I've seen the grim reality of Thailand without tourists – and it isn't pretty

Chris Schalkx

The Telegraph

 

File Photo//Reuters

 

“Welcome, you’re our first guest this morning,” a waiter at Chiang Mai’s Woo Cafe sheepishly tells me. It’s 10.20, and I’m here for the first breakfast of my first post-lockdown holiday away from my home in Bangkok.

 

On my previous visits, the tables at this popular brunch spot in the leafy Wat Ket district were packed. Today, only two other seats fill up before I finish my coffee. 

 

With borders sealed off for most international travellers since early April, and domestic tourism practically at a standstill until July, Thailand’s tourist hot spots have had a rough few months. While I see friends in Europe slowly venturing out for holidays abroad again, it’s hard to be optimistic about the situation here.

 

Full story: https://uk.style.yahoo.com/ive-seen-grim-reality-thailand-131956256.html

 

-- yahoo! - 2020-08-28

Think on this, over 40 million Thais live in rural locations that never see a tourist and don't need them for their local economy.  Don't get tourism out of proportion.  It is less than 18% of GDP and not absolutely vital to Thailand. Watch this space. It may all virtually end and I dont think that many Thais will cry any tears if it does. At the very least, it may be confined to a few restricted areas only, such as Phuket and Pattaya. 

Strong baht, Fit to Fly letter, visas, covid certificate, quarantine, phone tracking, health insurance, tax on leaving, dual pricing, restricted travel.....add this to reduced incomes tourists now suffer and general concerns over health and safety issues even before covid......tourism is dead in the water.

3 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

Think on this, over 40 million Thais live in rural locations that never see a tourist and don't need them for their local economy.  Don't get tourism out of proportion.  It is less than 18% of GDP and not absolutely vital to Thailand. Watch this space. It may all virtually end and I dont think that many Thais will cry any tears if it does. At the very least, it may be confined to a few restricted areas only, such as Phuket and Pattaya. 

The money might not feed directly to them in a rural economy, but where do you think the money comes from for schools, roads, hospitals?....18% is a huge blow to every part of the Thai economy.

1 minute ago, Surelynot said:

Strong baht, Fit to Fly letter, visas, covid certificate, quarantine, phone tracking, health insurance, tax on leaving, dual pricing, restricted travel.....add this to reduced incomes tourists now suffer and general concerns over health and safety issues even before covid......tourism is dead in the water.

Gawd, when you put it like that then it doesn't sound too hopeful at all.

2 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

Think on this, over 40 million Thais live in rural locations that never see a tourist and don't need them for their local economy.  Don't get tourism out of proportion.  It is less than 18% of GDP and not absolutely vital to Thailand. Watch this space. It may all virtually end and I dont think that many Thais will cry any tears if it does. At the very least, it may be confined to a few restricted areas only, such as Phuket and Pattaya. 

Not much help people who can't bring food to table coz don't have tourist! They really don't care how many % of others don't need tourist!  

1 minute ago, OneeyedJohn said:

3 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

Strong baht, Fit to Fly letter, visas, covid certificate, quarantine, phone tracking, health insurance, tax on leaving, dual pricing, restricted travel.....add this to reduced incomes tourists now suffer and general concerns over health and safety issues even before covid......tourism is dead in the water.

Gawd, when you put it like that then it doesn't sound too hopeful at all.

Two lights at the end of the tunnel.....a very effective vaccine and a weakening baht.....otherwise "we are all doomed".

3 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

Think on this, over 40 million Thais live in rural locations that never see a tourist and don't need them for their local economy.  Don't get tourism out of proportion.  It is less than 18% of GDP and not absolutely vital to Thailand. Watch this space. It may all virtually end and I dont think that many Thais will cry any tears if it does. At the very least, it may be confined to a few restricted areas only, such as Phuket and Pattaya. 

Totally agree.  Include Bangkok (however many million) which is all but back to normal  ( we have a business here and have been trading continuously during the Covid-19 problem )  OK, I agree the tourist hot spots are quiet, however in reality what percentage of this relates to Bangkok. I've lived in Nonnthaburi for 11 years and other than when I go to immigration rarely see another farang let alone a tourist.

1 minute ago, DaLa said:

Totally agree.  Include Bangkok (however many million) which is all but back to normal  ( we have a business here and have been trading continuously during the Covid-19 problem )  OK, I agree the tourist hot spots are quiet, however in reality what percentage of this relates to Bangkok. I've lived in Nonnthaburi for 11 years and other than when I go to immigration rarely see another farang let alone a tourist.

You are missing the point.....that tourism money flows into the government coffers.....if it stops you will all be worse off regardless of how little you have been affected currently......funds will either not be available or you will have to pay more tax.

3 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

Think on this, over 40 million Thais live in rural locations that never see a tourist and don't need them for their local economy.  Don't get tourism out of proportion.  It is less than 18% of GDP and not absolutely vital to Thailand. Watch this space. It may all virtually end and I dont think that many Thais will cry any tears if it does. At the very least, it may be confined to a few restricted areas only, such as Phuket and Pattaya. 

At last some Facts, not Click Bait. So very true.We are all sorry, but Car Factories, Mines even Towns close wordwide. Its just re structure time here thanks to their Chinese Chums.

13 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

Think on this, over 40 million Thais live in rural locations that never see a tourist and don't need them for their local economy.  Don't get tourism out of proportion.  It is less than 18% of GDP and not absolutely vital to Thailand. Watch this space. It may all virtually end and I dont think that many Thais will cry any tears if it does. At the very least, it may be confined to a few restricted areas only, such as Phuket and Pattaya. 

What a nonsensical comment ' only 18% GDP' ! Its massively important and it's not 18 it's nearer 15% and maintains millions of jobs and produces taxes for Gov

2 minutes ago, DaLa said:

Totally agree.  Include Bangkok (however many million) which is all but back to normal  ( we have a business here and have been trading continuously during the Covid-19 problem )  OK, I agree the tourist hot spots are quiet, however in reality what percentage of this relates to Bangkok. I've lived in Nonnthaburi for 11 years and other than when I go to immigration rarely see another farang let alone a tourist.

True. I'm the other side of Bangkok, but same applies. People get on with their lives, hardly any farang around and certainly no tour groups; lots of small to medium building projects springing up.

Everyone seems to be the better for the difference. Masks? Distancing? Forget it down here.........

14 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

Think on this, over 40 million Thais live in rural locations that never see a tourist and don't need them for their local economy.  Don't get tourism out of proportion.  It is less than 18% of GDP and not absolutely vital to Thailand. Watch this space. It may all virtually end and I dont think that many Thais will cry any tears if it does. At the very least, it may be confined to a few restricted areas only, such as Phuket and Pattaya. 

The three legs of the Thai economic stool are agriculture...manufacturing...and tourism (in that order). When any of them are down (and tourism is basically out), the entire country and all its people suffer. Sure tourism is not the be all and end all of the economy, but it is an important component nonetheless and the faster it can safely be re-started the better.

You cannot take out 18% to 20% of a nation's income and believe the impact will not be huge.

 

The UK, for instance, has taken a similar hit, but it is not going to be on an ongoing basis as with Thailand and its tourism industry....

 

Add this to the political turmoil and I worry for the stability of the economy and society in general.

In a minute the wife and i are off for a walk in town ,or at least beach road here in Pattaya ,something we never used to do ,because of the traffic and Chinese tours  etc etc , its been dead for months ,more than half the places are closed with more going every day . I honestly cannot see it coming back to normal for years .

2 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

Two lights at the end of the tunnel.....a very effective vaccine and a weakening baht.....otherwise "we are all doomed".

 

Two lights at the end of the tunnel.....a very effective vaccine and a weakening baht less diluting of foreign currency value by printing money .....otherwise "we are all doomed".

 

I have corrected it for you

5 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

Two lights at the end of the tunnel.....a very effective vaccine and a weakening baht.....otherwise "we are all doomed".

Any lights at the end of the tunnel will probably be from various chaps in uniform erecting further barriers to control, regulate and monitor tourists, both to satisfy their incessant urges to control every sphere of activity in the kingdom, and to ensure that any benefits, business (and profits) are directed to "the right people".

 

23 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

Strong baht, Fit to Fly letter, visas, covid certificate, quarantine, phone tracking, health insurance, tax on leaving, dual pricing, restricted travel.....add this to reduced incomes tourists now suffer and general concerns over health and safety issues even before covid......tourism is dead in the water.

On the bright side?  It will be wonderful this high-season to head out to tour Thailand and have most of the tourist spots all to ourselves - deserted beaches?  Perfect!

Hopefully such articles and similar attesting to the importance of tourists dollars to this country economy are also published in the local language for the locals to read and see how important foreigners and tourists are for the next time someone will run a poll asking them what do they think about foreigners in their country, let remember Covid/corona times and how their leadership groveld for tourists to come......

22 minutes ago, pineapple01 said:

At last some Facts, not Click Bait. So very true.We are all sorry, but Car Factories, Mines even Towns close wordwide. Its just re structure time here thanks to their Chinese Chums.

Again , agreed.

 

OK let's look at Tourism in Thailand from the perspective of the Steel Industry in the UK. In1967 there were 350,000 people employed in the UK steel industry. 80,000 in Sheffield, 150,00 in the Don Valley. Of that 80,000 in Sheffield, there were another 80,000 in support (sandwich shops, banks built on the premises of steel works, public transport network etc).

 

In 2016 there were a total of 30,000 working in the UK steel industry and only 8000 in the whole of Yorkshire and Humberside.

 

Yes, it had a devastating effect, but times change and people move on. After 13 years qualifying and working as a Metallurgist I re-trained. And then 5 years later re-trained again. Then entered the Financial services industry where I worked for the largest insurance company in the UK with a field staff of 20,000. Over a period of 10 years that was reduced to zero.

 

I believe but have no experience to relate to, that the UK fishing industry met a similar fate.

 

In Chiang Mai a great many restaurants are open. Many of the old names, Kiat Ocha, Mitmai, The Swan, Garibaldi, KS Islam, Tong Tem Toh, Khun Mor Cuisine, Lum Lum, they are all open.

 

This idiot saw his hotel restaurant as closed and thinks all restaurants are. A few have closed that depended mostly on tourists and hotel restaurants obviously are still closed. But otherwise many of the standard Chiang Mai restaurants are very much open. They're actually opening new food places in Central.

 

This guy is ill informed.

8 minutes ago, DaLa said:

Yes, it had a devastating effect, but times change and people move on.

 

If you are talking about the UK...  The center of London is nice, but once you leave that you see the desperation, the poverty, hopelessness. Most of the UK looks like a third world country. The UK never moved on after many industries disappeared.

 

Fortunately there is Brexit, so they cannot blame it on others (the EU) anymore.

 

1 hour ago, Pilotman said:

Think on this, over 40 million Thais live in rural locations that never see a tourist and don't need them for their local economy.  Don't get tourism out of proportion.  It is less than 18% of GDP and not absolutely vital to Thailand.

 

To put it into perspective, rural locations in Thailand produce almost all of the agricultural goods. Agricultural goods generate about 8 per cent of GDP.

22 minutes ago, connda said:

On the bright side?  It will be wonderful this high-season to head out to tour Thailand and have most of the tourist spots all to ourselves - deserted beaches?  Perfect!

It might not be a wonderful as you think when you can't find a place to eat or sleep because all the restaurants and hotels are closed.

42 minutes ago, DaLa said:

Totally agree.  Include Bangkok (however many million) which is all but back to normal  ( we have a business here and have been trading continuously during the Covid-19 problem )  OK, I agree the tourist hot spots are quiet, however in reality what percentage of this relates to Bangkok. I've lived in Nonnthaburi for 11 years and other than when I go to immigration rarely see another farang let alone a tourist.

how many families do you think benefit from money spent by foreigners, you think most of it stays in tourist locations where it is earned, I know for a fact it doesn't

3 hours ago, Pilotman said:

Think on this, over 40 million Thais live in rural locations that never see a tourist and don't need them for their local economy.  Don't get tourism out of proportion.  It is less than 18% of GDP and not absolutely vital to Thailand. Watch this space. It may all virtually end and I dont think that many Thais will cry any tears if it does. At the very least, it may be confined to a few restricted areas only, such as Phuket and Pattaya. 

 

Agree. The real kicker will be if there is a signifcant decrease in manufacturing exports.  As could well happen. The economy more than anything depends on exports and it is factory employment that is most essential for the working and middle class. 

 

Add to that a high level of household debt which is often based on having a Factory wage earner in the family. If those jobs are lost, families will not be able to make payments. Huge fallout thorughout the country as opposed to the tourism loss which is geographically limited in reach.

36 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

The three legs of the Thai economic stool are agriculture...manufacturing...and tourism (in that order). When any of them are down (and tourism is basically out), the entire country and all its people suffer. Sure tourism is not the be all and end all of the economy, but it is an important component nonetheless and the faster it can safely be re-started the better.

Would point out foreign trade is down 25% as well.

So Thailand has lost 40% of it's foreign income.

23 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Hopefully such articles and similar attesting to the importance of tourists dollars to this country economy are also published in the local language for the locals to read and see how important foreigners and tourists are

 

56 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

Think on this, over 40 million Thais live in rural locations that never see a tourist and don't need them for their local economy.

And the thais who do work in the tourism industry, who do you think they send a considerable chunk of their income to every month? The people you just described.

26 minutes ago, DaLa said:

Again , agreed.

 

OK let's look at Tourism in Thailand from the perspective of the Steel Industry in the UK. In1967 there were 350,000 people employed in the UK steel industry. 80,000 in Sheffield, 150,00 in the Don Valley. Of that 80,000 in Sheffield, there were another 80,000 in support (sandwich shops, banks built on the premises of steel works, public transport network etc).

 

In 2016 there were a total of 30,000 working in the UK steel industry and only 8000 in the whole of Yorkshire and Humberside.

 

Yes, it had a devastating effect, but times change and people move on. After 13 years qualifying and working as a Metallurgist I re-trained. And then 5 years later re-trained again. Then entered the Financial services industry where I worked for the largest insurance company in the UK with a field staff of 20,000. Over a period of 10 years that was reduced to zero.

 

I believe but have no experience to relate to, that the UK fishing industry met a similar fate.

 

 

Your numbers relate to ten of thousands, not millions and single industries. Tourism covers a much wider area than steel making. We just bought cheaper steel from elsewhere.

I think your comparisons are not appropriate, in this instance.