Thai tourism obliterated by virus - TAT revises forecasts as vendors do the unthinkable: Discounting souvenirs!

[webfact]

Thai tourism obliterated by virus - TAT revises forecasts as vendors do the unthinkable: Discounting souvenirs!

 

Picture: Chiang Mai News

 

Chiang Mai News reported that the COVID-19 virus is having a disastrous effect on tourism in the north.

 

They quoted figures from the TAT for nationwide visitors as being expected to drop by almost 10% this year.

 

Figures for tourism spending are also expected to be way down in the Year of the Rat.

 

So the Thais are turning to domestic tourism to plug some of the gaps.

 

And in a surprise move some vendors are doing something that hitherto would have been unthinkable: discounting their prices.

 

The media went to the northern city's usually bustling Nimmanhaemin area.

 

At "One Nimman Community Mall" vendors reported 80% less tourists since the virus news broke.

 

Some days they were selling nothing at all - it is dead.

 

Some have even resorted to offering 20% discounts on things like souvenirs.

 

The media said that the Tourism of Thailand Authority (TAT) had expected the upward trajectory to go on and 40.78 million to visit Thailand this year and spend 1.96 trillion baht.

 

Then came coronavirus now named COVID-19.

 

Targets have now been revised way down in the continuing days of the virus outbreak.

 

More like 36 million is now the TAT target with a spend of 1.78 trillion baht.

 

Calls are being made for stimulus packages and moves to promote "Thais Visiting Thailand" to make up some of the shortfall.

 

Chiang mai News said the reality was that tourism in the north has been on a downward spiral since the coup of 2014.

 

Six years of decline.

 

The SARS outbreak of 2003 was a challenge - but this latest health scare is far more damaging.

 

Some of their statements spoke of tourism being obliterated 100% as they cited what they called a "domino effect" in the north.

 

Source: Chiang Mai News

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-02-17

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[ezzra]

Don't care much for souvenirs, however, bars dropping  their drink and pay for play fees will see me there everyday...

Edited February 17, 2020 by ezzra

[Samuel Smith]

Smoke pollution is a bigger threat than the covirus!

[Maverell]

'Chiang mai News said the reality was that tourism in the north has been on a downward spiral since the coup of 2014.' Why is it that local people can see it but TAT cannot ? 555555, Relying on Chinese will not help the vast majority of locals.

[RotBenz8888]

20 minutes ago, webfact said:

Some have even resorted to offering 20% discounts on things like souvenirs.

Still a lot cheaper for the Chinese to buy the souvenirs at home, where they are manufactured.

[GeorgeCross]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

And in a surprise move some vendors are doing something that hitherto would have been unthinkable: discounting their prices.

 

a complete breakdown of long held Thai economic beliefs 

 

whats next, singular pricing??!

 

[drbeach]

If tourism were down only 10%, that's nothing to be worried about. I think it's more likely to be down by 50% once the year ends, especially if this virus situation drags out for a few more months. There's no way tourism is down by just 10%. In a normal year, that can happen even in countries like Australia, where a few years ago fewer tourists came just because the AUD was so super strong, which made everything much more expensive, in what is already an expensive country.

 

Yes, one does see tourists in certain touristy places but I don't for a minute believe 36 million tourists will visit Thailand this year. I think it's all about creative counting - Thais arriving back from abroad are counted as "tourists". A foreigner, even possessing a PR is counted as a "tourist", while a foreign businessman who makes 30 entries to Thailand in a year is counted as 30 foreigners, even though it's the same individual. Border traders from Cambodia and Myanmar are counted as "tourists". Seeing I know there are Burmese drivers who cross over from Myawaddy to Mae Sot every day (since they are not allowed to keep their cars in Thailand overnight), some of these drivers could be counted as being more than 300 separate individuals. In reality I doubt there are much more than 15-20 million unique foreign individuals entering Thailand every year, even during a good global economy.

[trainman34014]

Still dreaming of 36 million Tourists !   They will be lucky if they get half of that if the Virus scare goes on for another 2-3 months.

[mercman24]

down 10% ?? i think they need to do their sums a bit better, yes in desperate need of 10,000 maths teachers , lol

[spiekerjozef]

TAT had a bigger shutdown then the thai tourism !

Haven't heard from them in weeks.

[chrisandsu]

I went to chang mai last year after about a ten year absence , my god it was unbelievably boring and I couldn’t wait to leave . I doubt I will ever go back again .

Edited February 17, 2020 by chrisandsu

[thaibeachlovers]

11 minutes ago, chrisandsu said:

I went to chang mai last year after about a ten year absence , my god it was unbelievably boring and I couldn’t wait to leave . I doubt I will ever go back again .

It's somewhat amazing to consider that Thailand has a city without any sanuk at all, but the city authorities have managed to do what should have been impossible- make a Thai city boring.

I did go to the boxing bar complex of Loi Kroh a few times, but it was so boring I gave up, and never went back. 

[baansgr]

2 hours ago, ezzra said:

Don't care much for souvenirs, however, bars dropping  their drink and pay for play fees will see me there everyday...

Jomtien..local beers and spirits 40 baht..PFP, not sure but heard stunners can be had LT for 500

[baansgr]

1 hour ago, drbeach said:

If tourism were down only 10%, that's nothing to be worried about. I think it's more likely to be down by 50% once the year ends, especially if this virus situation drags out for a few more months. There's no way tourism is down by just 10%. In a normal year, that can happen even in countries like Australia, where a few years ago fewer tourists came just because the AUD was so super strong, which made everything much more expensive, in what is already an expensive country.

 

Yes, one does see tourists in certain touristy places but I don't for a minute believe 36 million tourists will visit Thailand this year. I think it's all about creative counting - Thais arriving back from abroad are counted as "tourists". A foreigner, even possessing a PR is counted as a "tourist", while a foreign businessman who makes 30 entries to Thailand in a year is counted as 30 foreigners, even though it's the same individual. Border traders from Cambodia and Myanmar are counted as "tourists". Seeing I know there are Burmese drivers who cross over from Myawaddy to Mae Sot every day (since they are not allowed to keep their cars in Thailand overnight), some of these drivers could be counted as being more than 300 separate individuals. In reality I doubt there are much more than 15-20 million unique foreign individuals entering Thailand every year, even during a good global economy.

Only 36 mil...wasnt the target 42 mil...be more like 17 mil if you take away transit numbers, Loation and Khmer workers, Malayan border hoppers and the Chinese.

[abrahamzvi]

39 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

It's somewhat amazing to consider that Thailand has a city without any sanuk at all, but the city authorities have managed to do what should have been impossible- make a Thai city boring.

I did go to the boxing bar complex of Loi Kroh a few times, but it was so boring I gave up, and never went back. 

If you are looking for bars and bar girls, I agree that you should look for it somewhere else, but to say that Chiang Mai is boring, is absolutely untrue. It's one of the most interesting places in Thailand with beautiful views of mountains, rivers and green pastures all around. One problem is, of course, the pollution. But it is everywhere nowadays. Isn't it?

[BritManToo]

1 minute ago, abrahamzvi said:

But it is everywhere nowadays. Isn't it?

You say that, but it's far less significant in Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines.

I don't know why.

[SOTIRIOS]

...overall...this stark...perverse....'take' mentality is disgusting.....

 

...never shown any gratitude all these years.....

[edwinchester]

Not just the north. Never seen it so quiet in Kanchanaburi and Cha-am as it is now.

Having a few days now on the beach with family from the UK and we are literally the only guests in a  mid priced hotel a short walk from the beach. Nowhere near the usual numbers on the beach either with hardly any of the deck chairs occupied right now. Great for us but feel for the locals who rely on high season tourism to see them through.

[DPKANKAN]

3 hours ago, Maverell said:

'Chiang mai News said the reality was that tourism in the north has been on a downward spiral since the coup of 2014.' Why is it that local people can see it but TAT cannot ? 555555, Relying on Chinese will not help the vast majority of locals.

Heavens above!! TAT  cannot admit tourism was s..t and going down hill beforehand, faster than a Thai kid motorcyclist!!! This is their 'get out of jail free loss of face' card. Blame the coronavirus.????????????????????????????.

[Borzandy]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Discounting souvenirs!

Are we talking about all these horrors made in China?

[legend49]

And in a surprise move some vendors are doing something that hitherto would have been unthinkable: discounting their prices.

 

Joke of the month winner.

[spidermike007]

For them to claim tourism will be down by 10% this year is inane, proof that they are not facing reality, and just dumb. It will be down by 20% to 50%. We are talking about 5 to 20 million less tourists in 2020, than last year. This is going to have a lasting impact. It is not just Corona. It is so many other things, and so many other mistakes that the administration, the TAT, and immigration have made, in addition to their persistent racism and hatred of foreigners. Not the Thai people. Just the hapless army. 

 

This is a perfect storm. Corona will only exacerbate all of the other issues and compound them. Thailand is truly getting what it deserves. I do feel bad for the millions of families affected by this. But the army deserves a pounding. And they will get that from the Thai people. They needed something like this disaster to wake them up. Now, all bets are off. This could very well be the beginning of the end of army rule. Let us hope.

[30la]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The media said that the Tourism of Thailand Authority (TAT) had expected the upward trajectory to go on and 40.78 million to visit Thailand this year and spend 1.96 trillion baht.

TAT has always dreamed big and then supplied rigged numbers ...
They defend their existence by all possible means!

[Stargeezr]

Does TAT not have the ability to ever tell the truth. Estimating a 10 percent drop is

telling about 10 percent truth, and 90 percent fantasy. Tourism numbers are dropping every 

day. This is going to be a very hard year for everyone and yet, some people keep lying.

  The Thai government also should be a lot more honest, but that would be a foreign

thing for any of them. The leadership of all departments should be thanking all tourists who are here in Thailand, and letting them all know how appreciated they all are for being in Thailand, when

China and India are not contributing to tourism as it was hoped that, these neighbours would

be more helpful than has turned out. I guess this would be too much to ask?

Geezer

[dunroaming]

3 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

It's somewhat amazing to consider that Thailand has a city without any sanuk at all, but the city authorities have managed to do what should have been impossible- make a Thai city boring.

I did go to the boxing bar complex of Loi Kroh a few times, but it was so boring I gave up, and never went back. 

Good news for the ex-pats who live there though.  Plenty of good reasons to live in Chiang Mai, especially if you have a family and want a normal lifestyle.  Easy enough to get to places with a livelier, debauched nightlife if that is what you want.  One of the pluses of CM is that you have a great airport, good schools and hospitals and plenty of very good affordable restaurants.

 

It's all about horses for courses.

[Cake Monster]

4 hours ago, trainman34014 said:

Still dreaming of 36 million Tourists !   They will be lucky if they get half of that if the Virus scare goes on for another 2-3 months.

And the long term effect could last well into 2021, as potential Tourists see the Chinese return in Hoards back to Thailand.

That is of course if they are allowed to travel. There may be some kind of curfew / self quarantine period after the all clear is declared.

I suspect this will be the case to ensure not just the protection of people across the Globe, but also to raise confidence regarding the Chinese People.

These are the kind of fall out issues that cannot be quantified.

[Samuel Smith]

1 hour ago, dunroaming said:

Good news for the ex-pats who live there though.  Plenty of good reasons to live in Chiang Mai, especially if you have a family and want a normal lifestyle.  Easy enough to get to places with a livelier, debauched nightlife if that is what you want.  One of the pluses of CM is that you have a great airport, good schools and hospitals and plenty of very good affordable restaurants.

 

It's all about horses for courses.

Agree with all that.  I live here with family & enjoy the outdoor life in the hills around us.  Only problem is that now we have 7 months of toxic air.  Used to be less, but not anymore.

[RichardColeman]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Chiang mai News said the reality was that tourism in the north has been on a downward spiral since the coup of 2014.

Me thinks the offices will be raided soon

[Just1Voice]

Been living in CM over 11 years now with Thai wife and adopted son.  Can't think of anyplace I would rather be. 

[Samuel Smith]

2 minutes ago, Just1Voice said:

Been living in CM over 11 years now with Thai wife and adopted son.  Can't think of anyplace I would rather be. 

Today, the beach?  Air is toxic in Chiang Mai.