Southern Thai tourism decimated in wake of coronavirus outbreak

[webfact]

Southern Thai tourism decimated in wake of coronavirus outbreak

 

 

Thai Channel 7 reported that tourism in the south of Thailand was severely affected by cancellations as the effects of the coronavirus outbreak are felt. 

 

They reported that 100% of group tours to Phangnga were cancelled. 

 

Operators were looking to traditional European markets to salvage what is left of high season. 

 

Temperature checks were being made on travellers to the Similan islands and Koh Surin. 

 

A direct flight from Shianghai to Krabi with 180 aboard was isolated and sprayed before the passengers were allowed to disembark. 

 

So far no passenger on seven direct flights into Krabi has been found with the potentially deadly new virus. 

 

Koh Samui was also badly hit, they said. 

 

Some 30% of tours had been cancelled. 

 

Source: Channel 7

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-01-28

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[Sametboy2019]

Surely the tours have been paid upfront?

More zero BAHT tourists?

[Denim]

Ah well, never mind.  Guess the big spending Indians will take up the slack.

[mercman24]

i dont believe one word of it, i follow TAT religiously

[TheDark]

25 minutes ago, webfact said:

Operators were looking to traditional European markets to salvage what is left of high season. 

I'm afraid Thailand's reputation of being paradise vacation is no longer strong in Europe. It used to be, for a good reason, but Thailand and feeling about Thailand in Europe changed many years ago. 

[Moo 2]

You can bet your life, many Western countries are already feeling the impact of this Chinese virus.

Thailand is no exception! 

[DrTuner]

I guess they are clearing up Samui for my upcoming short holiday. No Chinese, most excellent. Thanks, TAT, that's what I call service.

[bristolgeoff]

they made it hard for the farang looked to the Chinese  Russian Indians. all they eggs in one basket,now they know the risks and the tourist are not coming 

[DannyCarlton]

35 minutes ago, Sametboy2019 said:

Surely the tours have been paid upfront?

More zero BAHT tourists?

China has cancelled group tours. No zero baht tourists. Just been for a drive down Sukhumvit in Pattaya. Saw 1 Chinese tour bus. A lot less than usual.

[neeray]

The TAT has got a new back door to cover up all their mistruths of late.

[DrTuner]

100% of tour groups to Phang Nga cancelled.. might just be the safest place in Thailand then.

[Stocky]

Hat Yai was busy over CNY weekend, plenty of Malaysians in town for the long weekend.

[Redline]

That’s what happens-putting all your eggs in one basket 

[RichardColeman]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Operators were looking to traditional European markets to salvage what is left of high season. 

People fly away from a dangerous , risky place - to to it

[Deli]

As sad as the disease is, I won't miss the hordes of Chinese tourists for a second.

However, would have preferred getting rid of them in a different way.

[30la]

Most of the tourists have lost them long before the Corona virus arrived, and this is because of your incompetence!

[rtco]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Operators were looking to traditional European markets to salvage what is left of high season.

Too late now! 

[ronaldo0]

Pretty sure it was decimated before this lucky excuse came about !! 

[Cake Monster]

" Operators were looking to traditional European Markets to salvage what is left of high season "

Why, would any sane European Citizen spend good money on a flight to Thailand where they can experience a possible Corona Virus pandemic first hand, along with deadly roads and price gouging.

And all this after being given a very clear message from the Government that they are not welcome

Thailand made a bed, that they now have to lie in

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

They reported that 100% of group tours to Phangnga were cancelled. 

Pattaya has the back-up plan of thousands of Indians & Russians.. maybe they can spare a few and bus them down?

[hansnl]

5 hours ago, TheDark said:

I'm afraid Thailand's reputation of being paradise vacation is no longer strong in Europe. It used to be, for a good reason, but Thailand and feeling about Thailand in Europe changed many years ago. 

Thailand definitely lost the western tourists markets, too much bad press about many things.

[hansnl]

31 minutes ago, Cake Monster said:

" Operators were looking to traditional European Markets to salvage what is left of high season "

Why, would any sane European Citizen spend good money on a flight to Thailand where they can experience a possible Corona Virus pandemic first hand, along with deadly roads and price gouging.

And all this after being given a very clear message from the Government that they are not welcome

Thailand made a bed, that they now have to lie in

You mean the former TS and YS governments that clearly declared double pricing, farang bashing, black money, etc were acceptable?

Agreed, this was never turned around.

[oz457]

Thailand politicians turned their back to the European tourists. And they focused on the rich Chinese. Now they will pay the price. 

[SoilSpoil]

If you ever wish to visit the Similans for snorkeling, this is the moment.

[Snackbar]

How is it OK to label an entire ethnicity undesirable?

 

7 hours ago, DrTuner said:

I guess they are clearing up Samui for my upcoming short holiday. No Chinese, most excellent. Thanks, TAT, that's what I call service.

 

OK to imply genocide?

 

4 hours ago, Deli said:

As sad as the disease is, I won't miss the hordes of Chinese tourists for a second.

However, would have preferred getting rid of them in a different way.

The hypocrisy is mind blowing

[Langkawee]

8 hours ago, TheDark said:

I'm afraid Thailand's reputation of being paradise vacation is no longer strong in Europe. It used to be, for a good reason, but Thailand and feeling about Thailand in Europe changed many years ago. 

Rightly or wrongly there's a fear of being murdered, even for raising your eyebrows as we have seen recently. I had to meet a Japanese friend. I told her I'd meet her in Bangkok. She told me Thailand was too dangerous so we met in Singapore. The fear is there, the question is it justified. 

[JHolmesJr]

I adopted a contrarian strategy during SARS...I bet that most people would stay away and

I was right.

 

Had a blast in Pattaya, exchanging copious amounts of body fluids with the local lasses.

 

Only two things filled my pockets every night...condoms and isopropyl alcohol spray.

 

Would I do it now?

 

Given the ease and the silent,  insidious nature with which COV-2019 spreads, I dont think so.

 

 

[spidermike007]

The Thai people do not deserve this. The army and Prayuth and immigration, do deserve this. You guys have spent years driving away Western tourists, and courting the Chinese and Indians. Your lack of vision, respect, and intelligence is coming back to bite you, and it is going to bite you very, very hard, and it will bite you where it hurts the most. The pain will be felt with the only language you understand. The language of money. Get ready guys. The hurt is just starting. You are in for a world of pain. You spent years skinning the golden goose of tourism alive, and subjecting it to an acid bath. 

 

This will end up hurting millions of common Thais, and for that I feel pain. But sometimes, something terrible is necessary to bring change. The army is the worst thing to happen to this nation in a very long time. Perhaps the people will now see that, and perhaps enough pressure will be exerted by the unemployed masses. 

 

Operators were looking to traditional European markets to salvage what is left of high season. 

 

Way, way too late for that now. Westerners have abandoned Thailand for greener pastures, where they are not mocked, dismissed, constantly made out to be criminals in the media by the insufferable fools at immigration, insulted, and criticized. We deserve some respect. You have shown us none. You were given a shot, and you blew it badly. Now, deal with it. 

[emptypockets]

6 hours ago, Deli said:

As sad as the disease is, I won't miss the hordes of Chinese tourists for a second.

However, would have preferred getting rid of them in a different way.

No doubt many Thais feel the same way about farangs and applaud the so called crackdowns and visa tightening on the undesirables and happy to see them leave, or not arrive at all.

[emptypockets]

4 hours ago, Cake Monster said:

" Operators were looking to traditional European Markets to salvage what is left of high season "

Why, would any sane European Citizen spend good money on a flight to Thailand where they can experience a possible Corona Virus pandemic first hand, along with deadly roads and price gouging.

And all this after being given a very clear message from the Government that they are not welcome

Thailand made a bed, that they now have to lie in

Yeah, they can experience a possible Corona virus pandemic without leaving home.

Completely clueless post.