Thailand tourism: Chinese New Year down! "No positives" as Thais face tough year ahead

[keithkarmann]

6 hours ago, darksidedog said:

We can expect TAT to provide a conflicting perspective backed up by meaningless figures in due course I am sure. I note though that even these people are trying to provide excuses, such as strong baht, world economy etc. They would be better off looking at the country itself and the way tourists are treated once they get here. Too many negatives, generally created by greed and a disregard for the tourists safety are something that is causing it, but is never meaningfully addressed.

Total disregard for anyone's safety 100%.

[wazzupnow]

military stupidness, lower the bht problems finished

start a thai helicopter factory ,submarine factory people have work

and all their  toys are domestic made

everybody happy

[mal2018]

6 hours ago, RotBenz8888 said:

7/11s mama sales down 10 billion bath.

Another one who cannot spell. Is it so difficult to get proper currency in Thailand?

[JMSIII]

5 hours ago, PatOngo said:

I wonder if it crossed her mind that maybe people are just plain sick of Thailand and decided to look elsewhere?

I agree with you.  I think people are tired of how rude Thais can be.  Openly trying to scam us at every opportunity with a higher price.  Most of the 7-11's and Family Marts around me, the Thais working there are openly irritated by Westerners.  Then of course are all the scams you have to educate new people who come here about.  And throw in the strong baht, and the gov't wants it to get even stronger.  The taxi mafia...

 

I think Thailand and Thais are beginning to reap what they have sowed... 

[Maverell]

2 hours ago, kevin612 said:

The baht is rising again, lower the baht more tourists will show up.

This is correct no matter what some say. Yes, the rich don't need to worry to much about such things but average joe public considers it to be of significance. It is the average joe who comes or stays away because of cost and they do so in high numbers. 

[SolarJim]

So tourism is going to decline big tune in the next decade because Thailand has been overwhelmed with mass poorly planned development, inadequate infrastructure spending, massive pollution, over fishing, rancid air from Hua Hin to Chang Mai to Pattaya, to Kanchanaburi, and of course Bangkok.  Meanwhile there's a drought, poor economy, and they want to drive out western retirees who contribute every day to their local economies, and have for decades.  Once again, eastern logic escapes me.

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, PatOngo said:

I wonder if it crossed her mind that maybe people are just plain sick of Thailand and decided to look elsewhere?

I have a young Thai friend he's just returned from South Korea with his Thai g/f after their first trip outside Thailand.

He said he couldn't believe how clean the place was, the first thing he noticed was the roads, pavements, parks, even the buildings. He said you could walk around, sit in an outside restaurant and enjoy everything.

He returned to Thailand and immediately saw the filth, dust, debris, plastic, shabby black concrete structures. He actually said he was embarrassed to think this was his home country.

He said what on earth people from a clean country think when they get here must be unimaginable!

 

[Guest]

1 hour ago, d2b2 said:

Your comparison of a Nation to a restaurant is illogical, but hey dude I get your point... Only say nice things about Thailand and pretend any shortcomings don't exist. That way the country won't have to develop or progress. Sabai sabai

I do not love everything about Thailand ... but I think Thai Visa has become an "over the top" dark corner where xenophobic, racist, and unfair comparisons drive the site.  I am trying harder to chill out and take responsibility ... no one puts a gun to my head and makes me read the replies ... but it is like driving past a car accident ... you sort of "have" to look.

By the way ... here is a new word for you: "Analogy"

 

[Rick1812]

Get what you sow.  Hope 50 % less tourist. 

[exparte]

No worries. The Indians will save tourism.

[Traubert]

29 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

I have a young Thai friend he's just returned from South Korea with his Thai g/f after their first trip outside Thailand.

He said he couldn't believe how clean the place was, the first thing he noticed was the roads, pavements, parks, even the buildings. He said you could walk around, sit in an outside restaurant and enjoy everything.

He returned to Thailand and immediately saw the filth, dust, debris, plastic, shabby black concrete structures. He actually said he was embarrassed to think this was his home country.

He said what on earth people from a clean country think when they get here must be unimaginable!

 

It was between 4c and -1C in Seoul last week. If he was sitting in an outside restaurant he's a braver man than me.

 

If he was on Jeju it was still only 3C - 6C.

[Peterphuket]

7 hours ago, BritManToo said:

AirBnB were reporting a 74% vacancy rate for their properties in Phuket earlier this week.

Yes, what do you expect it is not allowed anymore to rent out for less than 30 days.

I believe the chinese new year is a bit shorter than 30 days.

[Peterphuket]

7 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

yes. but like all corruption in Thailand, we have to look the other way. 

and we don't want to spook the Chinese condo investors who are buying up the surplus condos now. 

it is a very real thing, they are buying up Hua Hin as we speak.

A Chinese woman here in Hua Hin told me her company is buying 5000 condos and houses here.

Oh, I think I do something wrong, mine is for sale for more then 2 years, and I'm sure the price affordable.

[BritManToo]

2 minutes ago, Peterphuket said:

Oh, I think I do something wrong, mine is for sale for more then 2 years, and I'm sure the price affordable.

They usually want the whole block, not one.

The Chinese don't like to share their holiday buildings with other foreigners.

[Roy Baht]

3 hours ago, PlastikbinLina said:

Do you mean No Chinese speaking hotels?

Of course not. Why would Chinese people want a hotel speaking No Chinese ?

[DrTuner]

12 minutes ago, Roy Baht said:

Of course not. Why would Chinese people want a hotel speaking No Chinese ?

Indeed, why would Chinese want a country speaking No Chinese. No worries, it'll be mandarin here soon enough.

[Maverell]

Casinos next. Got to keep the Chinese happy.

[djayz]

8 hours ago, Mavideol said:

Thai government will have to lear the hard way

Have they ever learned anything?

 

In all fairness, there's only so many times you can ride a tuktuk, rent a jetski or eat "somdam spicey pet maak maak". Some of their troubles might be due to the world economy, strong THB, etc., but what is the country doing to make itself attractive to new and repeat travellers?

 

Building more shopping malls is a bit pointless as the average customer doesn't have the money to buy a lot of stuff there and most shops just sell the exact same or very similar stuff as most other shops. 

 

The usual tourist venues have become very dull in my opinion with bar girls, restaurant staff, sales assistants, etc. almost pulling people into their establishments, restaurants, shops, etc. against their will and offering nothing new or "WOW"! I can't help but feel that the country may have its tourist hay days behind it. 

 

When I first came here almost 20 years ago, there was a pretty good vibe, what I found to be genuinely nice, friendly service staff and the country had a certain allure to it.

I simply don't see that any more.

 

Or is it me? Have I spent too much time here and become accustomed to it all? 

 

Currencies, military governments, long queyes at immigration, etc. aside, I think that if they really want to be a popular tourist destination again, they really need to go back to the roots and focus on their hospitality industry. 

 

People on holidays want a good and memorable time. 

[Maverell]

2 minutes ago, djayz said:

 

 

Or is it me? Have I spent too much time here and become accustomed to it all? 

 

I do not think so. In the 'old' days most tourists from the West were sex tourists or fun loving party goers so I am led to believe ???? with loads of Baht for the Buck.  Now the Government are reducing the seedy side and trying to shift the incoming 'tourist' to a different type?  It's not going to work short time, oh i mean short term, perhaps never.  

[spidermike007]

If the Chinese arrivals are declining Thailand is really in trouble. When you put all your eggs in one basket, and things do not work out as planned, and you do not possess the vision to have a plan B, who ends up suffering? The common people. Not the army. Not the elite. 

[Traubert]

24 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

If the Chinese arrivals are declining Thailand is really in trouble. When you put all your eggs in one basket, and things do not work out as planned, and you do not possess the vision to have a plan B, who ends up suffering? The common people. Not the army. Not the elite. 

The OP is about the hoteliers. More and more Chinese are arranging their own accommodation. Hotel occupancy is not equal to arrivals, however many people choose to ignore that little detail.

 

Do we ever see any numbers on villa rentals on here? Not on your nelly, and that's where the money goes.

 

Homestays, condo rentals, even couch surfing, all new in the internet age but as yet undiscovered by the hotel industry. They gripe and whine and TV faithfully regurgitates it when the reality is staring them in the face. Compete or die. There's new players in the game.

[DrTuner]

16 minutes ago, Traubert said:

Do we ever see any numbers on villa rentals on here? Not on your nelly, and that's where the money goes.

I was just looking at beach villas for valentine's the other day, wife wants to stay in TH this time. Both Phuket and Samui had free ones, last year there was no chance at the same time (ended up going to Maldives, which is far better option anyway). I ended up taking a very heavily discounted week at a five star instead. Some good deals to be had with a little searching, not everybody is doing the Thai thing and pushing up prices when there are no customers. Now I'll need to go sacrifice a dozen chickens in hope the resort won't be overrun by Chinese.

[curlylekan]

Couldn't a strong baht be blamed more on the cost of goods in Thailand, the large numbers of tourists - Chinese mainly and the fact that many condos are being bought by the Chinese - artificially increasing the value of the currency

[WIPHAWADI]

Chinese Investors buying condos in Hua Hin may not be the truth.
Comparing with Sihanoukville has a very pertinent aspect. You can gamble at a "casino" in Cambodia. Only if you are not Cambodian living in country. Otherwise. No problem.

Those gambling establishments in Sihanoukville are legal and well patronised. By non Cambodian residents.
I am yet to see anything to compare in Hua Hin.

The hype maybe just that. Hype. With regard to Chinese "buying up" in Hua Hin.

I am yet to see any eveidence of Chinese, excessive or rapid purcahasing of any delevopment in Hua Hin.

Correct me if I am wrong.

Cheers

[Thian]

8 hours ago, Assurancetourix said:

9 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

A Chinese woman here in Hua Hin told me her company is buying 5000 condos and houses here.

It will be time to move, don't you think?
Hua Hin will become the Thai Sianoukville;
non chinese will be asked to go see elsewhere if the grass is greener

Well you can have a look in chinatown BKK, it's the biggest mess of the city...the government is cleaning it up though but you couldn't walk or drive there, there are no trafficrules at all, no rules for safety or the products sold. They park where they like on the roads, drive motocy in the most busy alleys, push pedestrians aside when they're hauling boxes with products, sit in the Mac D for the free aircon without buying anything there and they even bring their own food in from outside. Nobody shows a retailprice, many shops are still 40 years behind the time, there's nothing hi-so about another chinatown..

[Thian]

7 hours ago, kwak250 said:

Often wonder why people like you don't move back to your home country.

Maybe it's because your going to moan about how much BETTER Thailand is when you get there.

 

When the weather is good i sure move back, have a nice house there and am seaching to buy another one in south europe to live with my thai wife.

But in summer time west europe is the best place of the world.

[Thian]

6 hours ago, peterkroll said:

Beaches that Europe does not have. So they either need to lower the prices, or improve all what you mentioned. And rethink the policies reagarding Chinese tourists. Which won't happen.

Beaches that europe doesn't have? What nonsense is that ? I've been to much better beaches in Europe than in Thailand...Greek beaches are as good as on Phi phi and better than Samui..Italian beaches are less tropical but have beachguards every 100 meter, great restaurants, great promenade, pizza/icecream/kebab/sandwiches as much as possible, safe traffic, very clean water, great beer/wine and cheap...only no palm tree's...the rest all beats thai beaches hands down.

[Thian]

3 hours ago, CygnusX1 said:

Thailand’s still way cheaper for accommodation, whether in hotels or apartments, and that’s compared with Eastern Europe, not just Western Europe.

Yes backpacker hostels maybe, but not good quality hotels near the beach. And it's not only about that hotel, in Europe when you walk out of it you're on the promenade where are loads of restauants/bars with decent prices and high quality everything...to start with decent sidewalks, real police, good taxi's, and so on....

[CNXexpat]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

A glimmer of hope remains for Chinese New Year with the increasing tendency of people to book late online but she still expects this year's hotel occupancy in the holiday period to be just 85%.

If the Chinese see how bad the air in Thailand is right now, they will decide to find another destination.

[WIPHAWADI]

9 hours ago, Assurancetourix said:

It will be time to move, don't you think?
Hua Hin will become the Thai Sianoukville;
non chinese will be asked to go see elsewhere if the grass is greener

No I don't see that. But it may. If gambling becomes leagal for non residents, tourists or frankly anyone who is not Thai living in Thailand then yes it would become "The Thai Sihanoukville". I don't see that happening in any shape or form.
For the singular person that states that "A Chinese woman here in Hua Hin told me her company is buying 5000 condos and houses here."
I say, perhaps this is hyperbole. 
Not to discredit your source. The difference between buying and bought is just that. Hype.

Perhaps she is right. Maybe not.

Ta