Pandemic is a "golden opportunity" to reintroduce "premium" tourists to the wonders of Thai culture

 

Picture: Bangkok Biz News

 

A leader in the development of tourism in Thailand's communities has said that the pandemic represents a "golden opportunity" to redirect tourists in the area of communities, culture and handicrafts.

 

Achiraya Thammaparipatana of Hivesters thinks it is time to reconnect with what every tourist wants - to understand more about the real Thailand. 

 

She acknowledged that at present foreign tourists were completely absent and that her company needed to focus its efforts on the Thai domestic market.

 

Picture: Bangkok Biz News

 

But the model of increasing knowledge of the way of life of local communities could be easily applied to foreigners once they return.

 

She claimed that everyone wants to learn about things like weaving bags and baskets and mats, fishing and painting on handicrafts and the like. 

 

The "new normal" should be an opportunity to attract what she called "premium tourists" (explained as quality tourists in the Bangkok Biz News article). 

 

Wanwipha Panumat who develops community projects agreed saying that quality tourism was better than cheap tourism. 

 

Tourists wanted valuable experiences and directing them to the heart of the real Thailand would be better for them and help to revive local economies that have been devastated by the pandemic. 

 

Picture: Bangkok Biz News

 

The article quoted figures from the United Nation World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) who said that international tourism was down 97% in April as the pandemic struck. 

 

Picture: Bangkok Biz News

 

There has been little recovery in Thailand with the previous top three markets - the Chinese, Russians and Malaysians - all absent along with the money they used to bring. 

 

Source: Bangkok Biz News

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-11-20

 

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Nice fairytale wish and story ..reality is Thai culture is quickly disappearing since the mid '90s. Definition of a 'premium tourist' means different thinks to different people ..

19 minutes ago, webfact said:

Achiraya Thammaparipatana of Hivesters thinks it is time to reconnect with what every tourist wants - to understand more about the real Thailand. 

...don't forget a good soapy massage too

Achiraya Thammaparipatana of Hivesters thinks it is time to reconnect with what every tourist wants - to understand more about the real Thailand. 

She claimed that everyone wants to learn about things like weaving bags and baskets and mats, fishing and painting on handicrafts and the like.

 

How deluded! When Thais visit Holland do they want to know how windmills work, how to make cheese and grow tulips and wear wooden shoes?

People travel to see new things, enjoy architecture, mountains, beaches, good food and relax. Now Thailand can offer these things. What it needs to do is improve what they already have and implement changes to some of their stupid rules.

1.Not being able to buy alcohol between 2-5pm. 

2. Reduce import tax on alcohol. The decent beer or wine prices here are crazy.

3.Clean up the streets and sort out the dog and cat problems.

4. Improve service and English.

With the Baht being so high tourists will not accept the low standards like they did 10-15 years ago.

People will also mention the roads but i cant see that improving unless the roads are policed because Thais just do as they please in general and dont worry about the consequences of their actions.

 

 

“She claimed that everyone wants to learn about things like weaving bags and baskets and mats, fishing and painting on handicrafts and the like. “

Course they do luv. I’ll have one of whatever she’s smoking. 

Totally true. Great opportunity,  Manage disease or zero tolerance, but large scale  tourism is not possible with 14 day hotel quarantine. Up to you.

 

47 minutes ago, webfact said:

She claimed that everyone wants to learn about things like weaving bags and baskets and mats, fishing and painting on handicrafts and the like. 

 

yeah of course they do ????

 

maybe offer some classes on soi 6 - and see how they get on eh?

 

I can't help but feel that those horses have bolted many years ago and they're not coming back. 

 

Although the country does have some breathtaking scenery, interesting arts and crafts, delicious and exotic food, etc., to offer, the mounting rubbish, endless traffic congestion, environmental problems, conartists, etc. simply outweigh the positive side of the place. 

 

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

all absent along with the money they used to bring. 

 

The money is all absent, along with the tourists it used to bring. 

I was thinking, what about the real Thailand. 

 

She claimed that everyone wants to learn about things like weaving bags and baskets and mats, fishing and painting on handicrafts and the like. 

_________________________________________________________

Although these so called 'foreign quality tourists' would still be subject to two-tiered pricing.

Yeah, Thai culture - bad artists copy, good artists steal (Picasso). Japan is a good example of the latter, where Thailand stands on the spectrum I'll leave to your own judgement. Personally, I don't find Thai culture particularly unique, certainly not enough to justify a visit purely on that ground, the amalgam of influences does make a nice backdrop though, if you're here for other reasons, and is certainly part of the attraction, but not a primary one.

Look for lottery winners and trust fund kids.   Anyone who has earned their money are not interested in spending that much time in Thailand.  If there is not business to be had, they will get bored quickly.

Even if it sounds like a good idea to get more knowledge about old Thai culture and craftmanship I don't think that's what most visit Thailand for. 

 

For me and gf it's the weather, sun, beaches, food, excursions and the kind Thai people plus the general laid back style they have.

Love how most Thais don't stress around like we do in the West. 

 

We just want to relax while there, and then we walk around in the local neighborhood where ever we stay. 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

She claimed that everyone wants to learn about things like weaving bags and baskets and mats, fishing and painting on handicrafts and the like. 

 

EVERYONE, really???

 

Hm... better go tell my friends and acquaintances back home that they're now classified as "non-premium" tourists because they don't enjoy weaving baskets and mats or want to paint handicrafts before setting out to go catch some fish in the nearby almost dried-up brook.

 

All THEY want to do during their vacations is to relax on a beach, visit some historic sites (if need be), do some knick-knack shopping, and enjoy a good meal and a few glasses of beer or wine during dinner.

 

Meanwhile, I am sure EVERY Thai tourist visiting Munich only goes there to learn how to make sausages, brew beer, and assemble BMWs. You know, the typical vacation stuff.

 

 

"She claimed that everyone wants to learn about things like weaving bags and baskets and mats, fishing and painting on handicrafts and the like."

 

When will wishful Thai people realise that their are other countries in the world that welcome tourists without them having to cope with a barrage of paperwork and two weeks of compulsory quarantine prison before their holiday can even begin? High spenders are the least likely of all to put up with this nonsense. 

Thailand had it right 20 years ago. Cheap, fun, laid back, picturesque and friendly.

 

With the strong Baht, crazy import taxes, a puritanical Military Junta, environmental issues and deteriorating attitudes of the local population they have lost most of that unfortunately. It's been a steady race to the bottom, and they've almost reached their goal with the busloads of 'flag following' tour groups ruining the ambience in most tourist hotspots.

 

I still like living here as I know how to avoid 95% of the negatives, but most people I speak to at home have no interest in the place now. Talking up Thailand is like telling your teenage niece how cool The Spice Girls and Vanilla Ice are ????.

I wish I knew what these guys were on, I’d love to get some

Siam cannot be resurrected. 

Where the hell do they find this people   everyone wants to learn about things like weaving bags and baskets and mats, fishing and painting on handicrafts and the like

yes i see plenty of that in soi 6 in pattaya

Quality tourism will only really benefit the rich. As always, the normal people who rely on everyday tourists are forgotten. Make the rich and multinational corporations richer, the small guest house owners and people with small businesses, poorer.

I'd like to know where all of these "quality tourists" are going to get their money. Few to none of the people I talk to in America have any money to spare. Most are worried about how they're going to pay their mortgage, how they're going to put food on the table, how they're going to provide Christmas for their family. I haven't heard anyone say, "Hey, I'm tired of looking at all the boarded up storefronts in my hometown! I think I'll plan an expensive trip to Thailand, so I can see all the boarded up storefronts there."

lol 'premium tourist' are mostly cheap charlies towards the locals and pretty much will not venture mini sins situations

 

1 hour ago, jacknorman said:

Where the hell do they find this people   everyone wants to learn about things like weaving bags and baskets and mats, fishing and painting on handicrafts and the like

yes i see plenty of that in soi 6 in pattaya

That will be the screaming old bags and basket cases. 

I mainly come to Thaivisa in the morning to have a chuckle these days. Never a dull moment in this corner of the internet 

4 hours ago, quake said:

I was thinking, what about the real Thailand. 

 

Yep, that is the snippets of Thai culture I see on a daily basis.

She will have to introduce them to the wonders of respirators first. 

 

 

All that Thailand has done with the Tourist Money of the past is ... ZERO

There has been little, or no reinvestment into the Tourism Sector to make a Tourists visit to the Country more enjoyable, relaxing, and most of  value for Money.

Where are the clean, sanitized Public Toilets along Beach Road in Pattaya ?

Why  does the place look like a permanent Building Site

Why are the Walkway all broken, and cluttered with encroaching Business rubbish, and so much Filth and Trash everywhere.

Has there been any stops to the Jet Ski Scams that have been going on for Years .... No

And one of the biggest Bug Bears is the blatant double pricing on everything from Food to Excursions.

With the ever increasing costs of a trip to Thailand, and the poor Exchange rate on the baht, there are far superior destinations for many much closer to their Home Countries.

Thailands Golden Days are over, and trying to entice Educated folk here with handicrafts and Fishing is total nonsense.

 

 

She’s against cheap tourism so the Chinese group bus tours will be ended ? 

Premium tourists don't really want mass road deaths, pollution, political turmoil...................