Video: Pattaya ghost town...Coronavirus decimates tourism as staff go home for high season

[Gweiloman]

18 minutes ago, Leaver said:

 

When the whole "zero baht tourist" issue was made public, and TAT realized the Chinese and Indians do not spend like westerns did, TAT's answer was to go for more of these type of tourist to make up the short fall.

 

So, if it took 20 Chinese package holiday makers to spend the same as one free spending western sex tourists, they targeted 20 to 1, so to speak. 

 

It still wasn't working, because 0 baht + 0 baht = 0 baht, not to mention the pressure it put on infrastructure here, particularly roads and water.

 

When the western 2 week millionaire sex tourists were coming here in big numbers. yes, they spent more than an expat.  Transport, accommodation, food, alcohol, sex.  Out every day and every night enjoying their holiday, and spending. 

 

Expats are a constant.  They are not prone to military coups, virus, tsunamis etc.  They remain here, contributing to the economy, particularly the housing sector, small appliance sector, and motor vehicle sector.  All considered large purchases. 

 

However, expats are prone to visa law changes and currency fluctuations, and that has caused many to leave in recent times.    

You really have no idea how zero baht tours work, do you? Do you think that the hotels and restaurants are offering their rooms and food for free?

[Leaver]

Just now, Gweiloman said:

You really have no idea how zero baht tours work, do you? Do you think that the hotels and restaurants are offering their rooms and food for free?

It's you who has no idea about "zero baht tourism."  Who do you think owns the restaurants, buses, boats etc?

 

Here's a quick read for you.

 

https://www.thephuketnews.com/bargains-offered-at-amlo-chinese-tour-company-seized-assets-sell-off-58961.php#y3LYpigqUsiz8LZw.97

[joecoolfrog]

41 minutes ago, Gweiloman said:

I don’t think any Thai person cares about what you think or say. 

Posts such as this are just as ridiculous and one eyed as the Thai bashing ones.

I was talking ( albeit in Hua Hin ) to a well known local Thai businessman whose interests range from restaurants to an entertainment complex. He has seen his margins steadily erode over the last few years and the scandinavians are his last major customer

base. The baht weakening in relation to the Swedish kroner or Sterling is far more important to him than a million Chinese chinese or Indians arrivals at Swampy.

Contrary to certain opinions , there are many Thais who appreciate and make their living servicing western expats and tourists , many of them certainly do care about what we think.

[Leaver]

27 minutes ago, Gweiloman said:

I have heard some of you on TVF making this claim, about putting all the eggs in one basket. I don’t understand how you all came to this decision. 

I have always said the Chinese market is a fickle one, and Thailand is about to see just how fickle it is.

[john davis]

Thailand government own fault its like a ghost town Singapore Australia and Philippines have banned all flights from China because of the virus. It was Chinese that brought in the SARS virus now this virus. Time to wake up RIP Thailand

[spidermike007]

6 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

i hope all my girlfriends are OK on Soi 6.

 

 

Me love you tonight. Me forget you tomorrow. 

[spidermike007]

Thailand, through extreme myopia, put itself into this position. By putting all of it's eggs in the basket of China, they opened themselves up to a tourism and economic tragedy of immense proportions. It was an inane decision, made by people with little to no experience in tourism, hired based on cronyism, or nepotism, and entirely without merit. When you reach for the bottom of the barrel, this is what you get. The Thai people are in for a world of hurt.

 

Tourism was already in a near crisis stage, due to an extremely xenophobic and racist administration. Now? I do feel bad for the common Thai. However, in a sense they allowed this to happen, by allowing the totally incompetent army to take over. The only solution now, is to get them out. Hopefully, the youth will rise up. The army is truly despised at this point in time. They are beyond useless.

 

This could be a good thing in the long run. 

[SupermarineS6B]

Kilometers of pristine sand laid down especially for the tourists was empty. There were just a couple of farangs on the beach spoilt for choice for where to sit down.

What, Immigration missed two, quick get the BIB down and check their visas........      Som Nam Naa MF&^%$#

[GeorgeCross]

 

52 minutes ago, Gweiloman said:

58 minutes ago, thequietman said:

I am sorry to say, but Som Nom Na Thai people.

 

One gets what ones sows, and all that. ????

I don’t think any Thai person cares about what you think or say. 

 

i can confidently say if you said that to the average Thai male you'd better run, and fast

 

 

[WildBillHiccup]

"Pattaya ghost town...Coronavirus decimates tourism as staff go home for high season"

Anyone given a thought for the Jet Ski operators?

[Burma Bill]

Enjoy the peace, calm and solitude while you can - I certainly would!!

[Cake Monster]

5 hours ago, PatOngo said:

I find it hard to believe things could get this bad! Who's eating the scraps then?

Rats 

[Chongalulu]

Pattaya is 'Special'.

[tomazbodner]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Pattaya ghost town...Coronavirus decimates tourism as staff go home for high season

Might finally be time to move to Pattaya... ah yes, they gotta do something with air quality first...

[joecoolfrog]

 

Traubert ;

How about posting a meaningful response rather than a lazy emoji , .

[FiveStarVagabond]

I have lived in Pattaya for 10 years & have never seen it so quiet, see for yourself on my webcam. Thailand's best webcam.

[Stoker58]

What struck me is that when you remove the Chinese horde.....there’s almost no old-school farangs there at all.

[Cranky]

Looks great, I might come visit

[Leaver]

10 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Thailand, through extreme myopia, put itself into this position. By putting all of it's eggs in the basket of China, they opened themselves up to a tourism and economic tragedy of immense proportions. It was an inane decision, made by people with little to no experience in tourism, hired based on cronyism, or nepotism, and entirely without merit. When you reach for the bottom of the barrel, this is what you get. The Thai people are in for a world of hurt.

 

Tourism was already in a near crisis stage, due to an extremely xenophobic and racist administration. Now? I do feel bad for the common Thai. However, in a sense they allowed this to happen, by allowing the totally incompetent army to take over. The only solution now, is to get them out. Hopefully, the youth will rise up. The army is truly despised at this point in time. They are beyond useless.

 

This could be a good thing in the long run. 

Has Thaksin got any more family members left that can run at the next election?   ????

 

[Gweiloman]

23 minutes ago, joecoolfrog said:

Posts such as this are just as ridiculous and one eyed as the Thai bashing ones.

I was talking ( albeit in Hua Hin ) to a well known local Thai businessman whose interests range from restaurants to an entertainment complex. He has seen his margins steadily erode over the last few years and the scandinavians are his last major customer

base. The baht weakening in relation to the Swedish kroner or Sterling is far more important to him than a million Chinese chinese or Indians arrivals at Swampy.

Contrary to certain opinions , there are many Thais who appreciate and make their living servicing western expats and tourists , many of them certainly do care about what we think.

So you think that telling a Thai ‘som nam na’ is going to endear you to them and cause them to change their ways? Good luck with that. 

[SupermarineS6B]

1 hour ago, Leaver said:

Don't you mean they stopped the sinking ship from sinking quicker?

 

I disagree.  Chinese tourists do not buy property, cars, motorbikes, TV's, white good etc.  They don't do week shops at Big C, for example.  They don't have a Thai partner, which is usually supported by the expat, which in turn supports a family in Issan.  They don't have 800,000 baht in a Thai bank, or bring in 65,000 baht a month, every month. 

 

An expat is a 24/7/365 part of the Thai economy, not a 2 week part of the tourism industry. 

 

Recover to what benchmark?  2010, 2012, 2014? 

 

Even the ones that can survive, are selling.  The "time will not be right" in the future because Thailand has out priced itself in the South East Asia tourism market.

 

Yes, the Chinese and Indian package holiday market will bounce back, but for westerners, the writing is on the wall here.

Said it years ago when they destroyed the thriving business on Suk soi 7, New wave bar and the restaurant next door packed everynight, but the level of racist stupidity took over and destroyed the place, including Cheap Charlies on Soi 11.........  Idiots.......  I'm laughing me plums off watching this lot make a real dogs B*&^%$ of the country........ Well done lads, let's hope you never have to fight a war because you couldn't run a bath.......  Mind you we all know the'd run away if they blundered into one....... Sad for Thai people.......

[joecoolfrog]

3 minutes ago, Gweiloman said:

So you think that telling a Thai ‘som nam na’ is going to endear you to them and cause them to change their ways? Good luck with that. 

I have no idea why you are addressing that comment to me , the som nam na post was dumb , your response equally so.

[ChipButty]

I think they will have to turn it back to being a Brothel

[Gweiloman]

28 minutes ago, Leaver said:

It's you who has no idea about "zero baht tourism."  Who do you think owns the restaurants, buses, boats etc?

 

Here's a quick read for you.

 

https://www.thephuketnews.com/bargains-offered-at-amlo-chinese-tour-company-seized-assets-sell-off-58961.php#y3LYpigqUsiz8LZw.97

I spent the last 30 years working for two of the biggest travel companies in the world. I’ve forgotten more about zero dollar tourism than you will ever learn. It’s guys like me that the press quotes at events like ITB and WTM. 

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

High season in Pattaya was nothing more than a ghost town.

 

[Leaver]

14 minutes ago, FiveStarVagabond said:

I have lived in Pattaya for 10 years & have never seen it so quiet, see for yourself on my webcam. Thailand's best webcam.

Due to the virus, yes, it's just quiet all round now, but as far as the western tourist market is concerned, it was quiet pre virus. 

 

For westerners, it's the quietest high season I have seen here.  

 

I have no doubt the virus will be blamed by TAT, but I think Pattaya was headed for one of the quietest seasons for westerners in recent history, and establishments catering for westerners, like bars, restaurants etc were going to struggle. 

 

[joecoolfrog]

5 minutes ago, SupermarineS6B said:

Said it years ago when they destroyed the thriving business on Suk soi 7, New wave bar and the restaurant next door packed everynight, but the level of racist stupidity took over and destroyed the place, including Cheap Charlies on Soi 11.........  Idiots.......  I'm laughing me plums off watching this lot make a real dogs B*&^%$ of the country........ Well done lads, let's hope you never have to fight a war because you couldn't run a bath.......  Mind you we all know the'd run away if they blundered into one....... Sad for Thai people.......

I still miss the seafood restaurants opposite the beergarden , as you say packed all the time , still a wasteland today.

[SupermarineS6B]

2 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

I feel sorry for the pigeon!

Ha ha, lucky for the pigeon they're not there or it'd be in the pot.......

[Gold Star]

46 minutes ago, Gweiloman said:

I have heard some of you on TVF making this claim, about putting all the eggs in one basket. I don’t understand how you all came to this decision. 
All nationalities are welcome to Thailand. In fact, many Western tourists are able to come in, visa exempt, unlike mainland Chinese and Indians. Yes, there are certain rules for longer staying tourists (90day reporting, TM30 etc)but these apply to all foreigners, regardless of nationality. 
Free visa on arrival is merely a marketing promotion, undertaken by many countries around the world at various times, in order to generate more revenue for the economy. If I’m not mistaken, the free VOA for Chinese is only for a 14 day stay - not exactly a world changing measure. 
The Chinese are arguably the the largest group of tourists in the world today. It makes perfect economic sense for any country that relies on tourism to try to attract them. Try opening a bar or restaurant and having a sign that says for eg ‘only Americans are allowed’ or ‘only Brits allowed’ and see how long you can survive. 

The tales of the extreme difficulties now getting a simple tourist visa for only a couple of months in a year from my usual friends that come here from England do not support that. Many were not able to get them in London this year, despite an extraordinary effort trying. Although some own properties here in Patts, they can only stay a short while now, requiring one allowed border run. One is even married to a Thai. They are all talking about finding somewhere else to go, and are heading to Vietnam and Cambodia for a while shortly to check them out as alternate winter escapes. I'm staying put here, with my retirement visa extensions, but my experience has been that Westerners are simply no longer made welcome here anymore. It is worse and more difficult every year.

[Leaver]

5 minutes ago, Gweiloman said:

I spent the last 30 years working for two of the biggest travel companies in the world. I’ve forgotten more about zero dollar tourism than you will ever learn. It’s guys like me that the press quotes at events like ITB and WTM. 

So, you have a conflict of interest.

 

What has trade shows got to do with "zero baht tourist?"