Hoteliers push back at Thailand’s shift to target high-end tourists

By Anne Somanas

 

Thailand plans to turn away from mass tourism and target high-spending travellers; tourists walking in Wat Arun temple in Bangkok, Thailand pictured

 

Thai hotel industry professionals are concerned that the government’s plan to shift its focus away from mass tourism and backpackers to high-spending travellers could mean that small businesses will be overlooked.

 

Officials last week announced a new luxury push to help make up for the current lack of inbound tourism, following media reports that Thailand’s travel bubbles proposal will not be ready for implementation by July and international flights may not resume before September.

 

Anthony Lark, president, Phuket Hotels Association (PHA), stressed that small hotels have a key role to play in the country’s tourism recovery. He elaborated: “It’s great to drive business away from mass tourism in the long-term, yet higher rates should ideally be linked to all levels of the business, not just the luxury sector – the recovery has to also include hotels that are three- and four-star, not just five-star.”

 

Full story: https://www.ttgasia.com/2020/06/22/hoteliers-push-back-at-thailands-shift-to-target-high-end-tourists/

 

-- © Copyright TTG ASIA 2020-06-24

 

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13 minutes ago, webfact said:

following media reports that Thailand’s travel bubbles proposal will not be ready for implementation by July

Well blow me sounds like the idea of the bubbles is gummed up a bit .. 

I don't blame them. It's all 'hi-so'/army claptrap. There's always been this thing with Thailand and 'high end' visitors, typically through gov mouthpieces who don't even know what one is. Bottom line: they ain't coming and never will en-masse. Stop snubbing your bread n butter faithful backpackers and standard tourists. Your country needs NORMAL people to visit to satiate the economy + you ain't got the infrastructure for the toffs. Where's Thanatorn! 

Ain't nobody coming if 30 days covid free for is a condition.

Edited June 23, 20206 yr by tribalfusion001

53 minutes ago, webfact said:

yet higher rates should ideally be linked to all levels of the business

anthony is a funny thai name.

8 minutes ago, mr mr said:

anthony is a funny thai name.

He is born in Sydney and isn't Thai.

 

 

Edited June 23, 20206 yr by Don Mega

Just savour the fact that there are no Chinese by the bus load at the moment.  But, by Christmas they will be back...maybe in lower overall numbers but still by the bus load!  

When will they learn that Thailand is and have been known as a cheap destination and the bread and butter of tourism in this country have been and still is the low to middle class tourists and not the "high end" that probably only make 10% or so of the total incoming?...

34 minutes ago, ezzra said:

When will they learn that Thailand is and have been known as a cheap destination and the bread and butter of tourism in this country have been and still is the low to middle class tourists and not the "high end" that probably only make 10% or so of the total incoming?...

Coming out on top with the whole covid thing has gotten into generals head that Thailand is superior in all aspects and he already said so.

 

just look at their plan of recovery , it’s to move away from being tourism dependant , export dependant but be leaders in development, banking , medical etc .

 

clearly delusional, total and utter lack of understanding about Thailand , it’s position in the world and it’s capabilities 

Edited June 23, 20206 yr by BestB

Another not so great idea from the Thai government now wanting to meddle in the hoteliers businesses.

 

The hoteliers know that this government doesn't know left from right and have caused enough collateral damage from the shut down, the hoteliers know their businesses and how they can survive with the usual cheap Charlie farang tourists and backpackers so why change things because some not so bright spark up top wants to change things, when does the control stop.

Edited June 23, 20206 yr by 4MyEgo

26 minutes ago, BestB said:

Coming out on top with the whole covid thing has gotten into generals head that Thailand is superior in all aspects and he already said so.

 

just look at their plan of recovery , it’s to move away from being tourism dependant , export dependant but be leaders in development, banking , medical etc .

 

clearly delusional, total and utter lack of understanding about Thailand , it’s position in the world and it’s capabilities 

That’s a very interesting point - Thail people genuinely believe that Thailand is the best place in the world and they are the best people: all ideas are created there, all the best inventions, they were never colonized because of their power (not because of their geographical location or the fact the then rulers just allowed the British and French in to take what they wanted)

 

very proud nation, but very misguided. 

1 hour ago, Don Mega said:

1 hour ago, mr mr said:

anthony is a funny thai name.

He is born in Sydney and isn't Thai.

quite impressive you picked up on that. 

Just now, mr mr said:

quite impressive you picked up on that. 

Thought it was pretty obvious so not sure why you were having a cry about it.

3 minutes ago, Don Mega said:

Thought it was pretty obvious so not sure why you were having a cry about it.

you can't be that obtuse can you ? 

Where I live is a popular destination for travellers, for the climate, fantastic temples, hill tribe people etc etc, and we have 300 baht guesthouses up to 5000 baht a night hotels like Le Meridien and Dusit Thani, but it doesn't necessarily follow the quality of the Le Meridien visitors is any better than the people staying in a guest house.

 

At least I see no evidence of it when I am out and about.

Oh! Soo... they are just gonna refuse the backpackers at the border? 

Don't high end tourists seek high end destinations??? ????

And herein lies the seemingly immortal struggle of the wealthy and everyone else they seek to repress.

Classic class struggle. 
"We only want to cater to our own and the rest of the unwashed masses can feel free to drop off the end of the Earth as none of you have any worth to us, well, except as servants and "human resources" and targets for wealth extraction."
Never ends, does it? 

8 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

Don't high end tourists seek high end destinations??? ????

Waiting for the raw sewage into pattaya beach pic....aka Hiso Waterfall!!   200 bt!

2 hours ago, Grumpy John said:

Just savour the fact that there are no Chinese by the bus load at the moment.  But, by Christmas they will be back...maybe in lower overall numbers but still by the bus load!  

I for one will be the first to welcome our Glorious Mama Cup Overlords...  do not make eye contact!

How about this plan: be happy with any tourist that wants to1 come. Give each and every one the best experience possible and hope next year round more want to come.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Thai hotel industry professionals are concerned that the government’s plan to shift its focus away from mass tourism and backpackers to high-spending travellers could mean that small businesses will be overlooked.

As much as T.A.T would love to target wealthy tourists they cannot in any way dictate who comes & who doesn't.

All they can do is provide suitable accommodation, amenities, entertainment and wait to see who comes.

The prices of everything will ultimately dictate who wants to come look or not.

Given that most hotels serve breakfast like this, its easy to understand why they dont think they have a snowflakes chance in Hell of attracting high end tourists.

 

I can't believe the hotel groups didn't completely ignore this recent bizarre press release from the government. 

 

We all know this won't / can't happen at all. 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Hoteliers push back at Thailand’s shift to target high-end tourists

 

And why wouldn't they? Occupancy rates for hotels would be sitting very close to ZERO if they went down this path. By all means try to attract high end tourists but common sense suggests this should not be the priority as history shows budget travel is what has allowed Thailand's travel and tourist industries to grow into what we see today and is what has provided employment to probably millions.

I do believe, however, that it has grown and morphed into an ugly, unsustainable monster that needs to be reeled in but not to the detriment and exclusion of the sector that provides and has invested in most of the jobs.

Vietnam will be very happy to hear of this mess of a governments plan for hiso tourism ????

oh just stop it, it will never happen

38 minutes ago, Bob12345 said:

How about this plan: be happy with any tourist that wants to1 come. Give each and every one the best experience possible and hope next year round more want to come.

I see several faults frankly: such a policy will not involve managing the "industry" in any proactive sense, therefore their will be little or no requirement for committees, meetings, field trips to see and experience things first hand, and of course the budgets and opportunities to amass significant amounts of "influence".

 

Tourism is a significant part of the countries GDP and as such must be managed. As the country is run for and by the wealthy and influential, the wealthy and influential visitors are the tourists we wish to attract, as they will stay in our ( or our influential masters) hotels, shop in our designer outlets, and eat in our restaurants.

 

Lower quality (less wealthy) and heaven forbid younger tourists, who could quite possibly mix with our own "hoi palloi", and most certainly won't use such hotels, shops or restaurants are really not wanted or needed - any money they bring into the country will be spread amongst the lower orders, disrupting the new feudal - sorry I meant normal - society which we are now making such great steps in establishing. Whatever would be the point in allowing such tourism, when our people have made such sacrifices in recent times to allow us to establish a "new normal"? Besides, what do the ordinary people need tourism for, they can always go back to the farm and wait for us to bung them a couple of thousand Baht from time to time!

 

Must go, off to a three day meeting in a rather splendid resort, to work up the selection criteria we will have to apply for our new tourist industry - the limo and Highway Police escort cars are waiting patiently outside...

TYPICAL Thai mentality... sigh
If your restaurant is sitting empty; you DOUBLE the prices to compensate your losses.
Jesus... Thai stupidity never ends.

 

What is "high-end"