Samui Plus: Only about 10 foreigners per day are visiting island

[Nabby]

5 hours ago, Scrotobike said:

My fear for Thailand is greater than this- I agree with what you say but a vacuum will suck in all kinds of rubbish - so imagine a tsunami of $0 Chinese tourists ......

Who will bring Covid with them yet again, despite the fact that their lying government says they have it under control, which they don't. 

[khunPer]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Not even close. In five years, we might see 20% of the former volume. And that is a big maybe. 

It's difficult to predict, especially about the future - what brand of crystal ball do you use..?

????

[khunPer]

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

They already had it, for a few years, prior to Covid. They called them zero baht tourists. Came in package groups, pre-paid in China. Ate only at low priced buffets, at 60% off the normal rate. Stayed only in hotels, where the tour operator negotiated 40-70% off the rates. The only ones who really benefitted were 7/11, Tesco, and King Power. Few made any money, and nearly all complained about the lack of quality tourists. 

You have been living on Koh Samui, how many "zero baht" Chinese tourists did you see..?

[Cake Monster]

3 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Do you remember the multiple videos of those reprobates storming the buffet food warmers with wild and reckless abandon? I don't miss them in the least.

Those Photos of the Hordes walking behind the Banners sent shivers down my spine.

Urgh

[spidermike007]

And not only that, but with the rise in Covid here, it is actually more dangerous for the tourists visiting here, than for the locals, who are the major transmitters. So, where is the humility? Starting tomorrow, there should be ZERO restrictions on incoming tourists. Thank you so much for coming. We want to make your experience as pleasurable and easy as possible. Here is a 10,000 baht gift certificate, good for any restaurant or hotel in the nation. It is our way of saying thank you for supporting us, and taking a chance on Thailand right now. We know conditions are alot less than optimal, and we know your tourism experience will not even be close to what it could have been, and should have been, had we done our jobs correctly. 

 

And we are prepared to admit we need you 30X more than you need us. 

 

 

 

 

[spidermike007]

50 minutes ago, khunPer said:

You have been living on Koh Samui, how many "zero baht" Chinese tourists did you see..?

Not as many as on the mainland, that is for sure. The islands seemed to attract more middle income tourists. But, nearly everyone I spoke to on Samui, and Phuket over the last five years said income was way, way down, with the majority Chinese, Indian and Malaysian tourists. 

[spidermike007]

55 minutes ago, khunPer said:

It's difficult to predict, especially about the future - what brand of crystal ball do you use..?

????

It is a 260 year old Romanian antique, that I got at Sothebys in London. It had great provenance. Owned by a countess, and then a renowned centimillionaire psychic. 

[crazykopite]

Im surprised its 10 the place is decimated 

[tomacht8]

I wonder how long Bangkok Airways can hold out with only 10 passengers per flight.
Or is there any government subsidy money for the airline?

[HappyExpat57]

30 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

It is a 260 year old Romanian antique, that I got at Sothebys in London. It had great provenance. Owned by a countess, and then a renowned centimillionaire psychic. 

I ordered one from a Nigerian prince. It was expensive! Still waiting for it to arrive. It's been less than six months, so I'm still holding out hope.

[Phoenix Rising]

Samui Plus: Only about 10 foreigners per day are visiting island

 

OK, so it's Samui Plus 10 then....

[Tropicalevo]

2 hours ago, tomacht8 said:

I wonder how long Bangkok Airways can hold out with only 10 passengers per flight.
Or is there any government subsidy money for the airline?

With the government banning flights, I am sure that all of the airlines are receiving something from the government. After 'commissions' of course.

[Neilly]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

No foreign tourists at all arrived from the Phuket Sandbox with the total remaining at 257. 

That might have something to with the fact that restaurants aren't allowed to sell alcohol any more...who in their right mind is going to spend 12 hours in minibus (no flights any more) to go drink Coke/Pepsi!

[Almer]

Are these tourists or visitors from within?

[gearbox]

23 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

With the government banning flights, I am sure that all of the airlines are receiving something from the government. After 'commissions' of course.

As far as I know it seems they got nothing since the start of the pandemics...they have asked for soft loans, but got nothing so far. With Bangkok Airways as a listed company if there was something they would have included it in the financial reports.

 

https://www.reuters.com/article/thailand-airlines-loans-idUKL4N2OX11U

 

The way the things are developing there are going to be casualties if they don't reopen the flights soon, or some support is given.

[MrJ2U]

11 hours ago, Mickeymaus said:

I am wondering that tourists come at all. Even being vaccinated doesn't mean that you can't get the virus. And what will follow then has nothing to do with holidays anymore. So vaccinated or not - you still have to be very careful.

If you can get there Koh Samui is beautiful.  Perfect with a loved one or a family.

 

My wife and I were there in April, loved it.

 

We're not drinkers so no bars no problem.

 

Rent a motorcycle and cruise around the island.

 

5 star resort suite directly on the beach 5,000 baht with breakfast.

 

Wonderful!

 

 

[Golden Triangle]

9 hours ago, Sparktrader said:

2 years back to normal

You are joking of course ??

[khunPer]

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Not as many as on the mainland, that is for sure. The islands seemed to attract more middle income tourists. But, nearly everyone I spoke to on Samui, and Phuket over the last five years said income was way, way down, with the majority Chinese, Indian and Malaysian tourists. 

To my knowledge, those complaining about lower business are the same as those that did not adjust their business plan (enough) to the change in visitors, i.e. a lot more Western families with children and Western couples, instead of singles, plus numerous prefer to stay in pool villas instead of hotels.

 

Others have increased business, and expanded. I see a number that use the Covid-lockdown to refurbish, and even expand their business. They probably use a different model of crystal ball than a 260 years old Romanian antiquity - I would love to have one of those...???? but they are hard to find at an affordable price...???? - however, I'm not saying their CB-brands are better, just relaying the facts I notice...????

[MrJ2U]

Does this count tourists coming on the ferries?

 

Despite COVID-19 there still crowded and almost fully booked on the weekends.

 

I haven't been since Early April, maybe things have changed.

 

 

[Tropicalevo]

1 hour ago, khunPer said:

To my knowledge, those complaining about lower business are the same as those that did not adjust their business plan (enough) to the change in visitors, i.e. a lot more Western families with children and Western couples, instead of singles, plus numerous prefer to stay in pool villas instead of hotels.

To me, that is the biggest change even pre-Covid. More so now that rents have dropped in price.

The private villas are cheaper and safer.

Why mix with people in a hotel, that you do not know - maybe from dark red zones.

Private villa with a pool and quite often near an (empty) beach.

Order in massage, yoga, Pilates, food, alcohol, fresh bakery items etc etc.

Plenty of places for exercise and some villa complexes have gyms and tennis courts.

If the gym is not included, there are quite a few dotted around the island.

Good internet for working or schooling and also for streaming films, sport etc.

The downside? Perhaps you can think of one.

[Albert Zweistein]

10 hours ago, Sparktrader said:

Doubt it. People r bored. 

Bored of what ? Many alternatives available, Europe is full of traveling tourists presently.

[Sparktrader]

1 hour ago, Albert Zweistein said:

Bored of what ? Many alternatives available, Europe is full of traveling tourists presently.

Bored of c ovid

[Albert Zweistein]

2 hours ago, Sparktrader said:

Bored of c ovid

Better bored than dead.

[cobra]

19 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

... Touurism is now gone forever. They killed the industry. Shot it in the heart. Trillions of dollars in infrastructure wiped out. Permanently ...

Permanently ?

There wasn't much left after the 2004 Tsunami either,
a lot of infrastructure wiped out, but like weeds it grows back, 

patience young grasshopper,

[spidermike007]

4 hours ago, cobra said:

Permanently ?

There wasn't much left after the 2004 Tsunami either,
a lot of infrastructure wiped out, but like weeds it grows back, 

patience young grasshopper,

Totally different fundamentals, and the world had fewer choices. In addition Thailand never bothered one iota to fix the dozen main problems afflicting the industry. Plus Thailand is no longer the bargain it once was.

 

60 plus countries are already fully open for tourism, without any restrictions. People are already forgotting Thailand. The longer they wait, the longer the re-start will take. I do not imply tourism will not be in industry here. But, the numbers will likely be 15% of what they were before. Not enough to support the industry. 

[khunPer]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

60 plus countries are already fully open for tourism, without any restrictions. People are already forgotting Thailand. The longer they wait, the longer the re-start will take. I do not imply tourism will not be in industry here. But, the numbers will likely be 15% of what they were before. Not enough to support the industry. 

A number of the major European tourist destinations recently changed to re-imply restrictions due to Covid's Delta-variant makes the spread out of control - there have been European news report about unhappy guests that wished to go home, some even tested positive, and were placed in quarantine, unable to go anywhere - and some countries reintroduced home-quarantine for people returning from the "former" fully open tourists sites...????

 

A lot of Europeans seems to have second thought about traveling, nobody wish their valuable vacation spoiled; valuable mainly in time, but also in cost.

 

Travelling is difficult during a pandemic, and travelling also spreads a virus outbreak, which was the reason why the Covid-virus originally infected Europe, it spreading from mainly Italy and skiing destinations in the Alps.

 

In my view - both with and without crystal ball - I don't think Thailand is, or will be, forgotten, but Land of Smiles is not a hot Top-10 item at the moment on Westerner's wish list. Also due to, that Thailand is not a cheap destination due to the long flight, and today's expectations of little more luxury during a holiday than when staying at home. The tourist boom in the later past was not caused by modest backpackers heading for a bamboo hut on a deserted Bounty-style beach with bonfire-evening get togethers in moonshine, but due to people seeking a dream vacation in high-end luxury, which also the number of many-star resorts in Thailand indicates. Samui has been mentioned as the place in Thailand with the highest density of luxury hotels.

????

[Harveyboy]

23 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Do you remember the multiple videos of those reprobates storming the buffet food warmers with wild and reckless abandon? I don't miss them in the least.

me neither..found the Russians as bad if not worse...covid has certainly cleaned that mob up i used to live in Pattaya little Moscow...

[hanuman2543]

On 8/13/2021 at 5:38 AM, HappyExpat57 said:

They still spent 1 billion baht, right?

Per day

[Neilly]

59 minutes ago, hanuman2543 said:

Per day

Each ????

[Sparktrader]

On 8/13/2021 at 3:31 PM, Gottfrid said:

Looks like a perfect place to go right now. 

Clean beaches