So despite the strength of the baht , in the last 12 months the per capita spending of both the Chinese and Indians increased !!!

That defies logic so we can assume its nonsense , one has to wonder why they need to massage the figures.

44 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Grasping at straws to try to get any tourist into Thailand.

Yesterdays dismal report regarding hotel bookings etc is a sign things have got to change more than free entry to view the same old rubbish.

It's like white washing the front door but when you step in nothings changed it's still 50's style!

Hotel bookings are not the sum total of tourists and not all hoteliers are members of said association.

41 minutes ago, Old Thai Hand said:

Thailand gave Russians a visa waiver and that decision was responsible for the growth of the Russian mafia in Thailand. They should not make the same mistake with any other country. Free visa is not something you can walk back easily, once granted. You will lose control of who is inside your borders.

But not how long they're here.

6 hours ago, SteveK said:

Devalue the baht by 25% and watch tourism and exports go back to normal almost overnight.

Or, improve customer service, and attitude towards foreign tourists by 25%, while reducing decades-old scams by 25%, but leaving the exchange rate as it is, and tourist numbers (not sure about the exports, though), will also go through the roof...

Edited January 14, 20206 yr by StayinThailand2much

Hi Yinn, Whilst I admire your efforts to defend the Thai nation, have you ever stopped and wondered where these figure come from? 

One example....on 3rd Jan an online source stated road deaths for the seven deadly days were 373, laudably down from last year. However on the same day the Road Safety (oxymoron??) Directory Centre (whoever they are) stated the road deaths for the same period were 463, up 40 from the same period last year. Now, who to believe?

Similarly,  regarding the topic in the title, someone who should know better is predicting 11.5 million Chinese tourists who will spend 52000 baht each for what? a 10 day or two week holiday maybe. Similarly, but wildly different figures, 2.2 million Indian tourists are anticipated to spend 9.2 billion baht ( my thanks to a previous poster who claims this equates to approx 4200 baht each).

Who to believe?

I leave you with a quote by a British Prime Minister from many years ago. It still holds true today I think.....

“There are three types of lies -- lies, damn lies, and statistics.”
― Benjamin Disraeli

2 hours ago, Traubert said:

Chinese average stay for a foreign holiday is 9.4 days according to their MOFA.

The bigger spenders take their longer holidays in Europe or North America. Most that come to Thailand are in and out in a few days.

If they believe a free visa would decide where people would go for a holiday they should cut back on the drugs

Bufants running a mega billion dollar industry.want some answers just ask me.always happy to help free of charge.

5 hours ago, spiekerjozef said:

thanks, anything but the moaning brits.

Or the Spikerjoseph wuckfits!

wherever those teurds are from!

8 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Free Beer is a better idea

And Ladies

And once again no or little value is shown for expats, retirees, long term stayers and the millions they contribute to the thai economy and support for business and thai families.

8 minutes ago, dallen52 said:

And once again no or little value is shown for expats, retirees, long term stayers and the millions they contribute to the thai economy and support for business and thai families.

"expats, retirees, long term stayers" spend a decimal point in comparison to 35,000,000 tourists a year, staying a week each blowing 1000s of baht a day.

 

We could all pull up stakes and head home tomorrow and the Thais wouldn't give a rat's.

16 minutes ago, Why Me said:

We could all pull up stakes and head home tomorrow and the Thais wouldn't give a rat's.

That's true, however .. every disgruntled returnee or disappointed tourist will preach the gospel of "don't bother going" to anyone in the vicinity. That's what Thais don't seem to understand. Slowly but surely Thailand is getting a reputation as inhospitable, expensive gnawed bone. There comes a point when it goes viral and then it's instant game over.

2 hours ago, madmitch said:

The bigger spenders take their longer holidays in Europe or North America. Most that come to Thailand are in and out in a few days.

No they dont, according to the same Ministry.

 

1. Hong Kong

2. Macau.

3, Taiwan

4. Thailand

5. Japan

6. S Korea

7. America

8. Europe

 

are their preferred destinations. In and out of Honk Kong/Macau in a few days perhaps on the High Speed Train network. The numbers for 7/8 are dwarfed by the other destinations.

1 minute ago, Traubert said:

No they dont, according to the same Ministry.

How does that Ministry determine what is a "big spender"?

7 hours ago, spiekerjozef said:

thanks, anything but the moaning brits.

Or the ignorant arrogant russians

6 minutes ago, DrTuner said:

That's true, however .. every disgruntled returnee or disappointed tourist will preach the gospel of "don't bother going" to anyone in the vicinity. That's what Thais don't seem to understand. Slowly but surely Thailand is getting a reputation as inhospitable, expensive gnawed bone. There comes a point when it goes viral and then it's instant game over.

Still inconsequential to the Thais. The last thing they need is a fresh wave of serial complainers.

Yes that will bring the tourists back! Don’t worry about the high baht, terrible air quality, 

43 minutes ago, Why Me said:

"expats, retirees, long term stayers" spend a decimal point in comparison to 35,000,000 tourists a year, staying a week each blowing 1000s of baht a day.

 

We could all pull up stakes and head home tomorrow and the Thais wouldn't give a rat's.

Have to agree to a point. 

I know that we always have a go about the retirement population, but when you see what the Chinese spend going out at the duty frees, it's scary.

Possibly around the 20,000 mark easily. 

XO cognac and similar luxury items. 

 

It's not the "on street" spend, but Mr. King Power is certainly affording himself a great lifestyle. 

23 minutes ago, Traubert said:

No they dont, according to the same Ministry.

 

1. Hong Kong

2. Macau.

3, Taiwan

4. Thailand

5. Japan

6. S Korea

7. America

8. Europe

 

are their preferred destinations. In and out of Honk Kong/Macau in a few days perhaps on the High Speed Train network. The numbers for 7/8 are dwarfed by the other destinations.

Try reading what I've written. You might realise that your list has absolutely no relevance to what I've stated.

31 minutes ago, DrTuner said:

There is a limited supply of idiots that don't check reviews, so at some point it will become relevant. Granted, not yet, there's plenty of Chinese and Indian peasants still out of the loop. Give it 5-6 years, I seem to remember that's how long it took for the Japanese/Korean camera wielding tourists to disappear from Europe.

How do you qualify as a 'peasant?'

2 minutes ago, Traubert said:

How do you qualify as a 'peasant?'

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/peasant

Quote

a person who owns or rents a small piece of land and grows crops, keeps animals, etc. on it, especially one who has a low income, very little education, and a low social position.

 

The ones following the flags on their very first trip out.

12 minutes ago, madmitch said:

Try reading what I've written. You might realise that your list has absolutely no relevance to what I've stated.

You said the Chinese high end spenders only go to America and Europe. You're wrong.

 

You said the Chinese only come to Thailand for short holidays. You're wrong.

 

Have you any idea how many Chinese tourists are actually regularly visiting their own property in Thailand? Property they paid cash for? Is that short term, low end spending?

4 minutes ago, DrTuner said:

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/peasant

 

The ones following the flags on their very first trip out.

That makes you a peasant does it?

Just now, Traubert said:

That makes you a peasant does it?

Nope, I don't own any land. Farangs are not allowed to do that around here.

 

I prefer to be called Barbarian.

Typical government employee.  A person spends hundreds if not thousands on a trip.  Do you think saving a few Baht for a free visa really pushes someone over the fence in terms of vacationing in Thailand?  When I travel to countries requiring a visa, I find the complexity of getting is often far more of a reason to avoid the country rather than the cost of the visa. 

reported post removed.

6 hours ago, Yinn said:

Tourist x2 in that time. 

 

So boring these “TVF Tourist not come to thailand anymore” stories.

 

39 million last year. Most ever. More people are staying Airbnb/ private villa.

So the big rich hotel owner complain a lot.

But the “small” people with a villa or condo now take the business.

IMO i like it.

 

Some place, like Pattaya, in industry area will pollution is less popular. 

but beautiful Kao Lak etc more busy. 

 

 

 

 

Ok Yinn lets see where your thinking is flawed. I bought a condo in Jomtien last year ( I American with Thai wife) While I was looking at some other condo's and waiting in lobby 6 Chinese  couples came in with Thai realter and bought 6 condo's cash(US dollars) They own the condos and advertise on Chinese sites so those  Chinese visiting in Thailand don't go to hotels or rent condo's from Thai they rent from Chinese who own property here. Thai get no money.

In USA , EU clubs are open late 2 AM or later. Pattaya and Bangkok used to be that way. Now with early closing times foreign tourists will go somewhere with out the restrictive attitude Thailand now has. The Chinese and Indians really don't go to clubs that much or spend money on bar girls. Sorry they have to make a living to and without sexpats from EU,Rusiia, US they will not be making much money. 

Plus you say oh if Pattaya Beach dirty they will go to more remote island to enjoy nice water beach. For how long before those areas are over run become dirty and closed like PhiPhi Island's Maya Bay.

8 hours ago, TechnikaIII said:

Kiss Chinese and Indian ass, ..

.. and to Hell with the rest of us.

 

Do Australians have to pay for their visa so it´s unfair that Chinese don´t have to pay or does Thailand only bring Chinese and Indians on the same high level of Australians?

8 hours ago, ericdiam said:

More Chinese groups. Who pay all in China and spent nothing here. 

And Indians, hahaha, I lived in India.  They sure not spent much. Saw them even bargain at sungthow because they where 5 so wanted discount Stupid remarks of minister just counting the people that arrive at airports. But most are cheap tourists. Devaluate the bath dam. Then the spending tourism will come back and spent. 

I guess you are living in Pattaya. So it´s ok that you have no idea what is happening in the rest of Thailand. Here in Chiang Mai are nearly no groups. 85% are individual travelers who buy at markets and shopping center, go to massages and eat in Thai and Farang owned restaurants. A friend has a restaurant. He loves the Chinese. He told me that they spend 800 Baht per person, a farang 200 Baht. Now guess which guests he prefer.
I guess you like quality tourists like this guy https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1143321-video-angry-british-tourist-punches-thai-man-on-mrt/?tab=comments#comment-14956018

I think there is some confusion here about the free visa. I believe they meant to say visa exempt. 
Assuming this to be the case, then there will be a definite diversion of tourists from Europe/US to Thailand. Obtaining a Uk/US/Schengen visa for Chinese and Indian tourists can be quite problematic. Personally, I don’t go on vacation to countries that require me to obtain a visa (eg. US). They are hundreds of other countries that offers me visa exempt entry