sector suffers a downtown in the number of visitors. 

a downtown?

4 hours ago, meechai said:

These people better wake up.

It was never all about the baht! Read my lips....NEVER about the BAHT

 

You think for instance an American is going to change vacation destination because now he only gets

30 baht for a dollar instead of 31-32-33??? Heck no !

 

Instead look at all the bad press Thailand has gotten

Start with a Military Junta/Seudo elected govt

 

Next add onerous immigration

Then look at things like visiting Thailand is dangerous to your health

60 dead per day on roads is not very enticing is it?

The list goes on & on  it is a cause & effect now in motion that will take years to clear

 

Because as this gets worse regular Thai's sellers/businesses get depressed / economically stressed

There goes the land of smiles

 

Next as folks move off to find better vacation spots they do not instantly come back because now you get 32 instead of 30 baht to a dollar

Instead they have already booked next years get away & will only return when they read once again favorable reviews from reliable sources

that Thailand is once again a nice vacation spot

 

The imbeciles confuse tourists with expats. Expats care most about income conversion to Baht tourist are tourist aka: two week millionaires

I cannot believe those in charge do not know this

 

Lastly do not forget there are still many folks in the world who will never support a Seudo govt like this no matter how good the

deal is

 

Add, too dangerous to leave your hotel after midnight because of marauding ladyboys who steal, get caught, get fined 500Baht and back on the streets with little interruption to their activities.  

Everyone has done Thailand, it’s not nouveau anymore, the millennials have moved on... Vietnam, Europe.

I have spoken with a few regular genuine tourists who come here at least 4 times a year and have decided to go elsewhere because there are too many reports of people being turned away at the airports/borders, quite a ridiculous situation when people are wanting to holiday here and aren't sure they will be allowed in

 

Tourism = 18% (+) of total GDP in Thailand, how on earth they think treating people like this is somehow a good thing is beyond comprehension - stupid is what stupid does

I hope we see clarification and finessing of the laws concerning holiday rentals. That is a huge and growing potential for sustainable Thai tourism in itself.

5 hours ago, bluesofa said:

Which country will they both be coming from?

Mali?

4 hours ago, evadgib said:

 

Breaking the airport monopoly might help too. Currently a domestic flight to /from Bkk is dearer than from say London to new York. No idiot wants to pay that!

 

Pray tell, can you give us the figures for ticket from London to New York and compare that with domestic flight?

1 minute ago, EricTh said:

 

Pray tell, can you give us the figures for ticket from London to New York and compare that with domestic flight?

What's stopping you doing it yourself?

Seems they could more easily lower the Baht (by slowing hot money bond sales and or lowering interest rates again), than fix all of their other problems that drive tourists away.

I heard the new group of tourists is going to be Martians. Free double-entry visa on arrival and a 1 kilogram bag of Hom Mali rice welcoming gift. Up to 70% discount at stores promoted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) but not listed anywhere. Special prices for visiting the 55 second-tier provinces also promoted by TAT - you have to guess which 55 of the 76 provinces are 2nd tier. Martians will also be able to participate in the 5th phase of Chim Shop Chai (Eat Shop Spend all your money on junky souvenirs) since the first 4 phases promoting domestic tourism have failed miserably. Regrettably, the Grand Palace is closed for repairs but just hire any tuk-tuk and they will graciously show you to the nearest lucky Buddha temple and a nearby jewelry store. Enjoy your visit to the Land of Smiles Scams.