Pattaya tourism: If you think it's quiet now wait for the next six months - grim predictions from industry leader

 

Thai caption: Pattaya utterly deserted

 

Tourism leaders in Pattaya have accepted that the fallout from the Covid-19 virus outbreak is much worse than they originally thought.

 

A report from a meeting held earlier this week makes grim reading for the immediate future of tourism in Pattaya over the next six months at least.

 

Not only have all Chinese tour groups and nearly all Chinese tourists disappeared.

 

But now the Koreans and Indians are following suit. Also Japanese, Singaporeans and even the Thais themselves are not travelling.

 

Chief of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association Ekkasit Ngampichet was talking to 77kaoded after a meeting was held with business leaders, the TAT and the governor of Chonburi.

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

The meeting heard that the Chinese government's travel ban on their citizens was one thing. But other countries were placing restrictions and checks on people who had visited Thailand and the knock on effect for tourism is now being felt in other nationalities.

 

Ekkasit said that 100% of Chinese tour groups have cancelled. Chinese tourism is 95% gone. Now 95% of Koreans have cancelled too. The Indian tourism sector is slowing down as their nationals are also not travelling. Japanese and Sinaporeans are also not coming.

 

And what of the future - it's only going to get worse, he said.

 

"March and thereafter will be much worse than this month for sure," he said.

 

The reason for this was that the relatively few Europeans still on long term stays in Thailand at the moment would soon be gone. And they would not be replaced as few new arrivals will come.

 

The next six months is looking very bleak, he said, and it is difficult to predict precisely what will happen as governments around the world establish their positions in reaction to the outbreak.

 

Regarding the hope expressed by many about Thais filling in for the missing foreigners, Ekkasit said that Thais too were not travelling and much would depend on their habits in the coming months in determining if Pattaya can expect them to come in any great numbers.

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

He indicated that businesses need to offer Thais incentives and promotions to come to Pattaya.

 

He conceded that end of school term visitors and people coming to the resort's special events may add some tourists.

 

But expecting big influxes of local visitors at this time was clutching at straws.

 

77kaoded stated that Pattaya will be deserted for the next 6 months - at least.

 

Source: 77kaoded

 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-02-21

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

How long before they appoint the genius Anutin as new head of TAT?

Good times to come for residents.

28 minutes ago, webfact said:

The reason for this was that the relatively few Europeans still on long term stays in Thailand at the moment would soon be gone. And they would not be replaced as few new arrivals will come.

And what does he base this gem on? Methinks he's been reading Thai Visa.

 

IMHO there are just as many farangs around as there were at this time last year, if not more.

No worries. Beach sport championships, marching band festivals, mass Indian weddings, hordes of Russian millionaires, Thai families (actually families from around the whole world) are all coming to rescue!

 

Time to start building more hotels, more condos, more malls - more of everything.

11 minutes ago, DannyCarlton said:

And what does he base this gem on? Methinks he's been reading Thai Visa.

 

IMHO there are just as many farangs around as there were at this time last year, if not more.

Yes. I wonder, at what time they're shooting their "deserted Pattaya" photos. At 6am? When I'm driving dow Beach rd I never see Central Pattaya empty like that.

 

I'll do the next reality check in half an hour and I bet there'll be no empty beach and even the bars on the other side will be quite visited by non sex tourists.

Fake news.

well as I keep saying Hua Hin is packed with white DNA right now. 

 

2 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

well as I keep saying Hua Hin is packed with white DNA right now. 

 

How are the bars there? Thinking of making a side trip there in March and hoping to fall in love with a slightly (not very) chunky monkey in early 30s for a couple of days.

8 minutes ago, shadowofacloud said:

No worries. Beach sport championships, marching band festivals, mass Indian weddings, hordes of Russian millionaires, Thai families (actually families from around the whole world) are all coming to rescue!

 

Time to start building more hotels, more condos, more malls - more of everything.

 

Russians are farrang, they are one of us and we will be gone, Schroedingers Tourist? 

 

 

1 minute ago, ThomasThBKK said:

Russians are farrang, they are one of us and we will be gone, Schroedingers Tourist? 

There appears to have been an uptick of Russians in Pattaya lately.

1 minute ago, DannyCarlton said:

There appears to have been an uptick of Russians in Pattaya lately.

Yeah they love to spend their winter in Thailand, same as western europeans, and are prolly happy the other hordes are coming fewer.

 

One could have turned this fact into a sustainable business model - if only there was brain available in T-Hailand.

1 minute ago, ThomasThBKK said:

Yeah they love to spend their winter in Thailand, same as western europeans, and are prolly happy the other hordes are coming fewer.

 

One could have turned this fact into a sustainable business model - if only there was brain available in T-Hailand.

In Pattaya they previously did this when russians were plenitful. Many restaurants catering fo Russians with Russian food, (boiled cabbage and potatoes) and menus in Russian. Ambassadors in Na jomtien still caters for them, huge complex with beach and swimming pool (essential for Russian visitors) hundreds of Russian families staying there. Unfortunately its on Sukumvit and Russians insist on running across the road instead of using the foot bridge and regularly ending up as roadkill.

38 minutes ago, DannyCarlton said:

How are the bars there? Thinking of making a side trip there in March and hoping to fall in love with a slightly (not very) chunky monkey in early 30s for a couple of days.

well it is a very small bar scene here. What takes maybe 10 minutes on Thai Friendly in Pattaya or Soi 6 takes about two weeks of searching in Hua Hin if your very lucky. That being said, there has been a uptick in the quality of girls in Hua Hin over that past six years. But there is a lot of competition.

 

a slightly (not very) chunky monkey in early 30s for a couple of days should be do able. Make sure you check all of Soi 80 and the Hut Bar where you will be torn apart like fresh meat as well as the obvious Bintabaht area. and massage girls on Soi 94. Go to Pat's massage on Soi 94 and ask for Da. If she asks you if you want to take a shower first say yes. If you can stand loud music then at 10pm Panama Bar, Ibiza Bar and freelancers at the Hilton after 11:30pm and Cat Bar after 1am.     

 

sorry I don't really know much about this. just what I read on the internet.

 

3 hours ago, DannyCarlton said:

And what does he base this gem on? Methinks he's been reading Thai Visa.

 

IMHO there are just as many farangs around as there were at this time last year, if not more.

The snowbirds usually leave the end of February first week in march, so by the second week in march there should be a noticeable difference especially in Jomtien.

 

31 minutes ago, adammike said:

The snowbirds usually leave the end of February first week in march, so by the second week in march there should be a noticeable difference especially in Jomtien.

 

So no different to previous years then?

4 hours ago, JustAnotherHun said:

Good times to come for residents.

And big discounts wink wink nudge nudge....

Soon TAT will welcome their 54,453.905 visitor with a 1000 Bht free dinner voucher at airport !!

3 hours ago, DannyCarlton said:

In Pattaya they previously did this when russians were plenitful. Many restaurants catering fo Russians with Russian food, (boiled cabbage and potatoes) and menus in Russian. Ambassadors in Na jomtien still caters for them, huge complex with beach and swimming pool (essential for Russian visitors) hundreds of Russian families staying there. Unfortunately its on Sukumvit and Russians insist on running across the road instead of using the foot bridge and regularly ending up as roadkill.

I guess you know nothing about Russian food boiled cabbage and potatoes is a myth

https://theculturetrip.com/europe/russia/articles/15-traditional-meals-that-remind-russians-of-home/

 

Pattaya ladyboys have reverted to pick pocketing each other!

4 minutes ago, White Christmas13 said:

I guess you know nothing about Russian food boiled cabbage and potatoes is a myth

https://theculturetrip.com/europe/russia/articles/15-traditional-meals-that-remind-russians-of-home/

 

Whoosh! Sorry you missed the joke. Too fast for you.

I would say, look out for the next years, as long as the Thai Bhat is overrated and inflated...it will make the Corona desert seem like peanuts.

4 hours ago, ThomasThBKK said:

Yeah they love to spend their winter in Thailand, same as western europeans, and are prolly happy the other hordes are coming fewer.

 

One could have turned this fact into a sustainable business model - if only there was brain available in T-Hailand.

 

One Russian girl with whom I spoke in Pattaya, told me that she was going to tell her mum that the Chinese have gone. So it seems that the hordes did put some off visiting.

 

But the very poor handling of the crisis by the authorities in Thailand will have serious repercussions for them.

 

Those fingerprint scanners that they forced everyone to touch, whilst allowing Chinese to enter freely, no doubt added to the real count of sufferers in Thailand and beyond. Just lies that it is a mere 34.

No one trusts them and that will add to their woes.

 

7 hours ago, webfact said:

it is difficult to predict precisely what will happen as governments around the world establish their positions

How about the Thai government establish a position and offer 1 year multiple entry visas, for a one off time, and at a cheap price, to lure back all the westerners that were discarded, because Thailand thought they did not wanted or needed them.

 

Instead of looking at what other governements re doing, why not look at your own government and ask what are they doing to lure back tourists in these difficult times?

 

Edited February 21, 20206 yr by Leaver

Just came back yesterday. Koh Samet is very quiet, just European sun seekers, which is normal this time of year.  Bangkok is great ! So quiet. No Chinese or Indian tourists around Sukhumwit area. All businesses are complaining it is so quiet. Bars are almost empty in a lot of places. Soi Cowboy is struggling as is Nana.  Big shopping centres are way down on numbers.  Airport was so empty in the morning we went through in about 20 mins instead of about an hour. A much nicer holiday. However the smoke and pollution is still there and always will be. 

19 hours ago, JustAnotherHun said:

Good times to come for residents.

 

I wouldn't count on it. Thais can be fun to be around and to party with when all is well, but many Thais employed in the tourism industry / businesses frequented by foreign customers can be downright miserable when things aren't going so well and the money isn't flowing.....and don't be surprised if the scams ratchet up as they try to make up for lost income.

Edited February 21, 20206 yr by mstevens

15 hours ago, DannyCarlton said:

So no different to previous years then?

Exactly

Tourism leaders working hard to get a free handout from the governement...

it is difficult to predict the future of tourism at this critical point in time as no one can for sure, determine how long it is going to take to control the COVID-19.

all travellers are taking the sensible approach to stay in the comfort of their homes rather than expose themselves to uncertainties by travelling.

unfortunately we all have to wait and watch how the virus issues pans out.

20 hours ago, RotBenz8888 said:

How long before they appoint the genius Anutin as new head of TAT?

how to tackle the uncertainties of the COVID-19. no genius can tackle that.

4 minutes ago, herwin1234 said:

Tourism leaders working hard to get a free handout from the governement...

i think there is genuine case of tourist operators requiring help.