I live in Thailand so 'know' some of the downsides......but thinking about it as a potential tourist, none of the negatives often quoted.....scams, pollution, lack of democracy, poor infrastructure.........none of these really enter the equation of whether or not to visit.

 

People 'see' the tropical paradise, the bustling city of Bangkok, the girls, the bars, the nightlife.......and these will always attract the western tourist.

 

Only two things will ultimately count against Thailand.........difficulty in gaining entry and a strong currency.....IMO

Edited December 4, 20205 yr by Surelynot

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Thai tourism: Foreigners likened to fish that need to be caught to spur recovery

 

Standard Thai operating procedure....

 

No thought is given to a stable and proper business plan...and no thought is given to honestly providing a quality product for a fair price.....

 

It's all about trickery, guile, deception, fraud, and 'slight-of-hand' to cheat visitors/customers out of money.

 

Welcome to Thailand.

 

 

Edited December 4, 20205 yr by Hayduke

Another brilliant plan..???? But seriously besides these cheap Chinese group bus tour tourists i don’t see anyone else taking the bait.

Perhaps if they treated tourists and foreigners like paying guests at the table rather than the main course for their meal, better outcomes might be had.

5 hours ago, NanLaew said:

How doth one bait one's hook. Let me count the ways.

 

Arbitrary alcohol bans.

 

Expensive alcohol (when you can get it).

 

Shoddy infrastructure.

 

Dirty beaches.

 

Traffic gridlock.

 

Filthy air.

 

Dual pricing.

 

Proof of income for visas and extensions.

 

Local mafia taxi operators.

 

Etc., etc..

And these are the GOOD points!

Another talking-head.

7 hours ago, Cali farong said:

Why do they think Thailand is so ducking great.  Why would

rich tourists be attracted to lousy streets, terrible drivers, polluted water,

trash everywhere, prostitution at all tourists areas, scams etc etc

Thailand is for cheapskates like me who don’t mind all the chaos.

I buy food, hotels, drinks etc.  but don’t arrive in a private jet,or yacht 

regular tourists made Thais rich and were never appreciated 

I think Amazing Thailand is going to get a wake up call

They need a massive wake-up call that should have been delivered years back, but as usual it will be ignored as is most things that blow-up in their faces - - - it's never their fault, it's always someone else's fault, even when it's blatantly obvious who is to blame.....

 

5 hours ago, Natai Beach said:

A funny thread.
 

A bunch of people who have been caught hook, line and sinker and not only visited Thailand, but completely uprooted their lives and moved here permanently by choice, complaining that Thailand isn’t good enough to attract people for a holiday. 

 

????
 

I am a high class elite and absolutely love Thailand. If there was somewhere better I would move.

    So true. But maybe an equally loud chorus is all the posters who aren't here at all but secretly wish they were, posting often on TVF year after year from wherever they ended up.  

They have been fishing with dynamite and now all the fish are gone and the reefs are ruined and deserted ! Like real reefs the country will take years to repair and some will never be able to due to the damage !

Put that analogy in your pipe and smoke it ! 

5 hours ago, Surelynot said:

I live in Thailand so 'know' some of the downsides......but thinking about it as a potential tourist, none of the negatives often quoted.....scams, pollution, lack of democracy, poor infrastructure.........none of these really enter the equation of whether or not to visit.

 

People 'see' the tropical paradise, the bustling city of Bangkok, the girls, the bars, the nightlife.......and these will always attract the western tourist.

 

Only two things will ultimately count against Thailand.........difficulty in gaining entry and a strong currency.....IMO

      What you say goes for most tourists, not just westerners.  Tourists aren't thinking about the downsides you mentioned.  Locals focus on those things.  China's government, pollution, infrastructure, etc. didn't enter our thinking when my Thai partner and I made our visits to China.  Ditto for our trips to Hanoi and other places.  We plan to visit China and Vietnam again once travel opens.  We will be focused, as tourists, on where we want to go and what we want to see, not the condition of the roads or who is the current leader. 

      Thailand attracted 39 million tourists in 2019, pre-covid.   We always focus on China with its nearly 11 million visitors.  But, 14 million visitors also came from other Asian countries in 2019.  So, tourists other than Chinese were also finding Thailand to be a place they wanted to visit, despite sketchy road safety.  Likely they will be back once covid is under control and travel opens up again.  

8 hours ago, webfact said:

"One should not just catch the fish in one's own backyard pond, one needs to catch fish outside..."

Is this a shrewd move away from "cash-cows" ?

Jesus wept ????

8 hours ago, YetAnother said:

so All tourists are to be eaten ? doesnt sound very sustainable

Not much in Thailand is.

7 hours ago, Cali farong said:

Why do they think Thailand is so ducking great.  Why would

rich tourists be attracted to lousy streets, terrible drivers, polluted water,

trash everywhere, prostitution at all tourists areas, scams etc etc

Thailand is for cheapskates like me who don’t mind all the chaos.

I buy food, hotels, drinks etc.  but don’t arrive in a private jet,or yacht 

regular tourists made Thais rich and were never appreciated 

I think Amazing Thailand is going to get a wake up call

100% on the ball - my feeling exactly

 

7 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

LOL LOL, LOL.

Thaniya Plaza was/ is where the Japanese like(d) to pay for play. Only for seriously rich people.

 

Prostitution has been a major factor in tourism, IMO, despite those that don't like it trying to downplay its importance to the Thai economy.

But they need to get some fresh bait. Some of the lures used now are well past the due date.

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Thai tourism: Foreigners likened to fish that need to be caught to spur recovery

A little misleading.  They liken tourists in general to fish and say that they should go after foreign fish as well as domestic.

 

But that doesn't sound so inflammatory, I guess.

And he was aye inventin' lures, 

for temptin' fishy epicures. 

He'd busk yer bumbees, golechs horns, 

Even the pairin' o' yer corns.. 

Edited December 4, 20205 yr by Mr Meeseeks

12 hours ago, webfact said:

Thai tourism: Foreigners likened to fish that need to be caught to spur recovery

In actuality in Thailand, foreigners are like fresh fish: 
After three days the smell becomes unbearable and they need to be tossed out as quickly as possible. After being gutted and filleted of course.

12 hours ago, Cali farong said:

I think Amazing Thailand is going to get a wake up call

 

The phone's been ringing for quite some time...and definitely before COVID started.

 

But a wake-up call does no good if you're a particularly deep sleeper.

 

None so blind as those who will not see, etc. etc.

Edited December 4, 20205 yr by ramr

14 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Always this fascination with big spenders without thought for the less well off traveler, who make up the overwhelming majority of tourists under normal circumstances. Right now, they should be keen to get anyone they can (Covid free of course) not zero in on minorities, who are very likely to go elsewhere anyway.

What with this fish comparison, one would think they would be aware of economies of scale.

Why are this "experts" always focusing on big spenders?

Thailand actually needs all kind of tourists, even the backpackers are important.

They go to low price guesthouses and eat street food giving a job and income to many lower end thaid that own this cheap food stalls, restaurant and guesthouses.

Big spenders usually go to expensive hotels and restaurants which are mostly owned by foreign chains and not thais.

Edited December 4, 20205 yr by kaneko86

XENOPHOBIA alive and always strong....welcome to LOS enjoy your stay.

18 hours ago, webfact said:

 

"One should not just catch the fish in one's own backyard pond, one needs to catch fish outside..."

 

Get your Skate's on then or is he talking Pollock's .. 

19 hours ago, NanLaew said:

How doth one bait one's hook. Let me count the ways.

 

Arbitrary alcohol bans.

 

Expensive alcohol (when you can get it).

 

Shoddy infrastructure.

 

Dirty beaches.

 

Traffic gridlock.

 

Filthy air.

 

Dual pricing.

 

Proof of income for visas and extensions.

 

Local mafia taxi operators.

 

Etc., etc..

 

 

You forgot the CC ( Corrupt Cops )

18 hours ago, Natai Beach said:

A funny thread.
 

A bunch of people who have been caught hook, line and sinker and not only visited Thailand, but completely uprooted their lives and moved here permanently by choice, complaining that Thailand isn’t good enough to attract people for a holiday. 

 

????
 

I am a high class elite and absolutely love Thailand. If there was somewhere better I would move.

Good to pronounce your self high class elite.

These constant pronouncements are so tedious and pointless.

To maintain a thriving tourist industry is relatively simple , good product , good service and good value.

Just offer the above and no need for the wishful thinking and associated drivel.

21 hours ago, webfact said:

It came from ML Surawut Thongthaem who used to represent a hotel group who told the media:

 

Another has been that the media look for as no one sensible will talk to them...

20 hours ago, Amusements said:

I don't know why they don't open up some high end casino resorts, like Singapore and Malaysia, and reel in some whales.

Cambodia. All the surrounding countries will develop fast so besides all the trouble Thailand already have, competition is growing and china is making Cambodia ready to be there back yard for their citizen. 

Teachings from the Thai monk,

 

Give a thai bargirl a fish, she eats for today (handsum tourist)

 

Teach a bargirl to fish and she never goes hungry(hello grandpa, you ok? joop joop)

 

Gets 20 baht donation, gets the white wrist string, and off she goes to land a big old grouper! hey..hey! you!

4 hours ago, Justgrazing said:

 

Get your Skate's on then or is he talking Pollock's .. 

I doubt he even knows about the American painter.