Skål Bangkok’s Wood Warns Of A Deepening Thailand Tourism Crisis

[rooster59]

Skål Bangkok’s Wood Warns Of A Deepening Thailand Tourism Crisis

By Andrew J Wood

 

 

BANGKOK: It is becoming increasingly evident that the damage being inflicted to Thailand’s massive travel and tourism industry is proving to be critical with deep long lasting structural economic damage that is set to worsen rather than improve.

 

With the current official mindset of allowing the industry, that employs millions in Thailand, to be sacrificed; thrown to the covid wolf with no meaningful financial lifelines, left to fend for itself and potentially fail. With no hope of borders being opened by mid 2021, even with the introduction of vaccines in key feeder markets, there is confusion and a leadership vacuum in our industry.

 

I call upon our industry leaders and government to speak with one voice - avoid conflicting information and mixed messages. One official voice only. All statements to be made and sanctioned from this ONE source.

 

Let us have our own Centre for COVID-19 Tourism Situation Administration (CCTSA), chaired by Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and travel and tourism leaders from both public and private sectors.

 

Confusion is rife. Earlier the PM announced tourism would not open before mid 2021 however both the MOT&S and TAT gave different dates.

 

Currently any entry to Thailand by tourists involves 14 day quarantine. I am sure I am not the only person to say this but let me say loudly and clearly that tourism promotions with 2 weeks quarantine WILL FAIL. Now vaccines are starting to be introduce lets look at other low risk options for borders to be gradually opened. I plead to the government to allow this. Otherwise the structural damage to our tourism economy will take us until 2025 to repair.

 

 

As the Thai government ponders on whether it will take a chance and save the tourism industry and reopen the kingdom to even a limited and controlled form of foreign tourism, the economic analysis arm of Krungthai Bank has revealed that the kingdom is losing over THB 8 billion (USD 265m) a day on lost tourism revenue since early April due to the unprecedented block placed by Thai authorities on incoming passenger flights from foreign countries since the beginning of April.

 

Hotel owners are deeply concerned. Vitavas Vibhagool, chief executive of Grande Asset Hotels and Property, said yesterday that all six of its hotels need to strengthen occupancy rates while Thailand remains closed to mass tourism. "We've never experienced an occupancy rate as low as 3-4% like this year, as the usual rate is 70%" said Mr Vitavas.

"This crisis is the most severe in our history, with the company offering 10 million baht (USD 332,000) in financial support per hotel per month."

 

A recent survey suggested that 57% of global tourism will have been wiped out by the pandemic by the end of 2020. In Thailand this figure will be nearer to 80% and highlighted Bangkok as the destination which will see the sharpest drop in the world.

Thailand will lose THB 2.1 trillion (USD 69.7billion) in income before the end of the year in lost tourism revenue.

 

From my perspective the trillions of baht in income has not only been lost to Thailand by established tourist firms such as hotels, airlines and travel companies but also millions of once self-employed Thais who serviced the now-defunct industry.

 

Skålleague and GM of the Hyatt Regency Bangkok Hotel, Mr.Sammy Carolus is also worried about the future, expressing concern about a delay in reopening the country to foreign tourists. “The longest the industry can wait is the first quarter of 2021 before the hospitality sector worsens considerably,” said Mr Carolus.

 

"The reopening should be done in stages, starting with lower risk countries such as Vietnam, Singapore, Taiwan and Brunei," he said. Next on the list should be Australia, China, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea.”

 

Thailand’s tourist industry economy was estimated to account for 20% of its GDP. But this is an historic figure. The events of 2020 and inflicted damage also raises strong concerns about the return of foreign tourists to Thailand in 2021.

 

Historic figures for January 2020 to April this year also means that a failure to reopen Thailand to foreign tourism before the end of 2020 is likely to see sharper Thai GDP contraction in the first quarter of 2021, a period which is usually buoyant for the kingdom. Thailand may have to be prepared to wait for up to four years before tourism, as we knew it before, resumes in 2025.

 

Thailand has one of the lowest number of coronavirus cases in the world. With only 4,039 cases and 60 deaths. However the governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand said that although Thailand had relaxed entry restrictions for some groups in the past two months, there were only 1,200 international arrivals in October, a far cry from the three million a month prior to the pandemic.

 

Yuthasak stressed that the resurgence of the coronavirus is likely to hamper international travel for some time. According to a survey by 29 TAT overseas offices, tourists said they will be unlikely to take overseas trips before next summer.
 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-12-05

 

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[4MyEgo]

9 hours ago, rooster59 said:

there is confusion and a leadership vacuum in our industry.

 

I call upon our industry leaders and government to speak with one voice

 

Ah hello, do you realise where you are, the LOS does mean something in itself.

 

 

[mtls2005]

11 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

I call upon our industry leaders and government to speak with one voice - avoid conflicting information and mixed messages.

 

I sometimes wonder about foreigners like this who seem completely clueless. Was he born yesterday?

 

But easily one of the most poorly written Op-ed pieces I've seen here in a while.

 

13 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

It is becoming increasingly evident that the damage being inflicted to Thailand’s massive travel and tourism industry is proving to be critical with deep long lasting structural economic damage that is set to worsen rather than improve.

 

Feel free to replace "Thailand" with nearly every other country in the world.

 

And for those places which are relatively virus-free, they are closed to tourists.

 

 

It's dead. Get used to it. Innovated don't rennovate.

 

 

[Phuketshrew]

Time to get over it. Even with travel bubbles opened there will not be a large influx of tourists. The golden goose has well and truly flown. Thailand will never recover to pre-covid levels of tourism. Time to re-purpose some of your hotels for alternative uses - Condotels, Education Centres, Hospitals etc.

[PatOngo]

28 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Skål Bangkok’s Wood Warns Of A Deepening Thailand Tourism Crisis

No no no! I have it on good authority, TAT, the Tourist Authority of Thailand and the Tourism Minister that rich tourists are just chomping at the bit to come to Thailand and spend BIG money! Who can doubt them??? Surely they would'nt exaggerate, would they???

 

 

[ThailandRyan]

Maybe it is also time for Thailand to admit how really Dependent the countries economy is on Tourism revenue.  Time to switch gears and find a different type of cash cow.  Oh Wait they did, the TE Visa and its new cost, that should save Thailand.  TAT's new slogan along with the Ministry of Finance should be:

"Come to Thailand where you can vacation in style in our premium ASQ hotels" "Thailand will regain its financial freedom thanks to the Billions obtained by our new tourism product, The ASQ Hotel where you can go Glamping in your own room"

[mtls2005]

7 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Maybe it is also time for Thailand to admit how really Dependent the countries economy is on Tourism revenue.

 

Well they're proud to say that they were never colonized.

 

But they were, by tourists.

 

Got way too use to living off the foreigner's teat.

 

Wean thyself.

[madmitch]

41 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Let us have our own Centre for COVID-19 Tourism Situation Administration (CCTSA), chaired by Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and travel and tourism leaders from both public and private sectors.

 

It's a sensible read, apart from the choice of chairman!

[ChakaKhan]

I can say from my own exp working with thais in LOS, they never seemed to enjoy it when I shared my opinion on how things should be done, being a dirty farang and all...as there were also alot of "misunderstandings"

[dbrenn]

I can remember when Thailand had 4 million tourists per year. That figure became 39 million in 2019.

 

The place was much nicer and more beautiful back then. Thailand has been spoilt by the scourge of mass tourism. I hope that they never return. 

[BangkokReady]

1 hour ago, mtls2005 said:

Well they're proud to say that they were never colonized.

Well, they say that, but they still had a Chinese Opium War style exploitative treaty situation, as well as giving away a lot of land that they captured from Laos, Cambodia, Burma and Malaysia.

 

It was really all down to Rama V convincing Western powers that they didn't need to colonise Siam to exploit it of its natural resources, but that he was modern/civilised/organised enough to facilitate it.

[dbrenn]

2 hours ago, Phuketshrew said:

Thailand will never recover to pre-covid levels of tourism.

I do hope you're right. Hoping that all the budget airlines go bust too, so the vile lager louts and swarming hordes of package tourists have to holiday at home.

[JomtienRay]

Perhaps the establishment are keeping the borders closed to cleanse the country of the disliked yobbo foreign tourists and backpackers, and to close down the seedy red light areas of Pattaya and Bangkok, and take the opportunity to redevelop these places.

The economy is not suffering as much as people forecast, and Thailand is strong enough economically and structurally to ride this out and push through a serious redevolpement.. 

[MasterBaker]

Did you get tired of all this tourism stuff? easy money are over, nop, nada, kaput. just move on and get people back to work, create products, nobody will come and give your fat bargirls 500 for 10 min

[mr mr]

i predict an additional 19 billion arrivals by the end of december. don't let all the barstool mongers tell you it's dead.

 

the whole pattaya is dead thing has been done so many times. this time it's different right ? 

[Helmet Grunter]

1 hour ago, JomtienRay said:

Perhaps the establishment are keeping the borders closed to cleanse the country of the disliked yobbo foreign tourists and backpackers, and to close down the seedy red light areas of Pattaya and Bangkok, and take the opportunity to redevelop these places.

The economy is not suffering as much as people forecast, and Thailand is strong enough economically and structurally to ride this out and push through a serious redevolpement.. 

At last, someone sees the real picture 

[hansnl]

5 hours ago, dbrenn said:

I can remember when Thailand had 4 million tourists per year. That figure became 39 million in 2019.

 

The place was much nicer and more beautiful back then. Thailand has been spoilt by the scourge of mass tourism. I hope that they never return. 

What about the people that earned a living in the industry, what about them?

[Olad Mate]

I Think its about time someone mentioned Buddha.

With all the surgery drinks, plastic trinkets and cash he has consumed over the last couple of centuries, I would of thought its well overdue to call in a favour. 

 

[Traubert]

Bleat, bleat, bleat. Thailand will open up when its good and ready despite all the Westerners chiding the Government. You are all doing what you're good at, making self-important noises for your own ends.

[sammieuk1]

Don't forget it's only 6% of GDP traders and hoteliers stop moaning eat some grass for a couple of years and you will be fine ????

[Pinot]

They've got to open the borders as soon as possible! Tomorrow! 

 

Who is going to buy and occupy the tens of thousands empty unsold condos and hotel rooms in Phuket? And they're still building! 

 

Phuket built itself into an environmental disaster. With no tourists the ocean is clear again. Covid has been the best thing that ever happened to the environment around here. Clean water and more fish. Less trash and enough water to get through high season.

 

Hurry! Open the borders so we can save all the foreign speculators! Who cares about covid? Tsk.  

 

Our only hope is no one listens to this fool. 

 

 

[billd766]

2 hours ago, JomtienRay said:

Perhaps the establishment are keeping the borders closed to cleanse the country of the disliked yobbo foreign tourists and backpackers, and to close down the seedy red light areas of Pattaya and Bangkok, and take the opportunity to redevelop these places.

The economy is not suffering as much as people forecast, and Thailand is strong enough economically and structurally to ride this out and push through a serious redevolpement.. 

Thailand may be strong enough as it is today but what about the 8 to 20 million people who have lost their jobs?

[Scot123]

Condescending self hatred on here and also need to read some history about Thailand.  It was the GI's who started spreading the word about thailand then came the adventurers, back packers who after their travels spread the word then as they aged returning with their families.  Why look down on the gap year/back packers? Why look at the young having fun with such hatred? Did use never have friends to go out with? Thailand started self harming with tourists when those same holidaying working class people started hearing stories of 80 year olds being arrested and thrown in prison for playing cards, hospitalized by being set apone by dozens of drunk thai men, murdered then  murderer's being protected. Then flooding the country with organised chinese tours but then seeing money to be stolen started arresting tour operators guides etc. The word gets back with every one with horror stories and like chinese whispers they spread. Thailand was once a beautiful place to live now it's just.........

[Justgrazing]

7 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Confusion is rife.

 

I should say so .. as confused as a bamboo-zled Panda ..

[soalbundy]

Not a dry eye in the house. ????

[Guderian]

7 hours ago, rooster59 said:

It is becoming increasingly evident that the damage being inflicted to Thailand’s massive travel and tourism industry is proving to be critical with deep long lasting structural economic damage that is set to worsen rather than improve.

 

And what do you think is happening to the pubs and restaurants in the UK? Are the hotels on the Spanish costas, the Algarve and the eastern Med packed out with tourists from northern climes basking in the winter sun?

 

Why does this person seem to think that it's only Thailand that has a problem, and that the foreign tourism industry, that accounts for something between 10% and 15% of GDP, should be the nation's only priority? Get a life, man!

[RichardColeman]

7 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Thailand has one of the lowest number of coronavirus cases in the world. With only 4,039 cases and 60 deaths

'allowed to be confirmed'  or 'stated' should be added in that statement

[Mr Meeseeks]

48 minutes ago, Guderian said:

 

And what do you think is happening to the pubs and restaurants in the UK? Are the hotels on the Spanish costas, the Algarve and the eastern Med packed out with tourists from northern climes basking in the winter sun?

 

Why does this person seem to think that it's only Thailand that has a problem, and that the foreign tourism industry, that accounts for something between 10% and 15% of GDP, should be the nation's only priority? Get a life, man!

 

Because he has a vested interest, as have the foreign workers at the resort I am currently staying at. They should surely be worried that their contracts will be terminated soon. The situation will surely worsen in the next few months as mass tourism is over for the foreseeable future.

[Chiang Mai Bill]

So Tourism is now 20% of Thailand's economy!  It wasn't that much a couple of months ago!

 

When I first came to Thailand 11 years ago (still loads of tourists) I remember the then Tourist Minister saying that the figure was only 10-11% and it was not important for their economy.

[smudger1951]

7 hours ago, dbrenn said:

I can remember when Thailand had 4 million tourists per year. That figure became 39 million in 2019.

 

The place was much nicer and more beautiful back then. Thailand has been spoilt by the scourge of mass tourism. I hope that they never return. 

I guess you are in Thailand with that POV.