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

[thaibeachlovers]

14 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

No, just tagging a comment onto your conversation. 

In that case I agree with you. Apparently some choose to go where they are offended.

[Leaver]

On 5/2/2020 at 2:20 AM, balo said:

If they can afford it , good for them.  If you are talking about retired people with a pension nothing changes of course, but families with kids will not return if the economy is bad.

I think it will be a while before even the mongers can get back to Pattaya. 

 

Then, it's a Catch 22 situation.  The girls only come back to Pattaya because the sex tourists have come back to Pattaya, and the sex tourists only come back to Pattaya because the girls have come back to Pattaya.  

 

Western tourists declined significantly this past high season, pre virus.  It will take a long time to rebuild, even back to those low high season numbers.   

[HashBrownHarry]

5 hours ago, Leaver said:

I think it will be a while before even the mongers can get back to Pattaya. 

 

Then, it's a Catch 22 situation.  The girls only come back to Pattaya because the sex tourists have come back to Pattaya, and the sex tourists only come back to Pattaya because the girls have come back to Pattaya.  

 

Western tourists declined significantly this past high season, pre virus.  It will take a long time to rebuild, even back to those low high season numbers.   

The tourist and the girls will return, mark my words.

 

How long it will take, you or no one else knows.

[WillyPlatt]

5 hours ago, Leaver said:

I think it will be a while before even the mongers can get back to Pattaya. 

 

Then, it's a Catch 22 situation.  The girls only come back to Pattaya because the sex tourists have come back to Pattaya, and the sex tourists only come back to Pattaya because the girls have come back to Pattaya.  

 

Western tourists declined significantly this past high season, pre virus.  It will take a long time to rebuild, even back to those low high season numbers.   

Sitting in the UK on a bright spring day i feel a change in the air.

Germany is due to open its restaurant and hotel businesses again. Football is due to restart behind closed doors. Many european countries are emerging from lockdown.

UK will be making small steps forward from this Monday.

This virus is now transmitting openly amongst the global population. It is here to stay.

Governments have no choice going forward but to use the tools at their disposal to try and keep on top of the virus until a vaccine or treatment are found.

Economic pragmatism will now takeover from scientific caution. Health capacity has been built up in developed countries.

In other words the world is going to get on with it as best it can.

America is firing up again and other countries will want to follow suit.

Thailand is no different than anywhere else. I would expect an easing of entry requirements within months.

It's time to move on.

 

[thaibeachlovers]

12 hours ago, WillyPlatt said:

I would expect an easing of entry requirements within months.

It's time to move on.

It's not just about entry requirements. The monger demographic is not in the higher earning demographic, and if the economic situation is as bad as feared few will be able to afford to visit LOS and pay for girls. Looks like air travel will be way more expensive.

[HashBrownHarry]

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

It's not just about entry requirements. The monger demographic is not in the higher earning demographic, and if the economic situation is as bad as feared few will be able to afford to visit LOS and pay for girls. Looks like air travel will be way more expensive.

girls will be cheaper tho.

 

i went to macdonalds in the avenue this morning and a girl outside offered to take me in the public toilets to polish my helmet for 200 baht!

 

I gave her 15 baht but declined her offer.

[petermik]

7 hours ago, HashBrownHarry said:

girls will be cheaper tho.

 

i went to macdonalds in the avenue this morning and a girl outside offered to take me in the public toilets to polish my helmet for 200 baht!

 

I gave her 15 baht but declined her offer.

is that the one who has the guide dog.....

[HashBrownHarry]

1 minute ago, petermik said:

is that the one who has the guide dog.....

no guide dog.

[jacko45k]

There is another guy on another thread saying it will be okay by June!

[WillyPlatt]

Having just read the possible proposed new rules, social distancing, id copies being taken at door etc of going to gogos etc the tourism recovery won't take place until you have had a shot in the arm.

That could be 2 years away.

How long can governments keep this going? Pattaya will be desolate within months.

Parts of soi bukhawo where struggling already, just look at the empty complex opposite Endless Lounge.

The usual supply and demand dynamics do not apply. Who is going to buy an entertainment business when fun is banned?

Wouldn't fancy being stuck in Thailand without the funds to get back home and live in UK, Europe or US etc.

Have a feeling the dream of living in Thailand is about to become a nightmare for many.

Should have kept that property at home.

 

[SteveK]

The only guy I knew (a Brit) who upped sticks and moved to Pattaya to set up a bar couldn't make it work financially, and that was in 2007 when the place was heaving every single night. I agree with WillyPlatt, it could be years until bars/nightclubs etc could start earning people a good living again.

 

19 minutes ago, WillyPlatt said:

Have a feeling the dream of living in Thailand is about to become a nightmare for many.

 

I would imagine that the nightmare has arrived already for a large number of folks. A quick search online will show that thousands of people up and down the country are desperately trying to sell their businesses right now. I just hope for the country's sake they don't all get bought up for peanuts by Chinese investors.

 

 

 

 

[talahtnut]

34 minutes ago, SteveK said:

I just hope for the country's sake they don't all get bought up for peanuts by Chinese investors.

Thats the eventual plan, big money is getting into Pattaya,

to attract wealthy clients, into something like Saint-Tropez

or a Monaco of Thailand. There will be a casino and luxury

yachts moored in the bay. Thailand has no interest in folk

without money.  Next year I'm off to Jaywick, Essex.

[WillyPlatt]

22 minutes ago, Victornoir said:

I have some friends who return every year, some for multiple stays.

No one will give up. On the contrary, they are all awaiting the  of the end of the restrictions.

The playful Pattaya will therefore bounce back, as always, cleansed from overly fragile business.

I'm one of them. However, many businesses where fragile long before this virus.

I spent 5 months in Pattaya last year and want it to survive and prosper. 

[mostcurious]

I believe in a few years time Pattaya will start to look a lot like Sihanoukville in Cambodia. The number of tourists from mainland China will rise dramatically. Escorted tours that stay at high end hotels, spending vast sums on money ripoff entertainment venues, food buffet restaurants, and overpriced gem/souvenir outlets. Reality is the ageing westerner is gradually disappearing. 

[WillyPlatt]

54 minutes ago, mostcurious said:

I believe in a few years time Pattaya will start to look a lot like Sihanoukville in Cambodia. The number of tourists from mainland China will rise dramatically. Escorted tours that stay at high end hotels, spending vast sums on money ripoff entertainment venues, food buffet restaurants, and overpriced gem/souvenir outlets. Reality is the ageing westerner is gradually disappearing. 

You could argue it's like that already.

I was in Ba Na Hills, near Danang, last June and you could not move for Chinese tour groups.

Bus loads of them. Hoi An was very busy as well with many asians.

If Thailand doesn't want visitors then Vietnam will take them. That's why economic pragmatism is going to take over sooner rather than later.

My favourite eaterie has gone from 90% farang to 90% asian in 8 years.

 

[tomauasia]

12 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

It's not just about entry requirements. The monger demographic is not in the higher earning demographic, and if the economic situation is as bad as feared few will be able to afford to visit LOS and pay for girls. Looks like air travel will be way more expensive.

With travel will stabilize no change and in 1 month Thai opens. Then the sort telling can stop lol.

[pattayadude]

On 5/3/2020 at 11:39 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

Well done. You said it as well or better than I ever could have.

Mind you I've been saying similar for a decade.

Pattaya was always a smelly dump, but it was fun, fun, fun. It all went wrong when city hall was seduced by dreams of rich tourists spending large ( and much of it ending up you know where ). IMO everything they have done or allowed to be done has been disastrous for the city. Ended up with a dump that was neither fun, nor a rich tourist destination. Instead it was given over to the hordes and they really ruined it.

Back in the day I could never have even imagined a time when I wouldn't want to go there, but sadly, that time came a few years ago.

I think "that time" came in May of 2014 with the Thai military coup d'etat. That was the iceberg that the Titanic hit. Things were never the same after that. It was the end of the good times and the farangs start to sell and leave. The rest is history

[izod10]

47 minutes ago, pattayadude said:

I think "that time" came in May of 2014 with the Thai military coup d'etat. That was the iceberg that the Titanic hit. Things were never the same after that. It was the end of the good times and the farangs start to sell and leave. The rest is history

``Too true ,but where?  Spain has always been my no1 destination,but problems there too.  Here in Th,its cheap living,warts and all,the UK is going to be hell on earth with taxation in years to come,Spain prob even worse

  just live out my time,not exposing myself to the grim side of life ,thai girlfriend just cleared off after 10 years or so,got fed up with no work,gone to the farm,saving me an utter fortune..wants back ,but the drawbridge is well and truly up,...looking for cleaner,part time s.hag too would be helpful

[pattayadude]

13 hours ago, talahtnut said:

Saint-Tropez or a Monaco of Thailand. There will be a casino and luxury

yachts moored in the bay.

then the alarm clock went off, and I woke up.

[talahtnut]

2 hours ago, pattayadude said:

then the alarm clock went off, and I woke up.

Dude, you still got up to late to see the signs of

gentrification going on. No doubt you'd have scoffed

at East London Docks in the 60s. Take a look in

the marina today, the Chinese own 20% of the top

quality high rise, canny devils indeed. Its a rich

mans world, and I for one, am gonna get squeezed

out back to ol' Blighty. I dont so much as I feel

that Pattaya has lost its magic Thainess.

[mok199]

This Chinese virus has stolen much more than lives and money....IT HAS STOLEN OUR TIME ON THIS PLANET....TIME WE WILL NEVER GET BACK...

Edited May 8, 2020 by mok199

[pattayadude]

8 minutes ago, talahtnut said:

Dude, you still got up to late to see the signs of

gentrification going on. No doubt you'd have scoffed

at East London Docks in the 60s. Take a look in

the marina today, the Chinese own 20% of the top

quality high rise, canny devils indeed. Its a rich

mans world, and I for one, am gonna get squeezed

out back to ol' Blighty. I dont so much as I feel

that Pattaya has lost its magic Thainess.

Chinese buying homes in the USA, lands in Africa since 2000s.they have invested over $200B there. They bought the ports of the major cities of the world. Thailand is just one of those that they heavily invested in. But I doubt they have any interest in reviving the Walking st to its glory days. they couldn't care less. In fact, they are the ones who messed it up

[WillyPlatt]

1 hour ago, talahtnut said:

Dude, you still got up to late to see the signs of

gentrification going on. No doubt you'd have scoffed

at East London Docks in the 60s. Take a look in

the marina today, the Chinese own 20% of the top

quality high rise, canny devils indeed. Its a rich

mans world, and I for one, am gonna get squeezed

out back to ol' Blighty. I dont so much as I feel

that Pattaya has lost its magic Thainess.

The more time i have spent in Pattaya, the less i have needed to spend to enjoy myself.

If i was full time Pattaya the last thing i would be doing is coming back to the UK.

As long as you afford to get 2 good meals a day, somewhere to rest your head and a bit of fun a couple of times a week, Pattaya is ten times better than the drudgery of the UK.

Don't.

[thaibeachlovers]

19 hours ago, WillyPlatt said:

Having just read the possible proposed new rules, social distancing, id copies being taken at door etc of going to gogos etc the tourism recovery won't take place until you have had a shot in the arm.

That could be 2 years away.

How long can governments keep this going? Pattaya will be desolate within months.

Parts of soi bukhawo where struggling already, just look at the empty complex opposite Endless Lounge.

The usual supply and demand dynamics do not apply. Who is going to buy an entertainment business when fun is banned?

Wouldn't fancy being stuck in Thailand without the funds to get back home and live in UK, Europe or US etc.

Have a feeling the dream of living in Thailand is about to become a nightmare for many.

Should have kept that property at home.

 

Think Pattaya with Chinese. When they build the railway, the hordes will return.

The farang barbeer scene is IMO pretty done. Perhaps Angeles will benefit.

Pattaya just wasn't fun before, so it was already dying for farangs. Unless immigration rethinks it's policies expect worse to come, IMO.

[thaibeachlovers]

10 minutes ago, WillyPlatt said:

The more time i have spent in Pattaya, the less i have needed to spend to enjoy myself.

If i was full time Pattaya the last thing i would be doing is coming back to the UK.

As long as you afford to get 2 good meals a day, somewhere to rest your head and a bit of fun a couple of times a week, Pattaya is ten times better than the drudgery of the UK.

Don't.

Pattaya with no fun is still more fun than London. London is just a big filthy <deleted><deleted> where one has to be rich to have any sort of fun. Pattaya can have fun for the price of a drink or two. Saddest day of my life when I left LOS for the last time.

[Leaver]

On 5/6/2020 at 11:38 PM, HashBrownHarry said:

The tourist and the girls will return, mark my words.

 

How long it will take, you or no one else knows.

Pattaya will not disappear, and yes, the girls will come back, but the length of time for the tourists and girls to come back will see many vacant commercial premises around the city, many whom are / will go broke. 

 

When the virus has come to pass, it will take a long time for Pattaya to rebuild, and until it has been rebuilt, the nightlife here will not be like it was before, not for a long time.    

[pattayadude]

10 minutes ago, Leaver said:

Pattaya will not disappear, and yes, the girls will come back, but the length of time for the tourists and girls to come back will see many vacant commercial premises around the city, many whom are / will go broke. 

 

When the virus has come to pass, it will take a long time for Pattaya to rebuild, and until it has been rebuilt, the nightlife here will not be like it was before, not for a long time.    

"many vacant commercial premises" has been a norm for Pats since the coup... and that was without the covid. you don't need to be a rocket scientist to do the math for "after covid"

Edited May 8, 2020 by pattayadude

[Leaver]

4 minutes ago, pattayadude said:

"many vacant commercial premises" has been a norm for Pats since the coup... and that was without the covid. you don't need to be a rocket scientist to do the math for "after covid"

Yes, there were a lot of For Sale and For Rent signs up, but those places were surrounded by businesses that were trading.  It's possible, in certain areas, the businesses still trading will be sparse, surrounded by closed commercial premises.   

[WillyPlatt]

3 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Pattaya with no fun is still more fun than London. London is just a big filthy <deleted><deleted> where one has to be rich to have any sort of fun. Pattaya can have fun for the price of a drink or two. Saddest day of my life when I left LOS for the last time.

I remember a guy saying to me the departure lounge at BKK was the saddest place on earth.

If i lived there? Get up have 200 baht brunch.

Maybe take a baht bus to Naklua market. Sit in park overlooking bay. Go for a walk.

Back to condo. Maybe have afternoon visitor a few times a week.

Dinner 300 baht.

Play pool competitively 3 or 4 nights a week.

Repeat.

Bliss. I miss the place.

[Leaver]

On 5/6/2020 at 11:58 PM, WillyPlatt said:

Thailand is no different than anywhere else. I would expect an easing of entry requirements within months.

The thread is about "Pattaya Tourism."  Countries can "fire up" all around the world, but it will still be a long time before Pattaya Tourism is anything like it was.