Thailand Aims to Turn Away From Mass Tourism and Target the Wealthy

[Abmong]

To attract the wealthy you need to spend the bag bucks to clean up the place. Government officials funnelling public funds into their back pockets won't like that. hence it won't happen.

[Redline]

The rich can go anywhere they want.  Why would the come to Thailand?

so, will they be canceling all of the airport upgrades and expansions?

Edited June 22, 2020 by Redline

[burgdawg]

Thai Government is about to receive a very harsh economics lessons from all the "dirty falang" they have actively rallied against. This 90k baht entry fee is doomed to fail, then what? It is well-known that HiSo Bangkokians look down their long noses at anyone from Isaan. Isaan stunners are able to make $50k+ USD per annum if decent-looking and accommodating. Now halt thousands of family incomes across Isaan what happens? The Thai Giov't singlehandedly gave life to the shirts that are of the color red. Not good and certainly not smart. Thailand is destabilizing themselves. T h a k s i n has been given a cause to return.

 

TAT prints up some fancy fliers and billboards to announce some new program, a joke. Thais have never heard of the term "market research." Punters will vacation elsewhere. Isaan will be hit hard. Violence in Thailand will skyrocket as funds never arrive. Pol Pot would be proud, smiling from his grave. One of his actions was eerily similar to the Thai proposal: eliminate money. Next, all market will be banned.

 

A portend for this trend is easy perceived the way that Thai Immigration went about jacking up their Long Term Non-Immigrant "O" Visa fees. I had a valid one for 13 years, which cost me approx $145. USD per annum, including a single re-entry stamp. Suddenly they went to 800k in a Thai Bank or hire an Immigration Service that charged $750 USD for a bond in lieu of the 800k. This is damaging to the many military retirees living up in Udon and Ubon, a very careless policy change. Even those that paid the exorbitant new fees found out later that upon departure from the Kingdom, those new pricey visas are suddenly null and void. Typical Thai "gotcha." Their kamoi mindset is apparent as the Chinese ripping every businesses off for its IP. Standard Asia fare. If Thai Gov't wants falangs to return, an annual Long Term Retirement Extension needs to be priced $250 USD or less.

But what do I know?

Sad to say goodbye to the Kingdom. In Pattaya, the current level of punters have it okay---for now. Soon enough, once Walking Street gets bulldozed, the Thai BiB will begin picking off the remaining falangs one-by-one. Pol Pot did the same. Before corona, we had safety in numbers if anything went wrong. I could find good info here on TV, or at Nikom over a cold Leo. Those days are gone. It is the ecosystem that the Thai Gov't doesn't grasp: the knock-on effects. They will be horrific by Christmas 2020. We all see it coming.

 

Thailand has killed the golden goose. Hookers are the capstone of the baht pyramid, but Thai Govt fails to look at the baht-velocity: the various kitchens, fruit vendors, rent, clothing, shoes, hair salons, massage shops, motorsai taxis, motorbike purchases for themselves and gfs, all gone. Batten down the hatches lads, by Christmas, we will revisit this volatile subject. I see no good coming from this whatsoever. A mighty storm is brewing.

[burgdawg]

Greatest Hits here. Recall this one:

 

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1149863-thailands-tourism-minister-everything-will-be-fine-after-songkran-the-hot-weather-will-blow-the-virus-away/page/16/?tab=comments#comment-15093418

 

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Thailand's tourism minister: Everything will be fine after Songkran - the hot weather will blow the virus away!

[DoctorG]

3 hours ago, burgdawg said:

to the shirts that are of the color red. Not good and certainly not smart. Thailand is destabilizing themselves. T h a k s i n has been given a cause to return.

I love your deliberate wording/phrasing. Probably wise. ????

[ChrisY1]

I for one believe that high end tourists just cannot wait to travel here...being driven around in a coach by some drugged up non driver...going to high end stores in the malls where duty free prices are the same prices as window prices....scrambling for the prawn buffet....

So much more preferable than skiing in St. Moritz....sipping aged cognac on the banks of the Seine....helo flights over the Rockies...etc

Edited June 23, 2020 by ChrisY1

[Hayduke]

Thailand Aims to Turn Away From Mass Tourism and Target the Wealthy

 

Naturally….high dollar, wealthy, and valued visitors will have a choice of fashionable and trendy tracking devices…

 

 

 

Edited June 23, 2020 by Hayduke

[brucegoniners]

Oh yeah, I'm sure that will do it, lol

[Logosone]

On 6/22/2020 at 8:10 AM, MobileContent said:

Those loaded with cash go to places to be seen. St. Moritz, Nice, Monaco, Marbella, Singapore, Whistler, Macau and a few rounds of black jack and poker at the casino's.

 

The thing is the American and European rich really prefer to live in America or Europe. That's why Aspen, St Tropez, Nice, Cannes, Monaco etc are destinations of choice. If they have a beach home, yes they may buy in St Barts or similar locations.

 

Yes, very rarely now some rich will opt to live in Singapore like Jim Rogers, but many Asian rich still prefer to move to Europe or North America. The problem Thailand has is that it is not clean. The burning of garbage, poor air, all that compares poorly to places like Monaco where the streets are cleaned every morning.

 

However, Monaco has that staid boring vibe, so Thailand can play to its advantage, edgy, crazy, party destination with good food, sex and massage is still the best option. It's served Thailand very well, why mess with that formula.

[KC 71]

18 hours ago, burgdawg said:

TAT is a running comedy show. How many of us punters recall their ill-advised repackaging of Pattaya as the "HoneyMoon Capital of the World?" Recall that two-year stunt? I've heard that many Eastern European couples busted up over that stupid marketing plan. As in formal complaints filed with The Hague.

Medical Tourism? Too pricey. The deal is to get sliced 'n diced in Chennai, Indian. Indian Hospitals are much better and affordable vs Thai Hospitals. Once stable, then fly to Thailand to rehab. India is too rough to rehab. I've done 5 major surgeries in India and their doctors, hospitals and staff are all World Class.

Some of the finest Surgeons in the world.

[Stargeezr]

I have seen a few wealthy people fly first class to where they go, also seen

many wealthy people get off cruise ships in various parts of the world.

  They were certainly not in great numbers, as a lot of wealthy people

do not go vacation that often, or for too long.  I think Thailand is dreaming

and some one should shake them awake, before they go totally bankrupt.

Geezer

[Logosone]

Yes, Indians are also pioneering health city in Grand Cayman.

 

They're not very keen on anaesthetics though.

[Deli]

18 hours ago, retsdon said:

Go and have a look at the boats in the Royal Phuket Marina, and then go and have a look at the boats in Port Hercule Monaco, or even English Harbour, Antigua.

 

The wealthy do not, and never will, take their holidays on Thailand.

...and by far not fill the number of available hotel rooms

[Accidental Tourist]

First I really hope tourism will come back to Thailand, as many of my friends and ex-colleague are currently out of job.

But TAT should stop dreaming and facing the reality: a change from Mass tourism back to premium is quite impossible, many countries have tried and ALL have failed. Let not forget that Mass tourism where making the numbers after 2008 where the airport where closed for several weeks during the yellow shirt protest. First came the Indian, Iranian, after 2011 there where the Russian, which been banned from traveling to Egypt after their revolution and a dispute with Putin. Than came more and more the Chinese and the arrivals raised by the millions. 

The reason of medical tourism to Thailand is because Thailand is not better than western countries, but cheaper. And Thailand as shopper paradise?! Today I can buy cheaper in Europe including service, and bargain sales are not fitting in the Premium bracket. S what is it then Numbers (which can only achieved with MASS} or Premium (less occupancy but higher spending; maybe..}.

[tomauasia]

20 hours ago, garyk said:

Got to love Thailand, one of the most polluted country in the world. Killing it's people, expats, and tourists with pollution and filth and wanting to cater to the rich. Hahaha

I look at these posts like I do paid advertising on TV, trying to sell you junk.

 

 

The tourism lady has succeeded  her own personal mission. To kill nightlife and send the country broke. She will be blamed and history soon. Rich tourists lol. I asked my sister who is wealthy due to brother  in law. They said no we wouldn't go. They prefer to support AU

[tomauasia]

23 hours ago, NB1986 said:

Definetely i agree with you...i dont think wealthy rich foreigner will walk into street markets, have some street foods instead they will walk into expensive restaurants, so if they are targeting wealthy is obvious that they dont care about how poor people will survive, is obvious also that billionares in Thailand have much more influence than i thought, fee weeks prior to this topic on TVF i saw a post from a richest man in Thai the CP guy said that he suggest and he think it would be best for Thailand that only wealthy tourist visit, the second thing luxury 14 days quarantine rooms have been made... Well good luck Thailand let rich people fill pockets more than ever while poor in Thailand will become more poor. 

Gov don't even bring the untaxed revenue into the picture. They are to dumb

Decades and billions of farang money super boosting the economy..They only account for taxed revenue. They are incompetent fools

 

[Logosone]

3 hours ago, Accidental Tourist said:

 

But TAT should stop dreaming and facing the reality: a change from Mass tourism back to premium is quite impossible, many countries have tried and ALL have failed.

Not only have countries that tried it failed, but it was usually a sign of impeding decline. Witness Mallorca, where one of the drivers of keeping out low-end tourism is in fact the anti-tourism eco-warrior group, that basically argue that Mallorca should revert to being a crafts and artisan island that makes shoes and leather goods. As a result now that Mallorca has reopened all that has returned is a smattering of family tourists, usually only in the expensive hotels, whereas mid-range hotels stay closed.

 

This will not be enough to keep Mallorcan tourism going. However, it is a dream come true for the eco-warrior opponents of mass tourism, who basically want tourism to die off altogether.

Edited June 23, 2020 by Logosone

[tomauasia]

21 hours ago, Trolleen said:

I agree with you. Thailand should rid of old farang who complain all the time. It is does not matter what government do. Never positive.

Why they stay in Thailand. ?Why they do not move  somewhere else?

Why don't you

[mrfill]

1 hour ago, Logosone said:

Not only have countries that tried it failed, but it was usually a sign of impeding decline. Witness Mallorca, where one of the drivers of keeping out low-end tourism is in fact the anti-tourism eco-warrior group, that basically argue that Mallorca should revert to being a crafts and artisan island that makes shoes and leather goods. As a result now that Mallorca has reopened all that has returned is a smattering of family tourists, usually only in the expensive hotels, whereas mid-range hotels stay closed.

 

This will not be enough to keep Mallorcan tourism going. However, it is a dream come true for the eco-warrior opponents of mass tourism, who basically want tourism to die off altogether.

Spain has only been open again for 2 days. Hardly surprising the numbers are down.

Last year Mallorca had 10 million visitors.

[steven100]

Last week Thailand's tourism minister unveiled a recovery strategy that would see the Southeast Asian nation try to attract well-heeled visitors rather than large numbers, once borders reopen.

The possibility of a "travel bubble" bilateral agreement with Australia was mentioned, with marketing efforts to be re-pitched towards "high-end visitors" and luxury travel, Tourism Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said last Thursday.

 

Around 800,000 Australians visit Thailand each year, meaning the suptropical nation's tourism economy will no doubt be eager to welcome Aussie visitors back as soon as it's safe to do so.

But what does this new pact mean for Aussie travellers who've historically flocked to the jungles, beaches and big cities for a good, cheap time?

Well it may mean, at least initially, travel in Thailand will have a very different look and feel to what we're accustomed to, with many strict new measures to be rolled out, and popular activities and free travel temporarily banned. Revellers seeking out full moon parties, cheap buckets of booze and backpacker-strewn beaches may need to readjust their expectations — and their travel budget. Here's what we know so far.

 

While the ins and outs of the proposed travel bubble are still being nutted out, Phiphat said agreements wouldn't be ready until at least August, but they hope to welcome visitors from around November to February, during the Northern Hemisphere winter months.

Given that the Australian Government has been saying that borders aren't likely to reopen for overseas travel this year, will a November date be out of the question for Aussies?

 

"While the proposed November-February target period from Thailand may feel optimistic, it isn't impossible — but it depends on both how Thailand handles any future outbreaks and where Australia and other target visitor countries are at in handling the virus," he tells 9Honey, though admits a 2021 date is more likely at this stage.

[Redline]

I like how they are grading tourists now-premium.  Is that the highest grade?

[burgdawg]

Thai Government has made it abundantly clear they do not want anymore "cheap Charlie's," which is their label for anyone not staying at the Dusit Thani.  That's fine! I think we should all assist the Thai government by not booking any flights to their Kingdom. Give them 2 years and they'll be dropping the annual fee for their visa back under $200 USD. Give them enough rope.....

[BigStar]

On 6/23/2020 at 12:12 PM, Accidental Tourist said:

a change from Mass tourism back to premium is quite impossible, many countries have tried and ALL have failed.

Placing some emphasis on premium isn't irrational. Thailand already has, and has had, mass tourism and it will likely continue w/o much promotion. A poster above thinks it hasn't failed with Mauritius.

 

On 6/23/2020 at 12:12 PM, Accidental Tourist said:

The reason of medical tourism to Thailand is because Thailand is not better than western countries, but cheaper.

That all depends. It can be better as well, depending on what you're getting and where in Western countries.

 

On 6/23/2020 at 12:12 PM, Accidental Tourist said:

And Thailand as shopper paradise?! Today I can buy cheaper in Europe including service, and bargain sales are not fitting in the Premium bracket.

You don't really understand the psychology of tourists' spending while on vacation. There's a reason the Ala Moana Center in Honolulu is the largest shopping mall in the world and one of the most successful.

 

Thailand has bargains but it also has plenty of premium stuff. In fact TVF Economists sneer every time a mall opens that nobody has the money to buy anything in the shops. ????

[sletraveler]

Round and round the topic goes   
when it stops nobody knows but surely it’ll get nowhere.