SURVEY: When will tourism return to normal?

[Don Mega]

Hopefully never... traffic on the roads in Pattaya is just perfect at the moment !!

[alant]

what will be normal?

Can't see it ever being like 15-20 years ago

[hobobo]

A lot depends on what Thailand wants. If it is only the TAT favourite, the absolute number of arrivals, this could be accommodated by the Chinese/Indians alone in a relatively short period of time. However, we all know that neither of these countries love to spend any money beyond the cost of the tour, hence there will be zero employment opportunity for the informal sector.

 

But if Thailand wants to return to a mix of "feel good" tourists (also known as party animals, sex tourists, even backpackers) as well as a group or two (or a thousand) of Chinese, and garnished with the inevitable "family holidays in Thailand" brigade, the future looks a lot more uncertain. The poor Chinese will come back, for sure (rich ones go to the UK, France, Italy and the US), but "feel good" tourists will not easily forget the abuse they've suffered at the hands of most Thais over the past 5 or 10 years, and will look at the alternative destinations in the region. And the family holidays brigade, well, they never really took off in Thailand.

 

The picture doesn't look rosy any longer. There will be far more losers than winners, especially from the informal sector. 

[Bonobojt]

13 minutes ago, connda said:

Tourist will not come if these types of restrictions are in place.

There are people like me who will go 

[jomtien99]

Airlines and hotels will have to slash prices to get going again and at least survive, so lots of bargains to be had once some countries re-open. However, it will take at least 2 years for tourism to get back to normal levels, and only if a vaccine has been found by then. In the meantime some airlines and many hotels will go bankrupt, so some tourist towns/islands and will resemble ghost towns with more entertainment venues, bars and restaurants closed forever. 

For the independent traveler looking for peace and quiet, this will be the optimum time - enjoy while it last.

[JusticeGB]

My daughter in the UK has been able to trade but her trade is 30% down so she's on mere break even. Her spare cash is tight so she wants to rebuild it. She normally comes every Christmas but won't be coming this year because she's worried about the constant changes of rules by the Thai Government and the Chinese tourists who come to Thailand. 

[Mbaki]

2 hours ago, hobz said:

Don't blame the virus. The virus just does what it does. It doesn't have a mind. Blame the Chinese communist party for lying about it and doing their best to spread it across the world.

What Xenophobic rubbish, you’ve been reading too many conspiracy theories ???? Tourism will return to normal as soon as restrictions are lifted, and this virus thing is out of the media, most of the regulars are biting at the bullet to get back here not counting the expats stranded overseas away from their families.

[spermwhale]

7 hours ago, JoeMc said:

3 points..

1. The undiserable element will 'rush' back .. quality tourist possible Christmas break

2. Gov will have to impose restrictions on countries where the virus remains significant ..at point of departure

3. Do thais want tourist back before 2021?

The undesirable element won't have the cash to rush back. They will be too broke to travel for many years, just like most tourists. They will have to scrape bypass as the world economy enters a depression. 

[spermwhale]

5 hours ago, Traubert said:

 

Yes, and also the 1.38bn that aren't members of the CPC, who are allowed to buy what they want.

 

People have some strange ideas about China.

Except real estate in thailand. Am I missing something here? Foreigners aren't allowed to own land in Thailand. 

[spermwhale]

4 hours ago, Blumpie said:

The question is not "when is Thailand going to allow tourists into the country", it's "when are other countries going to allow their citizens out for holidays and then back in"?

Tourism is simply one thing right now:  Done.  

 

Even China won't let people out of their country to inter-mingle with every tom dick and harry and welcome them back home.  They are not going to risk another outbreak and have their entire economy shut down.  They are NOT coming to Thailand, so don't worry.

 

The following must occur for tourism to come back:  A vaccine, or probably sooner a suitable treatment for the disease.  When this will occur cannot be determined right now.  Vaccine in 18 months?  12 months?  Remember too, it must be widely available.  

 

 

Vaccines usually take years to be developed. Average time frame is 6 to 10 years. 

[NoshowJones]

5 hours ago, madmitch said:

In all seriousness, there's a lot of talk in the media about buffet restaurants being banned. Sound logical to me but will Thailand be strict enough to close its buffets, including moo gatas, indefinitely?

Buffets and Chinese definitely don't mix.

[thurien]

do we have to fear that any of the T.A.T. gentlemen (and gentlewomen) read the results of this questionnaire?

[gamesgplayemail]

if girls give free service, it can restart tomorrow ❤️

 

 

[nauseus]

Had to vote for worst case because even if the virus is beaten, the economic impact from this on many people and businesses will last for years.  

[PatOngo]

When will tourism return to normal?

I estimate about 11.29am on a Tuesday morning! ????

[Max69xl]

What will you achieve when asking a question like that here at TV? Do you think there are people here with info no one else have?  You'll get hundreds of posts and 99% are just rubbish. 

Edited May 3, 2020 by Max69xl

[Skallywag]

Am not married to a thai, am here as an expat full time, dont really care about tourists.  Many "tourists" still here at my condo complex, Russians, Chinese, some Indians etc...  More will come and stay illegally for a few days or weeks, cannot stop the AirBnB's run by the Thail owners. Seem daft IMO, no swimming, no gym, cant go to beach, have to order food delivered, yet they still come for some reason. A group of 4 backpackers from Europe in their 20's just arrived 2 nights ago, came in by taxi from Koh Chang they said.  

[finnishmen]

i hope tourism have closed airport and hotels all closed next 10 year then have good live in thailand immigration understand how important falang have thailand economy and busines and thai work, if not understand have stupid but if understand change visa law normal human law not use old monkey law, and baht drop old good time rate, 1;50 has before good.

 

[Traubert]

5 hours ago, Blumpie said:

 

 

Even China won't let people out of their country to inter-mingle with every tom dick and harry and welcome them back home.  They are not going to risk another outbreak and have their entire economy shut down.  They are NOT coming to Thailand, so don't worry.

 

 

I beg to disagree.

 

China is testing the water this very weekend with the  Labour Day holidays. Obviously domestic, but all going well so far. If you ignore the slew of phone messages from the authorities.

[Mikeasq60]

I see on the survey that people will wait for the virus to end and a vaccine is created. And they think no tourism until the CV has subsided, great for me less tourists at the airport and wherever I travel. So their are people who will actually take that vaccine are you serious and as far as the virus goes just like the flu or dengue itll be back. So people are that afraid of this CV, WOW thats so sad! All I know is I want to get back to Thailand to be with my wife thats all I care about and Im not afraid of this invisible enemy Ive lived through worse my 62 years on this planet. What on earth are people falling for!

[DrJack54]

6 minutes ago, Max69xl said:

What will you achieve when asking a question like that here at TV? Do you think there are people here with info no one else have?  You'll get hundreds of posts and 99% are just rubbish. 

And yours moves to #1 on rubbish chart.

Nobody expects these type of threads to provide any insight or magic prediction. 

TV is not just about advice re specific questions such as visas. Take a chill pill.

[holy cow cm]

If normal is the zillions of Chinese in every nook and cranny then I hope never. But as NCC says, people will need to recoup money first and secure a safety net before going out and about. Maybe a few years at best after a vaccine is discovered. We will first deal with second and third waves of this C-19 -24 complicated with the flu thrown in. 

[RickG16]

Consider that there could be a lot of people who are saving more money than normal; working from home and not going out. These people could be straight on a plane when a holiday is possible.

[DrJack54]

5 minutes ago, Mikeasq60 said:

Im not afraid of this invisible enemy Ive lived through worse my 62 years on this planet. What on earth are people falling for!

Umm what are "worse things in my 62 years...". Please explain.

Fact is you most likely not back to Thailand for some months yet. 

I have mates in Oz with Thai family here in Thailand. Many folk in similar boat. 

[daveAustin]

Option #5: when tourism returns, do you think it will be the same again?

 

Quote

Once airlines resume normal service, the tourists will return enmasse

 

Of the options, I chose this since the Chinese could not care less and will rush in where angels fear to tread. And the mob that run the place will welcome them with open arms.

 

[Mikeasq60]

10 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

And yours moves to #1 on rubbish chart.

Nobody expects these type of threads to provide any insight or magic prediction. 

TV is not just about advice re specific questions such as visas. Take a chill pill.

Im not taking this post seriously do I have to to make a comment. How you making out with the lock down everything good for you? You just riding it out listening to all the advice from the authorities I bet pocketed the 5000 baht! One of the lucky ones maybe

[darrendsd]

Who cares - the less the better 

[DrJack54]

Just now, Mikeasq60 said:

Im not taking this post seriously do I have to to make a comment. How you making out with the lock down everything good for you? You just riding it out listening to all the advice from the authorities I bet pocketed the 5000 baht! One of the lucky ones maybe

I have read your post several times. Sadly I can't understand any remotely possibly point that your trying to make.

Just to assist wee bit. There has never been a lockdown. There is a curfew. Easy peasy. As for booze, any farang here long enough had easy supply as did Thai.

[Bonobojt]

33 minutes ago, Skallywag said:

Am not married to a thai, am here as an expat full time, dont really care about tourists.  Many "tourists" still here at my condo complex, Russians, Chinese, some Indians etc...  More will come and stay illegally for a few days or weeks, cannot stop the AirBnB's run by the Thail owners. Seem daft IMO, no swimming, no gym, cant go to beach, have to order food delivered, yet they still come for some reason. A group of 4 backpackers from Europe in their 20's just arrived 2 nights ago, came in by taxi from Koh Chang they said.  

Thailand addiction is real 

[spidermike007]

Tourism is not returning to Thailand anytime soon. If you think about it, the group that comprised perhaps 60% of all arrivals (lower to middle income Chinese and Indians) are the ones who have been hardest hit by this idiotic worldwide economic shutdown. Tourism in Thailand will never recover to even close to it's former levels, and that leaves millions out of work. Perhpaps many countries will still be required to have Covid letters, as the virus is still raging in many countries. And some countries will not issue that letter (impossible to get in the US). Plus, will the mandatory health insurance still be required? Will it be even stricter than before? And just what are people returning to, or coming to? How about nightlife?

 

Even prior to Covid, tourism here was declining. There are countless things the government could be doing, if they wanted to attract the high quality tourists. The very first thing would be to repeal the anti fareng wine bill, that was passed by a few very corrupt senators way back when, to protect an anemic local wine industry. They are losing billions of dollars a year in revenue, that would be had from a 100% wine duty, instead of 360%. The five star hotels would have major wine events, and the entire industry would flourish here. 

 

They will continue to get more Indian tourists. But, as with the vast majority of Chinese, it will be lower and middle income tourists. Thailand just cannot attract higher end tourists anymore. The focus on quantity over quality will continue to erode the nation on countless levels. More is rarely better. It just lowers the quality of life for nearly everyone, creates more congestion, more smog, more traffic, longer lines at immigration, and makes life difficult, especially in the big cities. There are countless things the government could be doing, if they wanted to attract the high quality tourists, and go for quality over quantity. Rich tourists like to spend money when they travel. And they cannot do that here, as they do not like getting taken for a ride. Most wealthy people are smart with their money. Thailand could be making a fortune on a 25% luxury tax. Instead of the 100% of more, which discourages most people from buying a new watch, or  a new handbag, while on vacation. How many people do you see in the luxury stores here? They are almost always completely empty. Inane. Beyond inane. 

 

Quantity over quality is never a good thing, unless you are selling one dollar items at a swap meet. It just lowers the quality of the experience for all. There are so many unanswered questions, it boggles the mind. One thing is for certain. Thailand will be feeling the effects of this for a very, very long time. So will the rest of the world.