Where are the Europeans? Hua Hin/Cha Am tourism officials urged to look elsewhere for next wave of tourists

[Damrongsak]

... The message was clear: Europeans are not coming as much as in the past. 

 

The answer to this dilemma was waffle and buzzwords. ...

 

 I think I'd rather have the free mango and sticky rice they gave the Chinese than waffles and buzzwords. I know the latter is a Thai dish, but not to my liking.

[chrisandsu]

On 12/20/2019 at 10:30 AM, saengd said:

An excellent observation and perfectly true. Twenty years ago Buriram and Surin for example were extensions of the refugee camps on the border, the airport used to open just for the flight to Bangkok and was an event that locals came to witness out of novelty value. Every pole dancer on Nana was from Udon or Ubon. Expat pensioners looking to escape the financial drain of Bangkok and Phuket changed all that, for a while there they were the new millionaires, the biggest house in the village usually belonged to the farang expat and their ex-pole dancing luvely. Expat pensioners saw the Issan housing stock renewed, the local population taught English and an ad-hoc system of social security implemented, what a great deal for gov.th.

 

 

 

Absolutely . We keep getting told that the Thai government has a surplus of cash - that may be because older farang have done the job that they should of been doing ! Interest free loans (????) to build houses who have employed builders who in turn have bought building materials - tools- and so forth . The list is actually endless ! They should be encouraging older guys to come in . Slogan can be ‘you are our social security’ ????

[GeorgeCross]

TAT always looking elsewhere never trying to please the one's they already have.

 

maybe if more satisfied tourists returned they'd be able to ride out these economic 'bumps' a bit easier 

 

 

Edited December 22, 2019 by GeorgeCross

[mokwit]

I'm just not sure what barrel is left for scraping to find all these first time visitors.

 

 

[mercman24]

post 4, BRILLIANT got to be one of the most funny films ever made, i must watch it again,

[Damrongsak]

1 hour ago, GeorgeCross said:

TAT always looking elsewhere never trying to please the one's they already have.

 

maybe if more satisfied tourists returned they'd be able to ride out these economic 'bumps' a bit easier 

 

 

Customer retention is a foreign concept.  Always look for a new Mia Noy. 

[GeorgeCross]

1 hour ago, Damrongsak said:

Customer retention is a foreign concept.  Always look for a new Mia Noy. 

 

well running back to your ex because you cannot get a new ride is a universal failure isn't it?

 

 

[lapamita]

On 12/19/2019 at 6:52 AM, mokwit said:

 

 

There may be a link between lack of 6 month contract property rentals and lack of ability to easily stay 6 months as a tourist over winter.

NO lack of condos for 6 month rentals. Problem ..the people want to pay for 5 or 6 month the same low rate like yearly rental, and not accept higher price, but owner will have rooms empty for rest of year.

 

so,i do not rent as well , bcs for exmaple yearly price is 18.000 /100qm  so if rent winter i want minimum 28.000 people no pay..resolution  due to lack of longterm people to rent ( bcs they all gone..........) the short term rental ..less use of fittings and more flexible, not more money but more convinient , even they call it now illegal

 

[tlandtday]

On 12/19/2019 at 4:17 PM, legend49 said:

A nice summary of a non event:

 

Then everyone smiled and had their picture taken. 

 

And went back home to wonder where all the tourists had gone. 

 

Spoke with Thai neighbor today, he is the engineering manager of a large company that is across many SE Asian countries. He told me Thai baht too high so they will close the factories in Thailand and relocate to Cambodia ( 60% cheaper in operations costs). Their Chinese factories are also relocating to Cambodia and Vietnam over the dumb sanction war by a man child on China..

makes no sense... how does relocating factories from China to Vietnam have anything to do with difficulties in Thailand... you need to get your Trump Derangement Syndrome in check

[daveAustin]

Two words: baht, army. It has always been their (the nobs and stuffies like cha cha) intention to kill the status quo... whiteys in wife beaters making the place look untidy and keeping Thailand as the sex capital of the world. They couldn't care less about expats, or any visitor really, and would sooner have it completely devoid of westerners. It just does not affect them, but fits their agenda. 

[anon7854]

Quote

At the end of the meeting it was decided to have another meeting. 

Lol.

 

Reminds me of my meetings when I was in Thailand. 55555

[NCC1701A]

Imagine you are researching your first time trip to Thailand.

Here are some of the confusing things you would find on the internet. What would you do?

 

The amazing iconic islands are closed. maybe for years. will more be closing? 

Chiang Mai had/has the worst air pollution in the world. 

Bangkok can be covered in smog. And so can Hua Hin and Pattaya.

The government says no more lanterns during Lo Krathong festival.

The government says they are limiting the Songkran water festival and tourists behavior. 

Thai baht strongest currency in SEA.

A glass of average wine is very expensive.

Huge numbers of Chinese and Indian are expected in tourist areas.

The government is saying Pattaya is a family resort now. 

The government removed all the beach chairs. Is that still the case?

you heard you or someone has to report your location everywhere you go.

Tourists with Visas are being turned away at the airport. 

A young woman streamed live from a jail cell she was being held for overstaying her tourist visa by four days.

Immigration police are arresting thousands of foreign people a month. Are they tourists?

Thailand has dangerous highways and EMS and rescue is extremely poor. 

There are a lot of tourist scams in Thailand and the police are part of it.

you love animals and animals are treated horribly. Elephants are beaten. Tigers are killed.

Slave labor still exists and human trafficking is common.   

Thailand is one of the worst polluters of oceans with plastic in the world

Thailand continues to use banned pesticides on crops.

 

Please don't forget to vote for me for POTY. Do it right now and your immortal soul will be saved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 22, 2019 by NCC1701A

[mokwit]

9 hours ago, lapamita said:

NO lack of condos for 6 month rentals.

That is what I meant- no lack of supply because low demand.

[Drax]

On 12/22/2019 at 4:20 PM, lapamita said:

NO lack of condos for 6 month rentals. Problem ..the people want to pay for 5 or 6 month the same low rate like yearly rental, and not accept higher price, but owner will have rooms empty for rest of year.

 

so,i do not rent as well , bcs for exmaple yearly price is 18.000 /100qm  so if rent winter i want minimum 28.000 people no pay..resolution  due to lack of longterm people to rent ( bcs they all gone..........) the short term rental ..less use of fittings and more flexible, not more money but more convinient , even they call it now illegal

 

Explains how I’m paying 25% under market price for rent at my condo. 18k for 100 sqm. Where? 

[Isaanbiker]

And went back home to wonder where all the tourists had gone. 

 

    Just wait two more years when nobody wants to holiday here.

 

   No more Land of Smiles. Land of Cries for Help. 

[Isaanbiker]

On 12/23/2019 at 2:44 AM, NCC1701A said:

Imagine you are researching your first time trip to Thailand.

Here are some of the confusing things you would find on the internet. What would you do?

 

The amazing iconic islands are closed. maybe for years. will more be closing? 

Chiang Mai had/has the worst air pollution in the world. 

Bangkok can be covered in smog. And so can Hua Hin and Pattaya.

The government says no more lanterns during Lo Krathong festival.

The government says they are limiting the Songkran water festival and tourists behavior. 

Thai baht strongest currency in SEA.

A glass of average wine is very expensive.

Huge numbers of Chinese and Indian are expected in tourist areas.

The government is saying Pattaya is a family resort now. 

The government removed all the beach chairs. Is that still the case?

you heard you or someone has to report your location everywhere you go.

Tourists with Visas are being turned away at the airport. 

A young woman streamed live from a jail cell she was being held for overstaying her tourist visa by four days.

Immigration police are arresting thousands of foreign people a month. Are they tourists?

Thailand has dangerous highways and EMS and rescue is extremely poor. 

There are a lot of tourist scams in Thailand and the police are part of it.

you love animals and animals are treated horribly. Elephants are beaten. Tigers are killed.

Slave labor still exists and human trafficking is common.   

Thailand is one of the worst polluters of oceans with plastic in the world

Thailand continues to use banned pesticides on crops.

 

Please don't forget to vote for me for POTY. Do it right now and your immortal soul will be saved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No naked, or half naked girls to post? 

[Langkawee]

The Europeans were all being locked up in Bangkok airport jails the last i heard. That's why many are staying away.

[Tounge Thaied]

On 12/19/2019 at 10:47 AM, ujayujay said:

I have been living in hua for 4 years and my wife has a hairdressing salon here since 20 years.  Compared to 3 years ago it has more than 50% fewer western tourists.  I also wonder: where are the indian tourists!?

Sounds like heaven. ????

[Tulak]

On 12/19/2019 at 4:56 PM, bkkcanuck8 said:

That is a pittance as the retirees are not that much importance for the tourist industry in Hua Hin.  Unless a retiree is visiting Hua Hin from another location in Thailand they are not going to pump much into the economy.  Retirees are not even considered prime demo in their home countries as they tend to spend less.  A tourist (especially first time) is going to come into town, spend money on hotels (likely mid to higher end), go out and spend money on lunch and dinner at restaurants (not likely the cheaper end as they tend to go to what other tourists have indicated as good - and that tends to be higher prices)...   Retirees tend to over estimate their importance to the overall economy.  Retirees might provide a steady stream of income over a year to a local economy, but after setting up residence that amount tends to decrease... and that is more of into a local economy rather than 'tourist economy'. Retirees tend to overvalue their contribution... 

During my holidays in Hua Hin (usually twice a year) I met a number of retirees, most of them big spenders (what I observed).

Also consider that just to establish yourself, you will have to spend two to five million B. to buy condo/house and a car. This is only beginning and on a lower scale. Remember also furnishing you house - also living expenses and depositing money for visa...

[Tulak]

On 12/31/2019 at 3:21 PM, Isaanbiker said:

No naked, or half naked girls to post? 

Wasn't traditional outfit for girls in Thailand going topless? 

To my understanding it only changed after Europeans arrived.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[impulse]

On 12/19/2019 at 12:07 AM, unamazedloso said:

It's actually all a bit weird and immoral the way tourism is promoted here..

 

I've never thought that pimping out your nation's farm girls was a very moral way to make a few families crazy rich.

Edited January 24, 2020 by impulse

[impulse]

5 hours ago, Tulak said:

During my holidays in Hua Hin (usually twice a year) I met a number of retirees, most of them big spenders (what I observed).

Also consider that just to establish yourself, you will have to spend two to five million B. to buy condo/house and a car. This is only beginning and on a lower scale. Remember also furnishing you house - also living expenses and depositing money for visa...

   

Or you can rent a furnished house for $200 USD a month and tool around on a $150 second hand scooter.

 

Edit:  Oops.  My bad.  That was in 2016.  It's $250 a month and a $170 scooter with the stronger baht.

 

Edited January 24, 2020 by impulse

[AverageBloke]

3 hours ago, impulse said:

   

Or you can rent a furnished house for $200 USD a month and tool around on a $150 second hand scooter.

 

Edit:  Oops.  My bad.  That was in 2016.  It's $250 a month and a $170 scooter with the stronger baht.

 

But if you can afford to own your home outright then rent doesn't need to come into the equation.

[impulse]

15 hours ago, AverageBloke said:

But if you can afford to own your home outright then rent doesn't need to come into the equation.

 

 

Know any foreigners who own a house outright in Thailand?  And the land it sits on?

 

 

[DannyCarlton]

After hearing that Coronavirus has arrived in Hua Hin, the tourism in Hua Hin will drop like a stone, you couldn't pay me to go there. Added to that, half of China is quarantined throughout the Chinese New Year. Hua Hin will be a ghost town shortly.

 

 

Edited January 25, 2020 by DannyCarlton

[tomazbodner]

China has a few millions trying to flee Wuhan. Maybe they could organise direct flights - TAT numbers will go up up upppppp!

[DaRoadrunner]

On 12/21/2019 at 2:20 AM, Chelseafan said:

Are they taking into account my Air'B'B stay, my daily 2000 baht short-time, my 4000 daily bar bill,

So you are the bast**d running up short time prices.

 

And how is it, having supped 4000 Bats worth of booze, you can still manage a short time?... Bragging again eh?

[ukrules]

27 minutes ago, DannyCarlton said:

After hearing that Coronavirus has arrived in Hua Hin, the tourism in Hua Hin will drop like a stone, you couldn't pay me to go there. Added to that, half of China is quarantined throughout the Chinese New Year. Hua Hin will be a ghost town shortly.

There's plenty of Chinese tourists here

[DannyCarlton]

1 minute ago, ukrules said:

There's plenty of Chinese tourists here

Yikes! Get out before it's too late!

[Chelseafan]

On 1/25/2020 at 1:07 PM, DaRoadrunner said:

So you are the bast**d running up short time prices.

 

And how is it, having supped 4000 Bats worth of booze, you can still manage a short time?... Bragging again eh?

I was talking in the context of a punter/mongerer rather than me personally. I'm married so don't do short-time but the booze bit is pretty much spot on especially when ringing the bell a few times at my local bar.

 

Don't know what you mean by "braggin again" though.

 

Edited January 27, 2020 by Chelseafan