The future of Thai tourism post COVID-19

 

 

In 2019, nearly 40 million tourists visited Thailand. This year, however, it is forecast that number will fall by more than 10 million. On what should the Thai tourism sector focus after the COVID-19 outbreak? Will travellers come back in the near future? Let’s find out.

 

 

Source: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/the-future-of-thai-tourism-post-covid-19/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2020-05-25

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

 

It is going to fall a lot more than 10 million, absolutely no doubt.

A very optimistic number IMO it will drop by over 50% . 

Edited May 25, 20206 yr by keith101

Interesting. Talks about the importance of quality tourists as opposed to mass tourism in the same breath as saying the Chinese will be the first likely to come back. Seems like an oxymoron to me.

I have little doubt there were a handful of quality tourists from China pre-Covid. But among those appalling herds trotting behind their flag-waving guides they were not. And that has been the vast, vast, vast majority of Chinese visitors, was it not? So what exactly is it going to be that will turn that situation around post-Covid? Short answer: Nothing.

16 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

Interesting. Talks about the importance of quality tourists as opposed to mass tourism in the same breath as saying the Chinese will be the first likely to come back. Seems like an oxymoron to me.

Working in marketing, she should also know it will take ages to change people's perception about Thailand which is seen as a mass tourist market.  And occupancy rates of 4 and 5 stars were quite high pre-Covid, so it doesn't make sense.

Regarding this 10 million figures, where does that come form. 3 weeks ago, it was supposed to be down from (almost) 40 million to 14 !

 

40 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

Interesting. Talks about the importance of quality tourists as opposed to mass tourism in the same breath as saying the Chinese will be the first likely to come back. Seems like an oxymoron to me.

Those two are diametrically opposed. Nobody seeking quality wants to cram into overloaded mass destinations. 

Anyway - this video was talking about focussing on the high end visitor for 5&6star hotel from the Asean region. So that could well include china and Korea and thailand. I think it makes sense - forget backpackers etc.

But it also may be quite difficult if one cannot just stroll about like one used to. And quarantine etc will be an issue. Im pretty sure a 2nd wave is soon to come anyway - in one or another of the rainy seasons.

9 minutes ago, eeworldwide said:

Anyway - this video was talking about focussing on the high end visitor for 5&6star hotel from the Asean region. So that could well include china and Korea and thailand. I think it makes sense - forget backpackers etc.

And this will doom a large segment of the tourism industry. So not good news for those folks. The problem is simple - high end travelers have far better choices, and there are is not even close to enough of them to offset the losses in this sector. Thailand's tourism industry is in for a very serious shakeout.

Deluxe high end tourists w t f, delusion. No one comes to Thailand for a deluxe high end experience, they come because it's cheap and it's not as cheap as it use to be.

 

Western men come for cheap sex, backpackers come for cheap party experiences, Chinese come for walking around and annoying everyone else, Indian men come for cheap sex but can't get any, African men come for cheap sex but get fat birds.

Edited May 25, 20206 yr by tribalfusion001

4 minutes ago, tribalfusion001 said:

Deluxe high end tourists w t f, delusion. No one comes to Thailand for a deluxe high end experience, they come because it's cheap and it's not as cheap as it use to be.

There are some exceptions. There are US celebrities who come for the islands and beaches. However, this is but a handful of people. Not going to help the overall picture.

11 minutes ago, timendres said:

There are some exceptions. There are US celebrities who come for the islands and beaches. However, this is but a handful of people. Not going to help the overall picture.

That is true, very small scale, difficult to scale up. One of them was talking about certain resorts to herd the tourists to, I presume Samui, Phuket and Krabi. They would not be high end deluxe resorts, very scenic though.

 

They will just have to get use to less tourists for a few years.

When I see that restaurant in thee video, I feel like I'll be better off enjoying my wife's delicious Thai, Western, Indian and Mexican food at home. I won't spend any money on a restaurant where I have to wear a mask. There are limits.

41 minutes ago, tribalfusion001 said:

they come because it's cheap and it's not as cheap as it use to be.

There are plenty of places nearby that are cheaper. There's a reason tourist hordes don't descend on Jakarta though, as you need to compete on more than just price.

 

Vietnam has a better chance of competing, but while some complain about not being welcome in Thailand, in some ways Vietnam is worse (xenophobic undertones, Thailand is more carefree in that respect). I've been passive aggressive hassled by a drunk Vietnamese male about my 'date' (incidentally, a purely platonic relationship). Something that not only has never happened in Thailand, there has not even been a sniff of that 'what are you doing with a foreigner' attitude.

Edited May 25, 20206 yr by jacob29

If you make your bed out of poison ivy, don't complain about the itching.

1 hour ago, tribalfusion001 said:

African men come for cheap sex but get fat birds.

The ones I see on Sukhumvit rd Nana and Saigon Bui Vien seemed to be working as pharmacists. 

29 minutes ago, jacob29 said:

Vietnam has a better chance of competing, but while some complain about not being welcome in Thailand, in some ways Vietnam is worse (xenophobic undertones, Thailand is more carefree in that respect). I've been passive aggressive hassled by a drunk Vietnamese male about my 'date' (incidentally, a purely platonic relationship). Something that not only has never happened in Thailand, there has not even been a sniff of that 'what are you doing with a foreigner' attitude.

Then you have been quite insulated. It is here, and quite unpleasant at times. The things I have heard spoken by Thai men directed at my (now ex) wife and my girlfriend would make your hair stand on end.

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

The ones I see on Sukhumvit rd Nana and Saigon Bui Vien seemed to be working as pharmacists. 

I was going to put that 555

2 minutes ago, timendres said:

Then you have been quite insulated. It is here, and quite unpleasant at times. The things I have heard spoken by Thai men directed at my (now ex) wife and my girlfriend would make your hair stand on end.

The Thais are very xenophobic and racist, don't like africans, don't like Indians, don't like Arabs, don't like Chinese, like farang because have white skin.

 

I've heard some Thais mentioning about girls in the local Thai bar being garee. I can pick out some of the conversation, it's mainly about food though 55.

3 hours ago, tribalfusion001 said:

Deluxe high end tourists w t f, delusion. No one comes to Thailand for a deluxe high end experience, they come because it's cheap and it's not as cheap as it use to be.

 

Western men come for cheap sex, backpackers come for cheap party experiences, Chinese come for walking around and annoying everyone else, Indian men come for cheap sex but can't get any, African men come for cheap sex but get fat birds.

Chinese come for a cheap exotic experience. 

Chinese love to watch folkloristic places and races, and Thailand is much cheaper than Austria or Texas. Zero-dollar tours.

3 hours ago, timendres said:

Then you have been quite insulated. It is here, and quite unpleasant at times. The things I have heard spoken by Thai men directed at my (now ex) wife and my girlfriend would make your hair stand on end.

Fair point, if I understood Thai I expect things could be different. Nonetheless I don't speak Vietnamese either :). Maybe Thai's try to be more discrete about it, or it's simply increased exposure to foreigners gives them fatigue talking smack to girls every time they see them with foreigners.

They are more discreet,  avoiding conflict. 

16 hours ago, webfact said:

The future of Thai tourism post COVID-19

And what will happen if no farang clean the beaches soiled by thais

Time to look for high end booze and sex tourists.

17 hours ago, Misterwhisper said:

I have little doubt there were a handful of quality tourists from China pre-Covid. But among those appalling herds trotting behind their flag-waving guides they were not. And that has been the vast, vast, vast majority of Chinese visitors, was it not? So what exactly is it going to be that will turn that situation around post-Covid? Short answer: Nothing.

Bring back those Nigerians!!  They must spend a lot, given the amount of time they tend to stay here!!  ????

I hope every country has the brain to stimulate tourism IN OWN COuNTRY

Talk is cheap.  You want higher end tourists?  Drop your damned Baht down to 10-year averages.  It would do wonders for your exports, too.

Based on the "new normal" criteria to even enter the kingdom, how many well heeled tourists will comply with the pre-flight medical requirements, insurance, embassy visits (how do you visit a closed embassy) and then a 14 day in-country quarantine in order to start the HISO luxury holiday. No thought out that well. The Thai Embassy staff were recalled from certain countries, so if some of these embassies remain closed in low demand countries, then the tourist's holiday embarkation point may not actually have an embassy and the tourist would need to travel via another country that has an active Thai Embassy in order to meet the embassy visit criteria.

 

Then 14 day quarantine, whilst being financially gouged by the "Business Class" hotel for accommodation and food, as well as the associated compulsory Private Hospital medical visit costs. Hence why the Thai Government is teaming up (scheming up) with Private Hospitals and Hotels to provide this luxury 14 day chill out holiday.

 

So for me, in order to get home to BKK at this stage I would need to travel via the UK and go through quarantine, or a secondary compliant Asian Country (likely with quarantine restrictions as well) in order to satisfy the Thai embassy visit criteria.

 

So in no way an easy relaxing holiday jaunt if that were the purpose. 

if having Chinese traveling in, that may detour others from coming. expecting further drop

 

 

On 5/26/2020 at 6:58 AM, Oldie said:

Time to look for high end booze and sex tourists.

Given that the price of a special massage and a beer have quadrupled over the last 15 years my guess is that all booze and sex tourist are already at the 'high end.'