Thailand tourism tumbles under blanket of smog, fat baht

[Mike Teavee]

2 hours ago, Teee said:

Thailand is last decade...tourists go elsewhere.

Too many bloody fillipinos that screw you.

Time too take a rain check guys.

Better places to retire and spend your money.

 

 

 

So you're saying that Filipinos are to blame for Thailand's declining tourist numbers!

 

 

[lonewolf99]

I have a Japanese friend with a Chinese wife. They have been coming to Thailand for a few years now, to take a long winter break to get away from the cold in Japan.

 

They have just cut short this years holiday after less than 2 weeks in Chiang Mai because of the pollution. Coupled with the fact that the Thais are letting in thousands of Chinese that maybe carrying a deadly virus. They told me that they have never seen the tourist numbers so low as this year. By tourists they mean other than Chinese and their numbers are down also.

 

Basically as a "must see must do" holiday destination Thailand is well past the "use by" date. Back in 1995 - to 2005 it was all word of mouth about a destination. Now social media and negative stories in the foreign Press drive more and more nails into the coffin lid that was advertised as "Land of Smile" (Singular) they never could do English grammar.

[bimmerbob]

6 hours ago, Sonhia said:

Are foreginers (at last) seeing Thailand for what it really is?

 

Land of pullution, racism, fraud, lawlessness, double standards, rudness, extortion, filth and frowns.

 

Far from paradise or smiles..

 

.....about time.......

 

[legend49]

 

But its president, Vichit Prakobgosol, is confident that the same problems recurring at the beginning of each year can be resolved. LOL

 

The same as the road death toll, the smoke/pollution, Immigration stuff ups, the list is endless, sabai sabai.

[sahibji]

do not underestimate the role of thuggery ( viciously beating up visitor often one against many thugs) and the greed of the hawkers who overcharge foreigners at every possible source.

thailand is also relatively more expensive than many asean destinations like indonesia, vietnam, cambodia and laos, to name a few.

[chang1]

Thailand wanted to become Spain without realizing Spain does it better and without the long haul flight. What Thailand did well and attracted Europeans, they ditched so why bother coming? Mauritius last year, Vietnam this year and the wife will probably be going  to visit her family alone for Christmas. I was a backpacker who turned into the kind of tourist they want but the only reason I come now is to see the wifes family. For me the strong Baht and the bad attitude of the people especially taxi/tuktuk drivers put me off the most. The fun has gone and so have the tourists. 

[malibukid]

16 hours ago, Hayduke said:

 

Fewer tourists? No problem...just raise the rates for hotels, goods, and services to make up the difference.

 

 

Thai logic

[BritManToo]

10 hours ago, gk10002000 said:

I been going to Thailand since 2004.  Been to several cities and provinces, Khorat, Sukhothai, Phuket, etc.  Never made it up to Chiang Mai.  It was always recommended to go, I just never got around to it.  Is the smog and smoke really that bad such that a week or two week visit would be miserable?  When was it more tolerable?

Been in Chiang Mai off and on for 12 years.

Last year was the first 3 months of unbearable smog I encountered, before that 1-2 weeks, maybe 3 weeks of bad air in March.

This year the bad air started in December, it's getting significantly worse, and for much longer periods.

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, impulse said:

Still,  I think that in the long term, for every cheap drunk and monger they lose, they'll eventually get a family with a much fatter holiday budget.  But it will take time, and there will be some pain. 

I wouldn't bring my family to a place with air pollution this bad.

I want clean air, clean beaches and clean sea.

[spidermike007]

"Most of our tourists tend to be Chinese simply because China has such a large population. Our other main sources are India, Taiwan and the CLMV countries,” he said, referring to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

 

What can one even say? Do you know why? Hello! The tone deaf officials ranted for six years about how evil westerners were. Do you really think we wanted to hear that <deleted>? No. So we stopped coming. Who are you left with? Being surrounded by xenophobic, racist officials is no fun. We have a choice. So do the ex-pats. For many, Thailand is a historical footnote and nothing more. You can only give the Golden goose of western tourism so many acid baths, before it is dead. 

 

The only real solution is to get rid of Prayuth and his hapless army. That is the true problem plaguing your nation. Solutions for the air? Are they even trying? Does not appear to be the case. There are a dozen things they could be doing, and their continued daily failures are testament to their contempt for the common man. 

[petedk]

I teach tourism at a university and the first question I always ask at the start of a new course is "Why do tourists choose to come to Thailand?"

 

The first answer is always "It is cheap for tourists."

 

The second is "It's the Land of Smile(s)"

Then I get "friendly people" "beautiful beaches" "good street food" and yes .... "sex"

 

I politely explain (with statistics) that:

Thailand is no longer the cheap place for tourists (unless they live as Thais)

The "smiles" seem to have disappeared.

The people are not so friendly as before

The beaches are polluted and filthy

The "Street food" has all but disappeared.

As for sex... well that's still there I guess.

 

There are many reasons why the tourists are disappearing, but don't blame the strong Thai Baht and don't blame the fact that people wear masks.

 

Wake up Thailand. Address all the issues (especially friendliness and clean beaches) and i am sure the family tourist will slowly return and have memorable holidays even though Thailand is not a cheap destination.

 

[30la]

16 hours ago, webfact said:

But its president, Vichit Prakobgosol, is confident that the same problems recurring at the beginning of each year can be resolved.

Keep looking for reasons for your incompetence!
With only a little optimism, no problem has ever been solved in the world, there are many problems in this country: 1. your incompetence, 2. the garbage, 3. the putrid air, 4. the crime that it is taking on dimensions as in the most dangerous South American country, 5. your public services that are only trying to cheat tourists, 6. the cost of living in continuous increase!
You want more tourists, put your country in order!

[spidermike007]

9 minutes ago, petedk said:

I teach tourism at a university and the first question I always ask at the start of a new course is "Why do tourists choose to come to Thailand?"

 

The first answer is always "It is cheap for tourists."

 

The second is "It's the Land of Smile(s)"

Then I get "friendly people" "beautiful beaches" "good street food" and yes .... "sex"

 

I politely explain (with statistics) that:

Thailand is no longer the cheap place for tourists (unless they live as Thais)

The "smiles" seem to have disappeared.

The people are not so friendly as before

The beaches are polluted and filthy

The "Street food" has all but disappeared.

As for sex... well that's still there I guess.

 

There are many reasons why the tourists are disappearing, but don't blame the strong Thai Baht and don't blame the fact that people wear masks.

 

Wake up Thailand. Address all the issues (especially friendliness and clean beaches) and i am sure the family tourist will slowly return and have memorable holidays even though Thailand is not a cheap destination.

 

Nope. The industry is dying a slow death. Millions of jobs will be lost. And you can blame the army. They were the chief sabateurs of this once profitable industry. 

[mickey rat]

They have already destroyed Thailand's reputation as a tourist destination. Maybe they could increase sugar cane production, burning and destruction of environment while destroying their children's health in a bid to offset the loss in revenue. ????

 

Happy China Day everybody! Time to break out the shark fin soup, make noise and celebrate the incompetence. ????

[ronaldo0]

At least it gives the TAT an excuse when their fairytale figures don’t add up as expected ! Oh but it was the smog that’s why less people came here ! ????

[toenail]

Lodging (hotel rates) and dining out ( local Thai cuisine) is still a bargain for most Westerners who generally spend more money than the Chinese or Indians. I think the TAT officials should not  overlook this factor. Once a North American, Australian or European pays for his/ her flight ticket, the visit to Thailand is quite reasonable compared to their home countries. 

[IAMHERE]

Perhaps Thailand can become the FHUB of intensive Flu care? I wonder if there is a 'dual' pricing for those masks? 

[chilli42]

14 hours ago, DLock said:

Is it just me that wants to see a complete capitulation of the tourism market?

 

Maybe it's schadenfreude, maybe it's just the years of incompetence and lying and taking tourists and ex-pats for granted in the chase for the Almighty dollar that wants me to see them enjoy some challenges and pain for a few years...

 

Bird in the hand Cha Cha...bird the hand...

I am with you on this.  The only way you will see change/action is when the financial loss becomes punishing.  Sooner the better.  One wonders what they will do as sea levels rise ... tell everyone a boat?

[globalspark]

Lets get serious with tourism in Thailand and around the world.Thailand has been unique  where tourist like myself  would keep coming back due to good value friends living there and medical services like dental.

The simple fact  prices have increased so much that is not worth my while   coming back.  The Thai Government thought fit to push ahead with the Chinese market and Indian market and really  did not want  farlangs like myself there. Where I live in Australia the wise men of tourism have been thinking the same thing.

 Let me tell you a few secrets about Chinese tourism that should not come  as a shock. They are not long time players in the tourist market  and airlines will fly to a destination and as soon as things get a little tough they will pull out. Meanwhile  companies have built huge  hotels to cater for these numbers.

Here in  Cairns we have had  new hotels been built to cater for these tourist and guess what we only have Silkair and Jetstar coming as the Chinese airlines have moved on. On sorry  one Chinese airline is left and it you want to take a week to arrive at your destination please use it.

Back to Thailand  reduce your room rates by about 30-50%  yes I am serious, stopping playing immigration games at the airport,educate the people  we are tourist and show us some respect when we cross roads and then we are on the right page. The land of smiles has gone. If no money no honey is  such a true statement.

[saengd]

2 hours ago, impulse said:

To be fair, when you go for "good guys in, bad guys out" after decades of catering to the bad guys, there's going to be a reckoning.

 

Still,  I think that in the long term, for every cheap drunk and monger they lose, they'll eventually get a family with a much fatter holiday budget.  But it will take time, and there will be some pain.  

 

Of course, they may get the worst of both worlds if they don't manage it right...  Just cheap mongers, and fewer of them at that.  I hope they focus on improving the resource and not just getting the numbers up.

 

Absolutely agree, the country is transitioning from cheap, Pattaya style mongering visitors to something more upmarket and desirable, porous borders are being sealed. 

[cnx101]

16 hours ago, dcnx said:

Easy solution Junta style: Ban face masks. Imprison locals for wearing them.

 

 

Beat me to it

[Assurancetourix]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

“It’s been report that the Malaysian government has already waived visas for Chinese and Indian tourists. If that’s true, Thailand will lose an enormous amount of income because the Chinese are our main customers.”

All that remains for the junta is to declare war on Malaysia to recover "its" Chinese tourists 

[Yinn]

 

Thailand tourism tumbles under blanket of smog, fat baht

 

noun

plural noun: tumbles

1. 

a sudden or headlong fall.

 

 

2019 =39.6 million.

 

More than 2018

 

The OP say 40- 42 million 2020

 

New headline

”Thai Tourism Tumbles UP Again” 

 

Tumbles every year. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[miamiman123]

Free visas and face masks...yeah that will fix the problem....”cognitive dissonanc” at best. 

[simtemple]

How do you think Thailand would cope with a full blown Coronavirus epidemic? You want to holiday in a place where you'll have to step over the dead? 

[BimBoon]

It's like they are purposely sending the economy into a nosedive. What could they possibly gain from doing so.

[Isaan sailor]

Bar girls to the rescue!  Station them at Swampy "Way Out" area.  Big money will return.

[hotchilli]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

The Association of Thai Travel Agents expects air pollution and the strong baht to decrease the number of foreign tourists this year.

Not forgetting, taxi rip-offs, extortionate bar/restaurant prices, national parks charging 10X normal entry, road deaths, the ever present danger of being mugged, polluted ocean, I just don't understand why tourists wouldn't continue coming?

[IamNoone88]

Thailand tourism is like the many dams in Thailand - always full until the drought. Everyone saw the signs the drought coming but did nothing to tackle the problem ... by which time it was too late. Same for tourism, all dried up but the signs have been there for years ... Now we have the economics 101 excuses.

[ben2talk]

I remember the advertisement (search 'come home to a real fire, buy a cottage in Wales) - maybe they should start building some cottages near the cane fields.