Thailand Billionaire Keen to Restart Tourism

By Andrew J Wood

 

 

BANGKOK: Billionaire Dhanin Chearavanont, chairman of Charoen Pokphand, is urging the government to relax lockdown measures and welcome foreign travellers as soon as possible, and turn the country into a "safe haven" for wealthy visitors. 

 

Mr Dhanin, who is the chairman of the kingdom's largest food and agriculture conglomerate Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group, said the move would help revive the tourism sector.

 

"Thailand's economic losses from the lockdown are estimated to be at 16 billion baht per day or almost 500 billion per month, a longer lockdown will cost us more and more,” he said. 

 

Thailand has been under lockdown since 09 March - 14 May 2020 (65days) after the government acted to stem an increase in confirmed Covid-19 cases. The government said the coronavirus infection rate is now about 1 per cent. 

 

The economic impact of the lockdown is apparent as millions of workers applied for unemployment benefits. The tourism sector is also hit hard after the kingdom stopped taking in foreign visitors.

 

 

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) did not report any new infections on Wednesday, the first time in 65 days since the lockdown began. The kingdom has recorded 3,017 cases.

 

"We can't wait until a vaccine is developed and produced in sufficient quantity to roll out to the entire population," Mr Dhanin said according to a recent interview in  the Bangkok Post. Adding, "The economy won't survive that long."

 

He said the tourism sector accounted for 16-17% percent of GDP and should be revived due to improvements in the virus situation.

 

Mr Dhanin proposed the government attract high-spending tourists from across the world by highlighting Thailand's success in containing the spread of Covid-19.

 

"The number of infection and death cases in Thailand is very low compared with other countries, even though our lockdown began later," he said. "There were also a large number of Chinese tourists in the country."

 

This reflects the fact that our doctors and hospitals are the best and we need to tell the world about it. 

 

 

Mr Dhanin topped Forbes magazine's "Thailand's 50 Richest" this year. He is among 20 moguls in the kingdom whom Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha asked to develop relief projects to help people affected by the outbreak.

 

He said the government should take advantage of Thailand's low Covid-19 figures and turn the kingdom into a "safe haven" for wealthy individuals from around the world.

 

"We have five-star hotels and resorts; we also have five-star hospitals and the best doctors," Mr Dhanin said. 

 

"If we can make rich people feel confident that staying in Thailand is safer than their own countries then they will come."

 

He said now is the time for Thailand to shift its tourism image from "quantity to quality".

 

"If we begin today, we can become a leader in this market," Mr Dhanin said. 

 

"Thailand is already well-known for its hospitality, warmth, and friendliness."

 

"Impressed tourists will become repeaters," he added. "One million wealthy tourists will equal five million normal tourists."

 

Mr Dhanin said he believes the tourism industry will bounce back quickly in the aftermath of Covid-19 during the 'new normal'.

 

"Many people may never go back into the office because they've learnt they can work [remotely] now," he said. 

 

"They may work from the beach, mountain or even overseas. It doesn't matter as long as they can do their job."

 

Mr Dhanin said CP has realised this new trend and will implement work-from-home policies among its employees in the aftermath of the virus.

 

"I think office buildings will be smaller in future," he said. "There's no need to build large buildings any more."

 

"The large buildings we have now may be turned into condominiums or hotels instead," Mr Dhanin added.

 

When asked what the government should do to help small and medium enterprises to stay afloat during the pandemic, the tycoon said it should issue 30-year bonds to raise money and offer soft loans to them.

 

"I think three trillion baht would be enough to prevent mass unemployment," Mr Dhanin said.

 

"Many businesses are struggling to survive because they don't have the liquidity they need to operate," he added

 

"The government needs to step in to ensure they can at least keep employing staff." Mr Dhanin said this can be done because the country's public debt is at 42% of GDP.

 

He said he has written to Gen Prayut in response to the prime minister's request for help. CP will spend over 700 million baht to fund projects to help vulnerable people.

 

 

-- Andrew J  Wood 2020-05-15

So it's hitting the big boys pockets... Time for action !!

12 minutes ago, webfact said:

Mr Dhanin proposed the government attract high-spending tourists from across the world by highlighting Thailand's success in containing the spread of Covid-19.

And people on here still believe the reported figures, and don't question why more testing was not done ! 

Edited May 14, 20206 yr by Thaiwrath

I don't think many countries can survive for very long under lockdown conditions. Wear masks, wash hands, isolate the most vulnerable ... but otherwise get on with work and life. An effective vaccine might never arrive so the World must learn to live with this virus until it fades out. 

47 minutes ago, webfact said:

Billionaire Dhanin Chearavanont, chairman of Charoen Pokphand, is urging the government to relax lockdown measures and welcome foreign travellers as soon as possible, and turn the country into a "safe haven" for wealthy visitors. 

Like duh, the billionaire asking for tourists to come back again, no agenda there... i would have been very surprised has a common street cleaner would say that...

Thailand is already well-known for its hospitality, warmth, and friendliness

 

That is true to a certain extent, however in this day and age Thailand is also known for corruption, scams, pollution, xenophobia, dual pricing, high prices for sub - standard services, shocking health and safety standards, bizarre government rules that change at any time etc.

 

His aims are good, but something like this is just not going to happen. 

Maybe Dhanin is strapped for a few baht, needs a bit more to stave off hunger.????

As Chairman of CP, all he is interested in, is making more money for CP, nothing else.

54 minutes ago, webfact said:

He said now is the time for Thailand to shift its tourism image from "quantity to quality".

A least, he has a sense of humour!

Quality over Quantity.... living in Dreamland Mr

1 hour ago, webfact said:

He said now is the time for Thailand to shift its tourism image from "quantity to quality".

Bill Gates loved it, could not forget his visit!

 

 

He obviously didn’t reach the top through his intelligence. 

Please tell, where are these tourists going to fly from? Most countries have not opened their international borders for pleasure travel

Most countries still have their borders closed

Will the tourists have to quarantine on arrival and on return to home countries?

Will they be Covid tested prior to boarding?

Require a certificate of negative, which would only be valid until they take the first breath after test taken? (Could be near an infected person and breath in the droplets)

Have these issues been though through?

 

 

Edited May 15, 20206 yr by RJRS1301

1 hour ago, Thaiwrath said:

And people on here still believe the reported figures, and don't question why more testing was not done ! 

With all due respect its heading towards Flu % numbers worldwide so its time to 'try' to get back to work!! 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

"If we can make rich people feel confident that staying in Thailand is safer than their own countries then they will come."

I just heard rich people all over the world say....Is he having a laugh? ????

Edited May 15, 20206 yr by meechai

what a load of rubbish!

"make the rich people feel safe"?? Tourists however can be stabbed, shot at, scammed, extorted, etc .. 

Ask the tourists if you give a hoot!! Rich selfish scumbag hisos dont no diddly....

the lust for high end tourists was presented by thaksin in the first instance

Most Europeans will stay away. They/we don't know when phase 2 Covid will happen and they won't want to be stuck in Thailand and can't go home. They will all be holidaying in Euro where they can drive home if the <deleted> hits the fan again. 

 

 

 

 

Tourism will become a thing of the past

29 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

Please tell, where are these tourists going to fly from?

?

You ever hear of China?

There really is not going to be much other choice.

Like it or not, I guarantee by Sept./Oct. this place will be flooded with Chinese.

 

3 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

?

You ever hear of China?

There really is not going to be much other choice.

Like it or not, I guarantee by Sept./Oct. this place will be flooded with Chinese.

 

The High End Ones??

2 hours ago, webfact said:

 

"I think three trillion baht would be enough to prevent mass unemployment," Mr Dhanin said.

And CP will make 100 trillion by flooding the market with even of their reclaimed meat products.

 

But like all big business everywhere, it's the bottom line that counts...

Perhaps he is practicing his stand up routine for his opening night at the comedy store by throwing out some one liners now to see how well they go down.

I understand why he wants to have tourists back when you look at the brands the company owns. It is so easy for him to support the hungry due to Covid-19. But he lets foreigners who are still in the country buy food for the needy instead of paying 50% income tax and more like in Europe to finance social security off all Thai people.

Brands of this company.

Subsidiaries	Ping An (9.19%) CP ALL PT Charoen Pokphand Indonesia Tbk Charoen Pokphand Foods True Corporation Ascend Group Lotus Supercenter Super Brand Mall Siam Makro Chester Grill Restaurants Dayang Motors

Most of what he says is strategically pertinent. Any country, business, or person who doesn't see COVID as something like a "Reboot opportunity" will be left behind. Thai tourism in particular needs a rethink that matches the currency readjustments of recent years: out backpackers, cheap sexpats, cheap sextourists, etc.

Like most people at the top his "strategy" remains sketchy though. For instance he suggest that some of the office space vacated through distance working could be redeployed into hotels while the core of his plan is to replace the hordes of tourists of the past into smaller numbers of quality tourists.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

This reflects the fact that our doctors and hospitals are the best and we need to tell the world about it.

STRUTH!

He wants high spending tourists. Then don't forget to open up the borders to all foreign condo and house owners who like to return. I decided to stay due to Covid situation being better here than in Europe. But when I leave I cannot return to my own property because of border restrictions for falang. I would take quarantine or self-isolation for granted when I could. And foreigners being in the country now spending a lot of money on food relief in the shop of the owner of 7- eleven, Tesco and Makro. And this money is coming from outside Thailand. My idea. Set up food relief cabinets outside every 7-eleven and let this company fill them up.

No surprises from the man whose company owns several upmarket shopping malls and five star hotels.

 

 

I have this beautiful bridge for sale. Honest, you know you can trust me. I'm part Chinese, you know I wouldn't cheat you or anything bad like that.

 

 

Oh, look! A Chinese tour group. Well, at least they all look Chinese. Except for the guy in the center, who seems to be some sort of local guide.

 

Edited May 15, 20206 yr by Misterwhisper

For the rich Sino-Thais selling the country to their native China is instinctive, never mind Thais, they are just cannon fodder. 

 

So let the Northern Masters back in and let the rape continue.