Phuket hotels fighting for their lives as domestic tourism fails to support the island

[KarenBravo]

27 minutes ago, LivinginKata said:

 

Lambo yes. Rolls no. Ferrari and Bently yes. Aston ? not seen one yet.

Saw an Aston DB9 here, but, no rollers, as yet.

[Andy from Kent]

On 9/9/2020 at 2:57 PM, cjinchiangrai said:

There is no active spreading of covid in China now. What you believe does not create facts.

 

And just how are you positive about that?    

 

Because China posts certain figures and statistics?    

 

Transparency??

[ChipButty]

51 minutes ago, LivinginKata said:

 

Aston ? not seen one yet.

I've seen a couple, one at the airport and one in Phuket town

[beechbum]

1 hour ago, LivinginKata said:

 

Lambo yes. Rolls no. Ferrari and Bently yes. Aston ? not seen one yet.

Saw a brand new Rolls at a resort last weekend.

The only of the above I don't remember seeing is a Bentley.

[zzzzz]

50 minutes ago, KarenBravo said:

Saw an Aston DB9 here, but, no rollers, as yet.

FYI:
if the country /city is judged expensive by the cars on the street.

Phnom Penh must be the MOST expensive city in the world

[xylophone]

On 9/9/2020 at 6:40 AM, TTSIssues said:

With all the hospitality staff out of work, rather than just giving them cash handouts, I wish the government would give them some other employment instead, in areas that are badly needed. For example, collecting rubbish, repairing / repainting schools and buildings, making the island look much more attractive than it currently does. 
 

the govt should also use this period to be sorting out infrastructure - build some new water collecting dams, expand and fix the sewerage systems, replace all the hanging wires and bury them underground, install a proper public transport system (a proper bus network like we have in Hong Kong for example)

 

personally I think it’s great that construction has stopped on most of the new hotels which are clearly not needed, and never were. So we have armies of construction workers out of work. For goodness sake use them, and fix the infrastructure during this once in a lifetime opportunity !

 

 

Great post and couldn't agree more, this as I have been thinking along similar lines when riding around here in Patong, which is slowly getting more and more dilapidated because of no care and attention, with even some minor roadworks being left to the elements.

 

It reminds me of what Franklin D Roosevelt called "the New Deal" when he did a similar thing during the great depression in the US, because so many people were out of work that not only was it affecting them and the economy financially, the morale of the population was sinking to an all-time low, and he really needed to get them to feel some pride and feel "necessary", and at the same time improve the infrastructure, so he put them to work as per your suggestion.

 

I know of many Thai folk here who would be absolutely rapt with the opportunity to do some work in just about any way, shape or form, so perhaps someone should put this suggestion to the government, not the local powers that be, because they will only look for a way to rip off the system and line their own pockets.

 

PS. Have just seen a post that suggests the govt cannot put an initiative like this in place because they are "broke" (pot empty), but it doesn't stop them buying useless submarines and tanks and Thailand has more foreign reserves than Germany and France..........

Edited September 11, 2020 by xylophone

[bloodyholly]

17 hours ago, beechbum said:

Saw a brand new Rolls at a resort last weekend.

The only of the above I don't remember seeing is a Bentley.

Doesn’t the guy who has something to do with the TukTuks (amongst other ventures) drive a white Bentley?

[ChipButty]

15 hours ago, xylophone said:

but it doesn't stop them buying useless submarines and tanks and Thailand has more foreign reserves than Germany and France..........

Has that not been put on hold? 

[Henryford]

We all hope rip off Phuket crashes and burns

[thaibeachlovers]

On 9/8/2020 at 12:27 PM, webfact said:

What is clear is that the 86,000 rooms in Phuket’s registered accommodation establishments cannot realistically break-even or even be cash-flow positive with only domestic demand. This realistically could set the scene for 50,000 job losses in the hotel sector this year if there’s no support forth coming or international visitors are not allowed in.

Seems capitalism now only works as long as people make a profit. What's been forgotten is that in a capitalist society when something no longer works it ceases to be. Just because they minted it for decades doesn't mean that it's guaranteed to continue forever.

Anyway, Phuket has unique problems with transport for tourists that really needed fixing, but never was - karma.

 

When are they going to realise that it's going to take more than opening the borders to bring people back?

In NZ we could travel, but on return face 14 days isolation and looks like it will be at our own expense as well.

Sooooo, quarantine on return, expensive flights, expensive insurance, overvalued currency, chance of being jailed for poking a fish, con men galore, jet ski scams, death roads, etc- why would anyone want to go to LOS for a 2 week holiday?

Edited September 12, 2020 by thaibeachlovers

[thaibeachlovers]

8 minutes ago, Henryford said:

We all hope rip off Phuket crashes and burns

[xylophone]

2 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Has that not been put on hold? 

You could be right on that as I do remember reading something about it, however it should be remembered that the ordering of the submarines (and tanks) would have meant some sort of down payment or penalty for defaulting on an order, so money will be spent there come what may.

 

And the Foreign Exchange Reserves held or controlled by the country's central bank amount to some US$237 billion. The reserves are made of gold or a specific currency (in this case mostly US dollars). They can also be special drawing rights and marketable securities denominated in foreign currencies like treasury bills, government bonds, corporate bonds and equities and foreign currency loans.

 

So plenty of money in the kitty to help a struggling economy CB.

[GeorgeCross]

On 9/10/2020 at 8:01 AM, simon43 said:

 

 

 

Will crumble?  It already has and IMHO, it will never return to anything close to the previous levels.

 

Here's my 'pigs will fly' plan to get Phuket back on its feet:

 

1 - Accept that the tourism sector is all but dead

2 - Declare the island as a 'freeport', with zero VAT on all goods

3 - Establish casinos on the island

4 - Allow foreigners to fully own and control any business that they establish on the island, and to work in any job sector.

5 - Extend the land lease period from 30 years to 999 years, (effectively allowing land ownership without actually allowing land ownership!)

 

That will do for starters ????

 

so turn it into Sihanoukville?

 

Chinese will be pleased!

 

[xylophone]

23 hours ago, KarenBravo said:

but, no rollers, as yet.

Plenty on Coronation Street!!!

[LivinginKata]

8 hours ago, bloodyholly said:

Doesn’t the guy who has something to do with the TukTuks (amongst other ventures) drive a white Bentley?

 

The one Bentley I saw driving about was indeed white and a sports Continental 2 door. Spotted on Patong hill a couple of times.

 

I thought Rolls were limited to Royal Family. Just what I heard.  

[beechbum]

9 hours ago, bloodyholly said:

Doesn’t the guy who has something to do with the TukTuks (amongst other ventures) drive a white Bentley?

 

[beechbum]

Can't remember seeing a SAAB though.

[3NUMBAS]

the party over its time to call it a day for good

[Percy P]

On 9/8/2020 at 2:27 PM, Bender Rodriguez said:

can we hope it will cull the scammers, starting at the airport ? 2000 baht for a 300 baht normal fare ?

Until thing get back to normal. I see now in BKK taxis have a new dashboard pricing machine with a receipt ticketing facility but I haven't been given one yet . There's no paper roll in the machine

[Sumarianson]

No high seasons until the governmet stop this nonsense. They are killing people by way of suicides and more.

[Percy P]

On 9/9/2020 at 5:30 AM, hotchilli said:

All of Thailands resorts are going to feel this for a long time to come.

It's only hope is for Phipats idea of turning them into leper colonies, but that's only if they come.... not if they're open!

End of this year is going to witness many facilities nationwide closed for good.

At the moment venues away from my Usual places are not on as they need support themselves .

[ChipButty]

I think every small resort in my area has got a price on it and from the ones I know that are up for sale the rents are ridiculous you can only drop your price so much, as an example one place I know for sale 9 rooms en-suite ok nicely done no pool he wants a million baht key money and 63,000 Baht per month rent, you dont need to be Einstein to work that out 

[schlog]

14 hours ago, beechbum said:

Can't remember seeing a SAAB though.

Yup me 2. On monday i first thought i saw a spaceship on bypass but it was a lambo sian. What a amazing beautiful car. Crazy price tag 118.000.000 thb.

HKT is crazy. Left side of the road homeless guy walking, right side a lambo sian flying.

[Percy P]

On 9/8/2020 at 2:27 PM, Bender Rodriguez said:

can we hope it will cull the scammers, starting at the airport ? 2000 baht for a 300 baht normal fare ?

Taxis in Bkk are now fitted with print out receipt machines but they  dont put the paper rolls in them an excuse for not issuing you with one.

[xylophone]

15 hours ago, beechbum said:

Can't remember seeing a SAAB though.

Beautiful cars (the Saab 9-5 and 9-5 Aero) and owned both........a little quirky and went downhill when GM bought a majority stake. Such a shame, probably the best cars I ever owned.

 

Sorry....off track but couldn't help myself!!

[3NUMBAS]

didnt bear gryls owns a house there ,where will he eat if he can get there ?

[eezergood]

On 9/9/2020 at 6:57 AM, mrwebb8825 said:

Perhaps the mods can find a way to forward this thread to mister Bill "Daddy Warbucks" Barnett so instead of the typical politician BS he was spewing w/o a single clue as to how it should be accomplished, he can read through and consider some of the excellent ideas put forth here. 

or just email it to him yourself.........