Channel 7 report: No tourists and desperate times for vendors/ hotels in Pattaya

[Eindhoven]

On 8/20/2020 at 9:49 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

It's no more than what happens every low season. Strange how this time it's "different". The unemployed bargirls used to go home to the village, so what's different now?

 

You are right about FARANGS not coming back anytime soon, but I fully expect the Chinese to be back in the not so distant future, not that they spend much if any money on bars and suchlike.

 

Hmmmm... I used to think that you were a seasoned and knowledgeable traveller. But some of your comments of late....

I think leaving Thailand may have really affected you.

 

[Wongkitlo]

On 8/19/2020 at 7:11 PM, Leaver said:

That may not be the case for citizens of other countries, perhaps the majority of countries.  

It is still possible to find insurance. World Nomads covers most countries but not extra cheap. I had to send them several times before I had it in writing "You are insured " . Due to Government travel warnings they will not cover for any Covid related illness or any travel or flight disruptions. They will cover for general non covid related illness or accident.

[Leaver]

7 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Indeed. Don't have to pay rent, grow own food.

Correct.  

 

They won't be making any income, but have no expenses, either.  

 

If they come to Pattaya, they may make a small income in a competitive market, but may not even cover their expenses.  As you say, rent is the main expense.

 

One, maybe two customers a week, if lucky, wouldn't be worth it.   

[Leaver]

2 hours ago, Eindhoven said:

 

Quite possibly. I really have no idea as to how it is for people from any other country than mine.

Well, every other country but yours does represent a big part of the Thai tourism market.  ????

[Leaver]

1 hour ago, Wongkitlo said:

It is still possible to find insurance. World Nomads covers most countries but not extra cheap. I had to send them several times before I had it in writing "You are insured " . Due to Government travel warnings they will not cover for any Covid related illness or any travel or flight disruptions. They will cover for general non covid related illness or accident.

Do they cover citizens of all nationalities?  

[Thomas J]

On 7/10/2020 at 12:21 PM, webfact said:

Channel 7 report: No tourists and desperate times for vendors/ hotels in Pattaya

Not a problem, the government can always rescue them with a plan like they have for Phuket.  Attract those who can come for over 30 days, be quarantined for 14 of those, get tested prior to flight, and pay for health insurance covering a minimum of $100000 USD.  Those 3 people should fill up Thailands tourist traffic nicely. 

[torturedsole]

On 8/12/2020 at 10:36 AM, Leaver said:

It seems like UK residents can secure travel insurance for Thailand, but still, many other countries have their Foreign Office warnings and therefore no travel insurance.    

We've an annual travel insurance policy issued by Bupa UK which expires at end of October but they recently sent us a letter informing that we won't be able to renew the policy, thanks for your business but please find a broker if you want to renew in October.

 

That's not a positive omen.  

 

 

[Wongkitlo]

20 hours ago, Leaver said:

Do they cover citizens of all nationalities?  

Not many cover once you have left your home country. I think they are set up especially for this so they cover anyone. It is not that cheap. Mine was about $120 australian per month. I think a little less than 90usd. I was also told to check Fastcover. Not sure if just for Australians. I'd already bought Nomads.

Edited August 23, 2020 by Wongkitlo
Edit

[Leaver]

14 hours ago, torturedsole said:

We've an annual travel insurance policy issued by Bupa UK which expires at end of October but they recently sent us a letter informing that we won't be able to renew the policy, thanks for your business but please find a broker if you want to renew in October.

 

That's not a positive omen.  

 

 

What options have you got, come October?

[Leaver]

2 hours ago, Wongkitlo said:

Not many cover once you have left your home country. I think they are set up especially for this so they cover anyone. It is not that cheap. Mine was about $120 australian per month. I think a little less than 90usd. I was also told to check Fastcover. Not sure if just for Australians. I'd already bought Nomads.

Thanks.

 

I'm fine for insurance, at this stage, but always good to have a back up plan here.  

[3NUMBAS]

by this time next year they will be even more desperate so learn to live with it

[Leaver]

2 hours ago, 3NUMBAS said:

by this time next year they will be even more desperate so learn to live with it

I wonder at what point does desperation turn into defeat?  

[meand]

On 7/10/2020 at 1:44 PM, freesudani said:

They seriously think that tourists will be flocking to Thailand in October?

Tourists from Thailand, maybe, yes.. i suppose they think that. Probably true if they drop prices to where they should be when there is no demand. 

[torturedsole]

10 hours ago, Leaver said:

What options have you got, come October?

Haven't even bothered looking, Leaver.  

 

We rebooked our LHR-BKK return late May 2020 flight to November 2020 but don't envisage that we'll be going on holiday to LOS this year.  The travel insurance issue is therefore pretty much redundant for the foreseeable future.  Let's see what next year brings, jeez.  

[Leaver]

On 8/24/2020 at 1:35 AM, torturedsole said:

Haven't even bothered looking, Leaver.  

 

We rebooked our LHR-BKK return late May 2020 flight to November 2020 but don't envisage that we'll be going on holiday to LOS this year.  The travel insurance issue is therefore pretty much redundant for the foreseeable future.  Let's see what next year brings, jeez.  

Yes. Travel in 2020 will not be possible for intercontinental tourism, and a lot of international tourism.  Maybe the second half of 2021.  We can only hope. 

[thaibeachlovers]

On 8/22/2020 at 4:57 PM, morrobay said:

Says someone who obviously is not in Pattaya now. And this is about a lot more than the girls

 

Don't need to be in Pattaya now to know how it is in low season.

 

And this is about a lot more than the girls

It's the same anywhere they impose lockdowns.

[rott]

On 8/17/2020 at 6:59 AM, roy bennett said:

their monumental disrespect is all the tourists and foreign residents deserve. 

Which category do you fit into? 

[rott]

On 8/10/2020 at 1:08 AM, 3NUMBAS said:

the planes that once brought tourists are now mothballed in the arizona desert and pilots are being sacked to cut costs so hard to see where any uptick could come from .all arilines are slashing staff and aircraft

True. 

How long would it take to get the whole thing up and running again, including all the admin and support staff.? 

[rott]

On 8/22/2020 at 7:19 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

I'm not there but I get the picture.

Doesn't matter if they lose job because of low season or because of virus, still have to go back to village. The only difference is it affects more of them now.

I've been in a bar beer ( before virus ) when the girls were told that the bar would be closing because of low season- wasn't a happy night at all.

Have you ever seen it when most of the hotels are closed. When the ones that are open are empty. (can't remember the last time I saw a room light on at The Lek). When the Wonderful bar and  the Bodega are lucky to see a dozen customers at any one time. And the Five Star on Beach Rd is lucky to see that many all day. 

TBL you generally make sense, but this is like nothing you have ever witnessed. 

[Wongkitlo]

On 8/28/2020 at 9:06 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

Don't need to be in Pattaya now to know how it is in low season.

 

And this is about a lot more than the girls

It's the same anywhere they impose lockdowns.

Is more like no season than low season. This is something different than usual low season. Usually different nationalities have holidays and come through the year- French in June, Italians later in the year, Russians anytime. Not this year.

[Leaver]

On 8/29/2020 at 12:38 PM, Wongkitlo said:

Is more like no season than low season. This is something different than usual low season.

It's like a season of Buddha Days or Election Days, without tourists in hotels.  ????

[thaibeachlovers]

On 8/29/2020 at 4:59 PM, rott said:

Have you ever seen it when most of the hotels are closed. When the ones that are open are empty. (can't remember the last time I saw a room light on at The Lek). When the Wonderful bar and  the Bodega are lucky to see a dozen customers at any one time. And the Five Star on Beach Rd is lucky to see that many all day. 

TBL you generally make sense, but this is like nothing you have ever witnessed. 

Of course I've witnessed it. After the tsunami I got a great deal on a renovated hotel room in Patong because there were few tourists. Phi Phi was even more destroyed. The places I'd stayed before had vanished to the point I didn't know where they were exactly. After that I went up to Kamala Beach and that was desperate. There is nothing new under the sun.

 

I remember the Lek with fondness. I stayed a month there after my divorce. Lovely old style hotel and better than the new ( and vastly more expensive ) boxes put up. I also enjoyed the breakfast buffet. Didn't need to eat rest of the day.

The Wonderful bar wasn't really wonderful if we are honest.

 

Thanks for the comment.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 8/29/2020 at 5:38 PM, Wongkitlo said:

Is more like no season than low season. This is something different than usual low season. Usually different nationalities have holidays and come through the year- French in June, Italians later in the year, Russians anytime. Not this year.

I wasn't saying it isn't bad. I was just pointing out that an unemployed bar girl from any reason is income devoid and goes back home to survive.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 8/29/2020 at 4:44 PM, rott said:

True. 

How long would it take to get the whole thing up and running again, including all the admin and support staff.? 

They could have every plane ready to fly and it would not help them if the passengers are not there. Could be years before enough passengers wish to pay to fly on holiday.

If domestic holidays become popular, people may decline to fly just to lie by a swimming pool and get p****d even if flights are available.

[jacko45k]

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

The Wonderful bar wasn't really wonderful if we are honest.

Hey I used to think a lot of the place but am going back some years. Boy could they murder 'Hotel California'....And at midnight, the exodus to catch the special show in the dingy GGB just down the road (13/1-Yamoto), was it called 'Hot and Cold'?

[petermik]

9 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

 

The Wonderful bar wasn't really wonderful if we are honest.

 

 

I am honest and I have fond memories of Wonderful 2....dashing in before cut off time (7pm) for the cheap beers and ordering a bucketload...loved by the Aussies and Kiwis with great looking girls (mostly) and one of the most miserable and ignorant mamasan,s you could ever wish to meet.....great days

 

 

[Wongkitlo]

3 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I wasn't saying it isn't bad. I was just pointing out that an unemployed bar girl from any reason is income devoid and goes back home to survive.

In your other post you wrote 

It's no more than what happens every low season. Strange how this time it's "different".  

It seems really different thìs year. True some can go home but not all. It is different to other places under lockdown because many countries have government support. The only support seems to be farung bar owners collecting donations and providing food. Sadly it does not just affect Pattaya but is affecting  a lot of the surrounding  villages where people commute to Pattaya  for work or they provide services for Pattaya businesses.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 8/31/2020 at 5:34 PM, jacko45k said:

Hey I used to think a lot of the place but am going back some years. Boy could they murder 'Hotel California'....And at midnight, the exodus to catch the special show in the dingy GGB just down the road (13/1-Yamoto), was it called 'Hot and Cold'?

Murder is very apt when referencing western songs played by Thai groups. They should stick to Thai songs which are just as enjoyable.

I seem to remember a GGB of that name from when I stayed on Yamato, but never went in it.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 8/31/2020 at 7:47 PM, Wongkitlo said:

In your other post you wrote 

It's no more than what happens every low season. Strange how this time it's "different".  

It seems really different thìs year. True some can go home but not all. It is different to other places under lockdown because many countries have government support. The only support seems to be farung bar owners collecting donations and providing food. Sadly it does not just affect Pattaya but is affecting  a lot of the surrounding  villages where people commute to Pattaya  for work or they provide services for Pattaya businesses.

Fair enough.

 

Thailand is far more "capitalist" than most of the countries we farangs come from, which is why we went there- cheap bargirls.

That's why we are concerned that the government isn't giving them any support, but that's the other side of the coin from the good times we knew before.

Can't have it both ways. If LOS goes socialist and provides unemployment support the taxes go up and BGs get more expensive.

[Leaver]

On 9/3/2020 at 9:51 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

Can't have it both ways. If LOS goes socialist and provides unemployment support the taxes go up and BGs get more expensive.

Issan is kept poor on purpose, so it supplies sex workers to the southern tourists areas, of which most properties are owned by wealthy Thai's.  

 

if they ever implemented some government assistance, you can bet most in Issan would not qualify.

 

Edited September 4, 2020 by Leaver