Thailand Wants More First-Time Visitors as They Spend More

[webfact]

Thailand Wants More First-Time Visitors as They Spend More

By Randy Thanthong-Knight

 

> Tourism agency says new visitors are bigger spenders

> Nation now a costlier destination after surge in baht

 

Thailand will try to ease the pressure on tourism from a surging currency by targeting more first-time visitors because they are bigger spenders.

 

“First-timers spend 10% to 20% more than repeat tourists and at the same time, we can build a new customer base,” Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said in an interview in Bangkok on Tuesday.

 

The state agency’s goal is to increase first-time visitors to more than 10 million in 2020, or about a quarter of overall arrivals, from 10% now. It’s focusing marketing efforts on regions such as Central Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America.

 

Full story: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-12-18/thailand-seeks-more-first-time-visitors-as-currency-saps-tourism

 

-- Bloomberg 2019-12-18

[BestB]

No they do not, they just get over charged and ripped off easier than the repeat ones ????

[scubascuba3]

Can't we have a story that Thailand wants more expats because they buy more Leo or something like that? more upbeat news

[HeyHeyHey]

Easier to scam and not aware of true costs

 

Repeat visitors or expats won't buy that lovely suit on behalf of tuk tuk driver recommendation

 

 

[unamazedloso]

With thai massage, temples and thai resterants not to mention thai people all over the world no one really needs to go to thailand. Thais really dont get it do they? 

That said.. the bad wrap from all the families moving out of here, world renowned scammers, corruption, fake governments, etc, etc have taken care of anyone ever wanting to visit anyway.

Swallow your pride and protect the expats and long term stayers. They contribute all be it less with the fake ฿....

[ThaiFelix]

Hahaha this reminds me of my situation here in a small village in Isaan.  I'm told I am disliked by most of the locals here because I have been here too long and therefore quite knowledgeable of the tricks/scams etc the Thai wives pull on their farang husbands.

 

This horrifies me because its an indication that most of the villages support/condone such  thievery!

[david555]

So that's explaining the grilling from repeat tourist visa holders on Airports …"orders from up above .." !

[Issanman]

The repeat visitors have already learned a bit about keeping some of their money from the scams and overpricing.

So it only makes sense that the first-timers would spend more.

 

[BobbyL]

Latin America are now on their radar. The random country picker is working well it seems in their office. 

[Mango Bob]

First time visitors do not know all the tricks yet that the Thai pull on them yet.  Double charge them with falang prices, and the second trip they will never get in a tuk tuk again..

[worgeordie]

It all starts when they leave the airport and get in a Taxi,

and just continues from there, Thailand needs more fresh meat.

regards worgeordie

[Swimfan]

Always talking about what they need but never doing anything positive to achieve it ????

[Thomas J]

Yes and I want to be 7"1" be able to dunk a basketball flatfooted and be married to Kate Upton but that ain't happening either.  Wanting something and what you get are two different things. 

[CNXexpat]

The first timer are visiting the expensive places with high entrance fees or do pricier activities. They don´t go every Thailand visit to Sea World, King´s Palace, Elephant Sanctuaries and so on. 

[Misterwhisper]

And there we have it again, ladies and gentlemen. Repeat business is neither wanted nor appreciated in the Land of Fake Smiles. It's typical Thai economics: Milk your customers TODAY for all they're worth and don't worry about whether they might come back again tomorrow or not. It's such an incomprehensible, short-sighted attitude that it makes me scream.

[Thian]

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Can't we have a story that Thailand wants more expats because they buy more Leo or something like that? more upbeat news

I don't drink beer in Thailand, the nice imported beer is far overpriced and i boycot Thai beer since i hate headaches.

 

But what are they rude to ask for first time visitors! Unbelievable, they really deserve the poorest Indians me thinks. No farang would come to a country with this attitude.

[zydeco]

Okay, boys. Get'em in and outta here before they're on to us!

[baboon]

8 minutes ago, Thian said:

I don't drink beer in Thailand, the nice imported beer is far overpriced and i boycot Thai beer since i hate headaches.

 

But what are they rude to ask for first time visitors! Unbelievable, they really deserve the poorest Indians me thinks. No farang would come to a country with this attitude.

Hey, at least it is honest.

Casino Thailand: Come on in and play, buddy! Welcome! Look like you might be getting ahead then out you go and don't come back. 

They only want the suckers and are saying so.

[Thian]

I don't care what thailand likes, myself i like a warm country where me and my thai wife can enjoy the good things of life and that's not in Thailand..

 

So we'll move to a better place and spend our money there, buy a house with a pool in clean air with polite people around us..byebye Thailand...this was the the rudest thing i ever read from a holiday destination. I'm making a plan to leave from now on..

[Thian]

17 minutes ago, baboon said:

Hey, at least it is honest.

Casino Thailand: Come on in and play, buddy! Welcome! Look like you might be getting ahead then out you go and don't come back. 

They only want the suckers and are saying so.

If they were really honest they would say that they only want money and not do anything for it.

 

And not cash because that's too much work to count, on the bank krab...leo leo...

 

Crickey I'm still flabbergasted, and this came from the mouth of the TAT....

[baboon]

14 minutes ago, Thian said:

If they were really honest they would say that they only want money and not do anything for it.

What can I say? Sometimes it pays not to be TOO honest...????

[steve187]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand will try to ease the pressure on tourism from a surging currency by targeting more first-time visitors because they are bigger spenders.

and then they say

3 hours ago, webfact said:

repeat tourists and at the same time, we can build a new customer base,

then they want them to come back. 

 

why not look after the old first time visitors, the ones that come back year after year, or in fact the ones that don't leave

[Destiny1990]

First timers only? well That’s easy just make sure they have a horrible holiday so they don’t come back again. 

[Misterwhisper]

How about last-time visitors? How do they fit in with TAT's grandiose marketing strategy?

 

The sad thing is that many first-time visitors almost automatically evolve into last-time visitors once they come to realize that they were only welcomed so their wallets could be emptied... with a smile. 

 

Shame on you, TAT, for now having made it official for the whole world to see that foreign tourists are regarded by Thailand as nothing but cash cows. 

[madmen]

11 minutes ago, Misterwhisper said:

How about last-time visitors? How do they fit in with TAT's grandiose marketing strategy?

 

The sad thing is that many first-time visitors almost automatically evolve into last-time visitors once they come to realize that they were only welcomed so their wallets could be emptied... with a smile. 

 

Shame on you, TAT, for now having made it official for the whole world to see that foreign tourists are regarded by Thailand as nothing but cash cows. 

This has always been the thai way. Pretty sure everyone here knows it.

[canuckamuck]

30 minutes ago, Misterwhisper said:

How about last-time visitors? How do they fit in with TAT's grandiose marketing strategy?

 

The sad thing is that many first-time visitors almost automatically evolve into last-time visitors once they come to realize that they were only welcomed so their wallets could be emptied... with a smile. 

 

Shame on you, TAT, for now having made it official for the whole world to see that foreign tourists are regarded by Thailand as nothing but cash cows. 

 

The trick is to turn the first time visitors into last time visitors. They are getting good at it lately.

[Bangkokazy]

Thailand is a cynical country.
The only thing I read from TAT is how to fool more tourist money.
Who <deleted> travels to a country and spend all day in line
and bathing in garbage and sewage.

Well, it's perverse people doing it.

[madmen]

31 minutes ago, Bangkokazy said:

Thailand is a cynical country.
The only thing I read from TAT is how to fool more tourist money.
Who <deleted> travels to a country and spend all day in line
and bathing in garbage and sewage.

Well, it's perverse people doing it.

Stop swimming in Pattaya dude 

[zydeco]

36 minutes ago, Bangkokazy said:

Who <deleted> travels to a country and spend all day in line
and bathing in garbage and sewage.

Well, it's perverse people doing it.

It's Russians.

[Bangkokazy]

38 minutes ago, madmen said:

Stop swimming in Pattaya dude 

I live in Bangkok. Haven't been to Pattaya for many years.

I like to swim the river Chao Phraya because there aren't that many tourists there