Pattaya: Tourism recovery may take TWO YEARS, says industry expert

[balo]

Lets face it, 2021 will not be a good year for tourism, in 2022 maybe the economy is strong enough for people to travel. 

[hotchilli]

19 hours ago, webfact said:

A leading tourism industry expert said that Pattaya's recovery from the coronavirus pandemic may take two years.

Plenty of time to remodel and do all the infrastructure that's badly needed then ?

[jacko45k]

16 hours ago, UbonThani said:

not sure why they call it a resort

It's a last resort. 

[Fex Bluse]

17 hours ago, sweatalot said:

Now they blame it all on the virus. Tourism to Thailand has been going down for a long time (except for chinese may be- but would it be clever to rely on this one nation only?). In particular the Westerners have found greener pastures already. The reason is caused by the Thais themselves. If they don't learn the golden times will not come back

The world is in the process of rejecting the Chinese fairly strongly. It will be a cultural shift. Thailand will have a choice to make. If they focus on the Chinese too severely, most other nationals will really not want to come here anymore. 

 

The coming China backlash will last decades. 

[baansgr]

16 hours ago, skorp13 said:

It will take a lot longer than that if they keep this up. Prohibition is not a tourist attraction. Thailand is now a hard line Muslim dry state masquerading as a peaceful Buddhist country

Yes, we have regular floggings and beheadings in Jomtien for adultry.

[baansgr]

16 minutes ago, Fex Bluse said:

The world is in the process of rejecting the Chinese fairly strongly. It will be a cultural shift. Thailand will have a choice to make. If they focus on the Chinese too severely, most other nationals will really not want to come here anymore. 

 

The coming China backlash will last decades. 

I don't think they really care..with a population of 1.3 billion on their doorstep, it's obvious where the easy long-term money can come from. Makes sense for Thailand to side with China. Let's face it, Western tourism has been static and even in decline for the past 5 years or so, yet China has increased ten fold.

[Stargeezr]

I will be surprised if there will be enough tourists  for 50 percent of the businesses

to survive. I expect to see even some of the moderate priced hotels and restaurants

to be bankrupt before the tourists have returned in enough umbers.

Geezer

[ToddinChonburi]

First the tourists need to recover so that they can become tourists again . The travel deals will be pouring in to destination much much better than Thailand.  Thailands hope will return to the Chinese that destroyed the world's economy but Thailand does not care. Unfortunately the slide down will continue because there isn't anyone in Bangkok that has a clue on what to do.

[hotchilli]

20 hours ago, webfact said:

Operators should learn the lessons and prepare

Never a lesson learnt, modern infrastructure, water treatment, safety has always been low on the priority list, it will re-open eventually; businesses and vendors alike will go back to exactly what they were doing before as it's the only model they know.

But truth be told the pandemic was the last straw, the Thai economy and baht strength was already having a dire affect, those still remain but the tourists have a long memory and they can move on. 

[Peterw42]

Most tourism will bounce back as soon as the flights start up again, I have 3 friends who will be back on the first plane.

3 friends that visit regularly, 2-3 times a year, waiting in UK, Australia etc to return asap.

 

Anyone that was happy to visit Thailand before will be happy to visit Thailand again. 

 

I am not following the argument, 'once the virus is over people wont be coming back', once the virus is over they will come the same as before the virus.

 

 

[Peter Denis]

20 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

...

I am not following the argument, 'once the virus is over people wont be coming back', once the virus is over they will come the same as before the virus.

I agree that tourists will be coming back, but in the beginning surely not in the same numbers as before the virus-situation.

Flight-tickets will probably be way more expensive than they used to be, and many people (surely those owning their own businesses) have seen their incomes fall dramatically and might need to postpone a holiday till they are again 'above the tide'.

There will also be some negative effect of those that were unable to return and had to face the first month of immigration-chaos experiencing a side of Thailand they were unfamiliar with.  Those will not spread the Happy Holiday in Paradise story when back home, although that negative publicity will be limited because those that planned to visit Thailand but saw their plans thwarted because of the virus-crisis, will still jump at first opportunity to come back.

[newnative]

56 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Never a lesson learnt, modern infrastructure, water treatment, safety has always been low on the priority list, it will re-open eventually; businesses and vendors alike will go back to exactly what they were doing before as it's the only model they know.

But truth be told the pandemic was the last straw, the Thai economy and baht strength was already having a dire affect, those still remain but the tourists have a long memory and they can move on. 

   Actually tourists have short memories.  Or, in many cases, no memories as many tourists from other countries have no knowledge, and hence no memory, of local issues/problems.  Many tourists, especially those from China and India, are also first-time visitors and do not have any issues from previous visits.  

[thaibeachlovers]

22 hours ago, webfact said:

A leading tourism industry expert said that Pattaya's recovery from the coronavirus pandemic may take two years.

He's guessing. Any recovery of tourism in Pattaya is ENTIRELY dependent on the economies of other countries, over which he has no control. If western economies are as devastated as they appear to be, it could be far longer before people have sufficient spare cash to travel to Pattaya, as opposed to staying at home and having a beach holiday.

However, if they want to be even more reliant on the Chinese, they could be up and running in 6 months.

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, ToddinChonburi said:

there isn't anyone in Bangkok that has a clue on what to do.

I'd say that applies everywhere. Having destroyed much of western economies, it's all pretty much unfamiliar territory now.

[tomauasia]

15 hours ago, Ranshoko said:

If you think it's so good why did you leave? 

Divorced and lm going back. Lived in BKK dump

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, newnative said:

   Actually tourists have short memories.  Or, in many cases, no memories as many tourists from other countries have no knowledge, and hence no memory, of local issues/problems.  Many tourists, especially those from China and India, are also first-time visitors and do not have any issues from previous visits.  

Social media is having a global affect these days, tourists are more "savvy" than you give them credit for.

 

[thaiboss]

so realy this expert know better then every body what the world future .. good

[SteveK]

54 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Social media is having a global effect these days, tourists are more "savvy" than you give them credit for.

 

That's it in a nutshell. Western media has been awash with stories about incidents in Thailand the last few years. Some that come to mind are the Koh Tao murders, the "Instagrammer" who was sent to IDC, the Norwegian who was found hanged but managed to tie his own hands up. And a quick search brings up dozens more. Plus the boat sinking, the scams, the lady who got heavily fined for vaping, the list goes on.

 

Word gets round the world almost instantly these days. If I were a parent I would have to say I would not want my university age children heading off to Thailand. There are just so many other places to go that are just as exciting.

 

Now the "smiles" are gone and the baht has rocketed, what's left in reality? Too expensive for the shoestring backpackers and gap-year students, and too third-world for someone wanting a bit of luxury. The potential is still there, of course, great weather, nice beaches and a well-trodden tourist trail. If the baht corrected a little and immigration stopped assuming all foreigners are criminals, that would be a great start.

 

Asking immigration to be a bit nicer, running some initiatives to clean up the beaches and attractions, and cracking down on illegal taxi mafias and scammers. None of those things are that hard for a government to do in a bid to entice back millions of tourists. So why isn't that happening? Instead they are spending all their money on nuclear subs and heavily armored APCs. When exactly was the last time Thailand was involved in a full scale conflict requiring such equipment?

Edited May 1, 2020 by SteveK

[SMEinBangkok]

What business survives for two years with little to no income?  You can always tell if someone has run a business or not when you hear this kind of nonsense come out of their mouths.

[berrec]

On 4/30/2020 at 11:13 AM, jomtien99 said:

Instead of stating the obvious about the amount of time Pattaya's tourism industry may take to recover, why don't they look at the opportunity in front of them: time to clean up Pattaya and make it a resort for the New World that is coming, less jet ski scams, less double pricing, sort out the waste water drains going out to sea, the songtheaw mafia, etc - time to make it more welcoming

Your strategy is an outstanding plan, but a bridge to far for the current corrupt and greedy officials in Pattaya. 

 

You require a Trump like asskicking leader to rejuvenate the place; you won't find one of those characters in Thailand.

[Peter Denis]

11 minutes ago, berrec said:

Your strategy is an outstanding plan, but a bridge to far for the current corrupt and greedy officials in Pattaya. 

You require a Trump like asskicking leader to rejuvenate the place; you won't find one of those characters in Thailand.

You require a Trump like ass-kicking leader to rejuvenate the place?????

Yep, a business-man like Trump with a similar track-record of successful undertakings is all Pattaya needs to transform it in the Family Resort of the Farang Elite.

You are Fired!

[skorp13]

6 hours ago, baansgr said:

Yes, we have regular floggings and beheadings in Jomtien for adultry.

Ok you're right. They are not hanging Somchai by a crane for having a bottle of lao khao just yet

[tomauasia]

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Social media is having a global affect these days, tourists are more "savvy" than you give them credit for.

 

Correct and believe me the Chinese won't be welcomed the Army is dreaming 

[Fex Bluse]

10 hours ago, baansgr said:

I don't think they really care..with a population of 1.3 billion on their doorstep, it's obvious where the easy long-term money can come from. Makes sense for Thailand to side with China. Let's face it, Western tourism has been static and even in decline for the past 5 years or so, yet China has increased ten fold.

It's true. It makes sense for them to focus on China. Logistically and culturally. And maybe even economically. 

 

They will have to accept though that almost no other nationalities will want to visit if Thailand develops a reputation as a "little China". 

 

Then, they will have to deal with the Chinese and that's not always pleasant. 

 

They will deserve how ever it ends up.

 

I suggest all farang get in their HJs ASAP before Thailand converts into a Chinese tourists-only destination and the brown bar girls disappear onto the farms. 

[Leaver]

8 hours ago, SteveK said:

Now the "smiles" are gone and the baht has rocketed, what's left in reality? Too expensive for the shoestring backpackers and gap-year students, and too third-world for someone wanting a bit of luxury.

I agree. 

 

Pattaya / Thailand has places itself in a strange place in the South East Asia tourism market.  Too cheap and nasty for the wealthy, and too expensive for backpackers and a high percentage of the western middle classes.  

 

Tourist can look past the "nasty" if it's cheap, but when it's nasty, and expensive, they start to look elsewhere, and we saw that this past high season, before the virus.   

[Brigand]

The outlook doesn't look good for quite a while and I think the Thai government is going to look to the Chinese to pour back in. This is problematic on many fronts, including putting off tourists from elsewhere (apart from Indians maybe) as who wants to be in the midst of milling Chinese (or Indian) tourists and their "habits" that have barely left China (or India) before. Also, not to forget the zero dollar factor with the normal Thais making little, if anything, from these organised tours that tightly control where their sheep go and what on/where they are forced to spend money with nasty consequences if they don't comply, so all the money just gets funneled back to Chinese companies. This will pi$$ the Thais right off eventually as there will be little fodder left on the bone for them. Chinese and Indians don't freely/impulsively spend like other tourists do at random places and many just like to roam and gawp ... there isn't the widespread joke about a group of six Indian men roaming around together and then stop and share one beer between them all for nothing.

[JensenZ]

15 hours ago, balo said:

Lets face it, 2021 will not be a good year for tourism, in 2022 maybe the economy is strong enough for people to travel. 

I heard some more of the same old nonsense today about how they want to attract quality tourists over quantity of sh*t tourists. Good luck with that. Even if Thailand somehow manages to attract quality tourists in the next year or so, they won't be coming to Pattaya.

[3NUMBAS]

reaching critical mass will take many years so small takings at many businesses will soon fizzle out and they will fold ..jiggy jiggy aussies will trickle in as usual for their 2 week trips but low  takings are in store for many years ,so expect it to be a ghost town for aeons ,like the restaurant at the end of the universe

[3NUMBAS]

On 4/30/2020 at 1:09 PM, sezze said:

Was KNOWN to have good value and not is known . Thailand isn't cheap at all anymore and i am very sure that plenty of places in Europe have better value then Thailand . Also , people do want some security after . Security for Covid and security they can can go home fast in case the outbreak happens again . Traveling for 10000 km is not a fast return home , so Thailands tourism is down for a few years at least . They will come back , but not any time soon .

yes not cheap any more ,sex workers in athens charge 10 or 20 euros for short time and they are glamourous east euro blond birds with big melons on sale

[Ron jeremy]

12 hours ago, Peterw42 said:

Most tourism will bounce back as soon as the flights start up again, I have 3 friends who will be back on the first plane.

3 friends that visit regularly, 2-3 times a year, waiting in UK, Australia etc to return asap.

 

Anyone that was happy to visit Thailand before will be happy to visit Thailand again. 

 

I am not following the argument, 'once the virus is over people wont be coming back', once the virus is over they will come the same as before the virus.

 

 

And what planes will they be coming back on, ??? Air canada just announced no international flights till Christmas.