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

[ttrd]

20 hours 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.

No need to visit bars to find monkeys in Huahin as there is a whole Mountain full of them - take your pick ...

 

 

 

[URMySunshine]

2 minutes ago, howbri said:

not good news for those trying to sell their condo

Here in Jomtien in our block I saw 3 cheapies go in December and since then nothing. Though pretty much everything sells at a price just maybe not a price that you were hoping for 

[Zack61]

21 hours ago, webfact said:

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

ST and LT rates to be halved. 

All jokes aside tough times ahead for sure and not only in Thailand but their inaction on restricting travel from infected areas is likely to reap a high toll on the economy. 

Shortsightedness and greed now repaid 10 times over. Unfortunately we all know they can’t be voted out at the next election because of their close ties with the military rulers and a corrupted electoral system. 

What businesses need is a government who cares. 

[hottrader77]

21 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.

Are you a spokesman for TAT  ?   businesses are suffering , there are half as many tourists as there used to be , the good news is there are more women for me , about time it was 80 baht to the uk pound not the pawltry 40 to uk pound we have at moment , the other good thing is immigration will be getting less money on visas the greedy sods he he he 

[Don Mega]

Great news, I might be able to enjoy the place again.

[saengd]

2 minutes ago, hottrader77 said:

Are you a spokesman for TAT  ?   businesses are suffering , there are half as many tourists as there used to be , the good news is there are more women for me , about time it was 80 baht to the uk pound not the pawltry 40 to uk pound we have at moment , the other good thing is immigration will be getting less money on visas the greedy sods he he he 

You won't see 80 baht to the Pound if you live to be 100, you wont even see 50!

[ttrd]

1 minute ago, hottrader77 said:

Are you a spokesman for TAT  ?   businesses are suffering , there are half as many tourists as there used to be , the good news is there are more women for me , about time it was 80 baht to the uk pound not the pawltry 40 to uk pound we have at moment , the other good thing is immigration will be getting less money on visas the greedy sods he he he 

RE - the other good thing is immigration will be getting less money on visas the greedy sods he he he

 

* ... and to compensate for the loss they will most likely increase the fees for the few that remain - btw, not funny at all ...

[jacko45k]

1 hour ago, Georgie65 said:

I couldn't be more happy! Personally, I hope half of China's population get's wiped out!!! As far as Thailand's economy is concerned, you must be mistaking me for someone who gives a <deleted>! Maybe after this disaster is finally over, the Thai's will have and show a new attitude and respect towards farang? You can't bite the hand that feeds and expect to keep getting fed! Time will tell???

The same farang who apparently wish for the recurrence of the plague and the death of nearly a billion people?

[ttrd]

1 minute ago, saengd said:

You won't see 80 baht to the Pound if you live to be 100, you wont even see 50!

The history tends to repeat itself so yes it's not about IF, but WHEN ...

[ChipButty]

7 minutes ago, Don Mega said:

Great news, I might be able to enjoy the place again.

Just like it was in the old days

[DannyCarlton]

Just now, hottrader77 said:

Are you a spokesman for TAT  ?   businesses are suffering , there are half as many tourists as there used to be , the good news is there are more women for me , about time it was 80 baht to the uk pound not the pawltry 40 to uk pound we have at moment , the other good thing is immigration will be getting less money on visas the greedy sods he he he 

I think we are comparing February this year to February last year, not February 15 years ago.

 

Highest I remember THB/GBP was around 75 in 2004/5. Lots of urban myths about prevous values of THB/GBP. Not been higher than 55 since 2009. Been fairly consistent 50-55 since then until 2016 and the result of the Brexit vote. Fell to 45 almost overnight. Drifted down to 40 since then due to high value of baht and continued negativity over Brexit. Bring baht down to it's true value and rejoin EU and we'll be back over 50 in no time!

[ChipButty]

7 minutes ago, ttrd said:

RE - the other good thing is immigration will be getting less money on visas the greedy sods he he he

 

* ... and to compensate for the loss they will most likely increase the fees for the few that remain - btw, not funny at all ...

Just like the police around here have increased the drink driving fine (unofficial one) to 40,000 Baht

[saengd]

4 minutes ago, ttrd said:

The history tends to repeat itself so yes it's not about IF, but WHEN ...

"Some" history yes, but unlikely that the Normans will invade again though!

[Maxwadd]

Gee just think of all those thais finally doing it a bit / lot harder! 

Thousands of jobs on the line! 

[justin case]

so when will TAT start with 180 day Visa on arrivals ????

 

 

[Number 6]

I'm sure all the wealthy local farang walking about in gym shorts and singlets, living in b4500 flats and subsisting on Khao mun gain will save the day.

[jacko45k]

3 minutes ago, DannyCarlton said:

I think we are comparing February this year to February last year, not February 15 years ago.

 

Highest I remember THB/GBP was around 75 in 2004/5. Lots of urban myths about prevous values of THB/GBP. Not been higher than 55 since 2009. Been fairly consistent 50-55 since then until 2016 and the result of the Brexit vote. Fell to 45 almost overnight. Drifted down to 40 since then due to high value of baht and continued negativity over Brexit. Bring baht down to it's true value and rejoin EU and we'll be back over 50 in no time!

It was over 55 THB/GBP in August 2015.

Brexit has already benefited Sterling.

[BritManToo]

21 hours ago, DannyCarlton said:

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

Only because they couldn't get refunds on their flights.

Anyone travelling to a country that could suddenly be put in quarantine would be mad.

[peter14]

Thailand  just  dont cry.. you played with fire with visa immigration.... you did  not want kind tjm and tourist visa just blame yourself.... Thailand you just hit a bucket in your own feet. We left  . WE LEFT 

[Guderian]

And don't forget the added attraction of Jomtien's annual deep sea fishing contest! That's a fabulous spectator sport, lol, and the crowds will be lining the beach in their thousands to watch somebody they don't know land a mackerel on a boat five miles away.

 

[DannyCarlton]

2 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Only because they couldn't get refunds on their flights.

Anyone travelling to a country that could suddenly be put in quarantine would be mad.

Luckily Thailand isn't one of those countries, which is why the ferangs keep coming. Or is it cumming?

[BritManToo]

46 minutes ago, DannyCarlton said:

How do you know they're expats, not tourists?

Tourists in Hua Hin usually have a white wife and kids with them.

Expats will be men either alone or with local women.

[DannyCarlton]

Just now, BritManToo said:

Tourists in Hua Hin usually have a white wife and kids with them.

Expats will be men either alone or with local women.

I was referring to the comments about Pattaya. The same doesn't apply. Never been to Hua Hin, hopefully soon rectified, thanks to some excellent advice from @NCC1701A.

[MRTELLYOUSTRAIGHT]

1 hour ago, URMySunshine said:

The WHO chooses it's words carefully

I'm just talkin' bout my generation.

[hotchilli]

22 hours ago, webfact said:

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

Businesses need to offer Thais huge discounts.... they won't pay the over-inflated prices given to foreigners!

[FiveStarVagabond]

21 hours ago, JustAnotherHun said:

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.

It's easy to check on Pattaya beach simply by looking at my webcam here; http://fivestarvagabond.com/best-pattaya-beach-thailand-webcam/

[PerkinsCuthbert]

Put prices up, that'll bring the punters back.

[FiveStarVagabond]

I have never seen Pattaya so quiet, I love it. It's easy to check on Pattaya beach simply by looking at my webcam here; http://fivestarvagabond.com/best-pattaya-beach-thailand-webcam/

[wensiensheng]

It was quiet in my area in Phuket a week ago. Pretty much the only tourists were Russian. It was like low season.

 

I’ve been in Bali for a week and other than surfers, Russians seem to make up a good 80% of foreign tourists. But it’s not really busy.

 

btw, flew here via two Thai airports and the only place my temperature was checked was on arrival in Bali.

 

I’d say that the covid thing is having a negative effect on tourist travel and that Thailand is trying to pretend that it doesn’t exist.

[shackleton]

There will be  few on here hoping for a quite Songkran in Pattaya

But no doubt the Thai Tourist board will be hoping for more Farang tourists  arrivals  this year

All dependant on how the Chinese virus crisis  works out