Thailand: No plans to return tourism to pre-COVID crisis levels

[webfact]

Thailand: No plans to return tourism to pre-COVID crisis levels

Harry S. Johnson

 

 

Thailand’s authorities said they did not plan to return tourism to pre-crisis levels even after the normalization of the epidemiological situation with COVID-19, said Deputy Prime Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow.

 

Revenues from tourism account for up to 20% of Thailand’s GDP. According to 2019 data, the country’s tourism revenue amounted to $ 56.2 billion, but Thai authorities are not satisfied with this. The government believes that Thailand’s economy is too dependent on tourism.

 

“It is unacceptable to return Thailand to the pre-COVID-19 level of tourism dependency. As the global economy changes, we must be more active in attracting foreign investors to other industries. 

 

Full story: https://eturbonews.com/2472247/thailand-no-plans-to-return-tourism-to-pre-covid-crisis-levels/

 

-- © Copyright eTuro News 2021-01-05

 

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[Bkkbound]

If I had 10 baht for every time some Thai politician said something fanciful I’d be very rich..

[ezzra]

Stating the obvious of what has become painfully apparent that tourism in Thailand will take long time to recover and that is sad for millions of people that their livelihood is very much depended on it...

[sammieuk1]

Yes great idea attract foreign investors then don't let them in another DPM genius ???? 

[Somtamnication]

"The government believes that Thailand’s economy is too dependent on tourism." Dude, this has been the case since the Vietnam War!

[Chang_paarp]

56 minutes ago, webfact said:

“It is unacceptable to return Thailand to the pre-COVID-19 level of tourism dependency. As the global economy changes, we must be more active in attracting foreign investors to other industries. 

 

 

They could fix this by increasing the rest of the economy rather than shrinking the tourist sector. This would require actually having an education system that produced graduates that have some prospects, it would also require a radical change in the agricultural sector, addressing corruption at all levels and consistent government wide accountability. All pipe dreams

[ourmanflint]

Does this mean compulsory buyouts for all those SME hotels and resorts, level them and turn them into condos?

[bkk6060]

I hope they realize now how good and easy it has been.

To change the goals/infrastructure of an entire economy could take 20 years.

They may think about this or try, but will be forced to revert back to easy peasy tourism at some point just to keep this place on life support.

 

[Cali farong]

He says it’s unacceptable to return to pre COVID tourism.

Does he really think it’s up to Thailand. Hahahaha 

Going to be a long time before Thailand sees mass tourism again 

Not all the fault of COVID    The easy money was taken for granted

[tomyami]

it dosent matter tourists wont travel long haul till it is safe any toursim recovery is going tobe short haul to sun or cruises, massage palour parlours and lady bars are low on priorty am waiting for cambodia to open

[Destiny1990]

So no casinos then anyway  weird because TAT officials want more and more while other officials want less and less. Very hard making substantial plans when officials have different goals ????????

[rabang]

I want million dollars on my account, NOW!

 

This is more or less as realistic as Thailand's dream of stepping up the ladder.

 

Of course it would be a good idea to attract more investments and becoming less dependent on tourism but it takes more than just wishful thinking. Better education, less corruption, more open economy, better judicial system would be some of the requirements and not that easy and quick to fix. Unless they mean becoming another financial colony for China.

[SCOTT FITZGERSLD]

45 minutes ago, Cali farong said:

Does he really think it’s up to Thailand. Hahahaha 

it is all about saving face and looking smart in the eyes of the desperate people.

tourism all over the world is not going to recover for the next 3-4 years.

they know it so they will say - ohh no worry, it is all part of the plan.

problem is that thailand is allready invested heavily in tourism.

there are 2000 shopping malls in bangkok alone, most of them serve and survive

on tourists. now without tourists many of those shopping malls will collapse,

very big problem for thai economy and japanese investors.

[WineOh]

A friend of mine was booked in for Thailand this January, now he says he’s going to North Korea instead. More friendly and easier to get in ????

Edited January 5, 2021 by Liverpoolfan

[Jeffr2]

12 minutes ago, Liverpoolfan said:

A friend of mine was booked in for Thailand this January, now he says he’s going to North Korea instead. More friendly and easier to get in ????

Ummm....easier to get into Thailand for sure....

 

https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/eastern-asia/north-korea/north-korea-travel-tips

All international air and train routes have been temporarily suspended since 31 January, 2020. Passengers traveling for tourism purposes are not allowed to enter. Foreigners who have arrived from virus-affected countries are subject to a 30-day period of quarantine and medical supervision.

 

Tours to North Korea have been suspended until further notice. Check with your travel provider to see what this means for you.

 

There is a serious lack of reliable information on the COVID-19 situation in North Korea, and it is virtually impossible to prove or disprove any claims.

[Don Chance]

Say hello to more pollution. Thailand will be like Vietnam soon.

[kotsak]

Nice trick to bring down the prices from desperate hotel businesses so their chinese friends can buy everything at bottom prices, then turn the place into a major tourism destination for them.

 

[Bender Rodriguez]

many eggs, same basket

 

fail

[klauskunkel]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

we must be more active in attracting foreign investors to other industries

I think the Quarantine Industry is booming...

[Disparate Dan]

story bears no resemblance of course to this one from 2 weeks ago:

 

[redwood1]

3 hours ago, SCOTT FITZGERSLD said:

it is all about saving face and looking smart in the eyes of the desperate people.

tourism all over the world is not going to recover for the next 3-4 years.

they know it so they will say - ohh no worry, it is all part of the plan.

problem is that thailand is allready invested heavily in tourism.

there are 2000 shopping malls in bangkok alone, most of them serve and survive

on tourists. now without tourists many of those shopping malls will collapse,

very big problem for thai economy and japanese investors.

I agree....It seems to hardly shock or amaze anyone how many shopping malls there are in Bangkok.......On Sukhumvit its almost mall after mall after mall.....And they are constantly building more all the time......Tourist or no tourist Bangkok is overrun  with shopping malls.....

[Darkside Gray]

If they don't do it, where are they going to make up the short fall, building businesses takes time!

[shady86]

Tomorrow they will come up with 50 million of tourists next year, every day with auspicious number for lottery. 

[Caldera]

That doesn't surprise me and it makes sense, it's too much risk.

 

BUT I believe greed will take the pilot seat once again, as soon as tourists will be readily available for Thailand to make money from.

 

[Patong2021]

46 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

I agree....It seems to hardly shock or amaze anyone how many shopping malls there are in Bangkok.......On Sukhumvit its almost mall after mall after mall.....And they are constantly building more all the time......Tourist or no tourist Bangkok is overrun  with shopping malls.....

 

The location of the mall reflects the location population density and consumer traffic. Thailand leans towards large and midsized shopping malls because it is a relatively modern city.  It is comparable to Singapore or New York. On that basis, Thailand has a lower ratio of malls to residents.

Bangkok  1: 479,045;    New York 1: 339,885   Singapore 1: 225,560

 

Old cities (like Rome, London, Paris) with their rigid historical preservation rules and regulations and limited available land do not have many comparable modern malls.

[newnative]

2 hours ago, Disparate Dan said:

story bears no resemblance of course to this one from 2 weeks ago:

 

Yes.  And, both articles boil down to the goal of having Thailand be less dependent on tourism.  That does not mean limiting tourists in any way. 

[internationalism]

but thailand has only 11.9% of gdp from an international tourism. The rest  6% is domestic tourism.

that's why the government is giving extra holidays to boost this sector.

Sadly, nothing will work, because people don't have disposable income.

International tourism will be from asia, a few h flight distance.

There won't be intercontinental tourism because of high airfares, so  mass tourism won't take off.

Still, medical tourism, pensioners coming for extended time in winter would be coming as before.

Thailand should remove visa restrictions, so chinese, indians don't have to worry about consulates, visa agents or even being stacked in visa on arrival office

 

[dcnx]

Heads up, dummies... if Thailand wants less tourism, that means visas are going to become more difficult for everyone.

 

 

[Virt]

5 hours ago, Jeffr2 said:

Ummm....easier to get into Thailand for sure....

 

https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/eastern-asia/north-korea/north-korea-travel-tips

All international air and train routes have been temporarily suspended since 31 January, 2020. Passengers traveling for tourism purposes are not allowed to enter. Foreigners who have arrived from virus-affected countries are subject to a 30-day period of quarantine and medical supervision.

 

Tours to North Korea have been suspended until further notice. Check with your travel provider to see what this means for you.

 

There is a serious lack of reliable information on the COVID-19 situation in North Korea, and it is virtually impossible to prove or disprove any claims.

 

Swoooooooosh. 

That's the sound of sarcasm flying by. 

????

[TheFreqFlyer]

3 hours ago, Disparate Dan said:

story bears no resemblance of course to this one from 2 weeks ago:

 

 

I don't believe they've just switched policy or that the article you've posted is all that different to this one. They've been going back and forth on this for months already.

 

The Bangkok Post and other MSM papers are talking about pushing the return of international tourism virtually every day, while every once in a while someone like this guy says they want to start depending LESS on tourism.

 

I don't know what to make of any of this. Constant contradictions.

 

However, one thing I will say is this: I think all they need to do is attract inbound investment and promote tourism less. People will come once they're allowed to, and I don't think that once things return to normality they will actively try to dissuade tourists, because all they really need to do is stop marketing the country. It's as simple as that. What they want to achieve is tourism making up say 5-10% of GDP irrespective of the numbers that come, rather than 20%. Vietnam has a growing tourism industry and most westerners will instantly think of tourism when it comes to Vietnam just like they do with Thailand, but Vietnam is about as dependent on tourism now (pre-Covid) as Thailand was 15 years ago. Only 7% of Vietnamese GDP comes from tourism, though it's unclear whether that figure includes all tourism or only international arrivals.

 

Previously, no one visited Myanmar because there was no marketing of the country. Of course, perceptions of human rights abuses and being relatively restricted also contributed to that, but what really pushed tourism in that country since 2012 aside from opening up more was marketing. Although not nearly to the extent of Thailand and even pre-Covid, 30% of the country remained restricted to foreigners due to security concerns.