Pattaya’s boat operators bemoan lack of Chinese tourists

 

Picture: Sophon Cable TV

 

Sophon Cable TV reported that the pandemic has devastated the tourism industry. 

 

Especially hard hit has been the pleasure boat industry that relied heavily on Chinese tourists who are now non-existent. 

 

Like in many tourism businesses the boat industry has had to turn to Thais to eke out an existence while they wait for better times to return. 

 

One of the biggest operators is NPE who have 100 boats. They used to cater to thousands of Chinese tourists daily but now there are none, said their chief Natthapong Manasom. 

 

He said that 80% of their staff had been laid off with the rest staying behind to maintain equipment. 

 

Rather than do nothing he hit on the idea of starting what he calls a "Squid Catching Cafe" on three rafts that are moored in Pattaya bay.

 

 

Picture: Sophon Cable TV

 

Each one can cater to 250 people.

 

Tourists can be picked up at Bali Hai and taken out to the rafts where they can do their own fishing for squid at night. 

 

Their catch is turned into instant fresh sashimi with plenty of seafood dip and wasabi on hand. 

 

There is also a restaurant and live music.

 

The cost is 400 baht a head for adults and half price for children 120cms to 140 cms tall.

 

Smaller kids are free. It's open from 5pm to 11 pm.

 

Posters on the STV site agreed it was a great idea. 

 

Source: Sophon Cable TV

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-11-09

 

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Perhaps they remember the Thai pleasure boat industry and horizontal departure industry work closely together ????

What about the recent 33 or 39 that arrived in Thailand they must be out of quarantine now and itching to spend the 400k that TAT says they have to spend per person ......they not reach pattaya yet ???  lol

I remember how they ruined my day out on Larn with those <deleted> speedboats coming right up to the beach where ever they pleased every few minutes.

 

No sympathy from me.

The Chinese tourists had helpful tourist guides who probably overcharged their gullible counterparts and got paid a handsome commission by the unscrupulous boat owners who in turn overcharged the Chinese to cover the commission and make additional money on top.

250 people on a floating raft in the sea at night. What could possibly go wrong?

    Hang on.  Hang on.  As we have been told numerous times on TVF, the Chinese tourists provide zero benefit locally.  Zero.  Every penny goes back to China.  I don't know what these boat operators have to 'bemoan' about.  And, all the other local workers in the tourist industry.  

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Pattaya’s boat operators bemoan lack of Chinese tourists

"Once bitten twice shy" as my old man used to say.

1 hour ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

250 people on a floating raft in the sea at night. What could possibly go wrong?

No health & safety obviously....

Is there any information available how much tax these boat operators paid in the last years?

Somehow I would be surprised if that was a substantial amount - if they paid at all.

The boat operators may be unhappy,  but the sea slugs, urchins and everything else that humans consider inedible will be delighted.

5 hours ago, stretch5163 said:

What about the recent 33 or 39 that arrived in Thailand they must be out of quarantine now and itching to spend the 400k that TAT says they have to spend per person ......they not reach pattaya yet ???  lol

just what I thought.....perhaps they only prefer to sail on a sanpan or junk !!!

I feel so sorry for them...... oh hang on, it passed. 

I bemoan the lack of Chinese tourists every time I drive unhindered round Pattaya; every time I am able to park my car on 2nd Road with multiple spaces available.  I, too, miss the convoys of coaches polluting the sea air; the heart-warming lines of tourists shuffling and spitting their way on to the boats.

Never mind, it will soon be Xmas.

The sooner these boat mugs are gone the better. There a menace

21 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I remember how they ruined my day out on Larn with those <deleted> speedboats coming right up to the beach where ever they pleased every few minutes.

 

No sympathy from me.

 

1 hour ago, morrobay said:

 

The point you are making is unknown.

 

Those infernal machines should be sunk to make an artificial reef, which would be the best use they ever had, IMO.

Edited November 10, 20205 yr by thaibeachlovers

I don't like the speedboats and dislike the drivers more so. The point is- walk around the point. Or take the other ferry boat to Nabon main pier ,then songkow to a beach like Nual .

3 hours ago, tomauasia said:

The sooner these boat mugs are gone the better. There a menace

Maybe they could rent their boats and services to the Chinese Navy militia to help them monitor the South China Sea!

1 hour ago, PatOngo said:

Maybe they could rent their boats and services to the Chinese Navy militia to help them monitor the South China Sea!

Good idea China can throw in free engine overhauls 

"squid sashimi"  ???? ?!?!

16 hours ago, morrobay said:

I don't like the speedboats and dislike the drivers more so. The point is- walk around the point. Or take the other ferry boat to Nabon main pier ,then songkow to a beach like Nual .

Why should I have to?

 

There is a pier on the beach I went to, so why can't the speedboat customers get on and off there, instead of ruining the beach for everyone.

I know the reason, and most reading this probably do too.

Edited November 10, 20205 yr by thaibeachlovers

I'd support this guy...no mention of dual pricing.

6 minutes ago, baansgr said:

no mention of dual pricing.

Maybe they hope writing the Thai price in Thai numerals will fool the "dirty" foreigners ?

21 minutes ago, johng said:

Maybe they hope writing the Thai price in Thai numerals will fool the "dirty" foreigners ?

Exactly that.

At least there is currently a lack of tour guides stopping the traffic (occasionally) on Beach Road in order to allow hordes of Chinese/Korean trippers (with the mandatory blue towel over their head) get to the boats. I don't know what the current fare for the Bali Hai ferry to the island is, but it's peanuts compared to the speed boats.  Strangely there is no mention in the list of attractions for the place that a lot of Pattaya's garbage ends up.  

Video from Coconuts TV.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAh7nVq0mvg&ab_channel=CoconutsTV

 

 

 

On 11/11/2020 at 7:19 PM, phetchy said:

At least there is currently a lack of tour guides stopping the traffic (occasionally) on Beach Road in order to allow hordes of Chinese/Korean trippers (with the mandatory blue towel over their head) get to the boats. I don't know what the current fare for the Bali Hai ferry to the island is, but it's peanuts compared to the speed boats.  Strangely there is no mention in the list of attractions for the place that a lot of Pattaya's garbage ends up.  

Video from Coconuts TV.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAh7nVq0mvg&ab_channel=CoconutsTV

 

 

 

Back in the 90s it was red towels.I have a photo somewhere of a gaggle of Asian tourists with red towels walking down one of the sois to the beach. I assumed they were Japanese, but I could be wrong.

^^ Just for fun I looked up that photo. I was wrong though, they are going away from the beach. Soi Post Office I think as can see the Malibu cabaret at top of Soi. Pink towels, but it's a long time since I took that photo, and memory not great.

 

 

Edited November 12, 20205 yr by thaibeachlovers

On 11/11/2020 at 6:14 AM, baansgr said:

no mention of dual pricing.

That's because he has triple pricing.  ???? 

12 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

^^ Just for fun I looked up that photo. I was wrong though, they are going away from the beach. Soi Post Office I think as can see the Malibu cabaret at top of Soi. Pink towels, but it's a long time since I took that photo, and memory not great.

 

 

I think the pink colour is due to scanning an old photo that faded a bit, so all red. That's from looking at the closest towel which is red, with a bit of pink. All the towels would be the same colour.

Edited November 12, 20205 yr by thaibeachlovers