Thailand strives to elevate tourism industry striken hard by pandemic

[webfact]

Xinhua file photo

 

Source: Xinhua|Editor: huaxia

 

BANGKOK, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- More than a year and a half since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, Thailand's tourism industry is now struggling to survive and trying to shift from mass tourism to attracting more quality visitors.

 

The country received some 40 million international visitors in 2019, and the number came down to only 6.7 million in 2020.

 

For 2021, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) predicted that even in the best-case scenario, there will only be around 1-2 million foreign tourists visiting the country. Some believed that this figure is still considered too optimistic given the current vaccination rate and rising number of daily cases in the country.

 

Focusing on high-end tourism has always been an ambitious target for Thailand. The authorities now believe that Thailand must use the pandemic as the catalyst to overhaul the industry, as this is the only way that the sector can survive and navigate through the crisis.

 

Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view

 

Full story: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/asiapacific/2021-08/22/c_1310142183.htm

 

-- © Copyright Xinhua 2021-08-23

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

 

[ukrules]

6 minutes ago, webfact said:

attracting more quality visitors

I've been reading this same rubbish for years, it NEVER works, ever.

 

What makes them think it will be any different now?

 

Who wants to come on holiday to a country which can (and will) lock you up in a covid prison in a heartbeat.

 

[wasabi]

Amazing Thailand. Amazing they don't realize they should try to shift AWAY from dependence on Tourism and for the tourists who still want to come stop pretending this is the next Monaco or Miami. It's appeal was the wild nightlife, beautiful beaches and people living a carefree life on the cheap. Now it's a labyrinth of documents, visas and requirements to even set foot in the country. 

Edited August 22, 2021 by wasabi

[sezze]

Quality tourists , what does that mean ? We all heard it before , but nobody ever mentioned what a quality tourist actually is . Attracting very wealthy people ? Thailand is not a very good destination , since the quality offered is very low vs other rich destinations . Also , if they want only the rich to come , what are they gonna do with all the hotels and tourism based industry , since it is a small group you want to come .

[alex8912]

Well most on here may disagree. My Thai friend arrived here in USA a couple days ago. Needed a covid free test and of course a visa. Then a couple simple questions at immigration. Went to get a first jab of Moderna a little later that day ( free and available EVERYWHERE)  Thailand wants you to get COE then OMG!!! So no tourists of course. A covid test before you arrive and a fully faxed card ( but Thailand has to know that many of these cards have cursive writing on them and a scribbled birthday lol and it's official at least in the states) and then tourists will really arrive this Nov/Dec

[inThailand]

Thailand strives to elevate tourism industry. 

 

By degrading, scamming and lying to tourists? Sounds like a typical plan here. 

[aussiexpat]

From the full article...

"The government's tourism-revival strategy is to target big spenders that are seeking for privacy and social distancing during their stays, especially during and post COVID-19 world,"

 

So they just want people to book an expensive resort villa with all food and drink supplied so they never socialize with anyone else...surely these "big spenders" already have that at home. What a joke

[Gottfrid]

They will never get more quality tourists than regular visitors. The only way they can get the tourist industry going, is by vaccinating the people in Thailand. Seems like there is a problem understanding such simple facts.

[Gottfrid]

26 minutes ago, sezze said:

Quality tourists , what does that mean ? We all heard it before , but nobody ever mentioned what a quality tourist actually is . Attracting very wealthy people ? Thailand is not a very good destination , since the quality offered is very low vs other rich destinations . Also , if they want only the rich to come , what are they gonna do with all the hotels and tourism based industry , since it is a small group you want to come .

It means a person the do not care for sex, do not drink or take other substances classified as drugs. Very well behaved and take all the <deleted> anyone wishes to load or unleash on them. At last the person must also have a load of money that he/she only spends on tourist attractions, hotels, food and high value consumer products. As you clearly can see and understand, such person does not exist. Just another scenario built with the new and updated Phuket Sandbox for PC version 13.11. Also available for Mac and smartphones for the ones who wishes to enter the perfection of virtual living.

[malibukid]

1 hour ago, wasabi said:

Amazing Thailand. Amazing they don't realize they should try to shift AWAY from dependence on Tourism and for the tourists who still want to come stop pretending this is the next Monaco or Miami. It's appeal was the wild nightlife, beautiful beaches and people living a carefree life on the cheap. Now it's a labyrinth of documents, visas and requirements to even set foot in the country. 

they are running PR ads on CNN trying to attract companies by promoting how easy it is to do business here.  lol, it down right frustrating.  the brag about their health care system when the can not successfully roll out a vaccine program. on and on.  clueless, they are  living in a separate reality.  

Edited August 22, 2021 by malibukid

[Benmart]

This rag is from Xinhua News Agency headquartered out of Beijing. 

[Blumpie]

34 minutes ago, aussiexpat said:

From the full article...

"The government's tourism-revival strategy is to target big spenders that are seeking for privacy and social distancing during their stays, especially during and post COVID-19 world,"

 

So they just want people to book an expensive resort villa with all food and drink supplied so they never socialize with anyone else...surely these "big spenders" already have that at home. What a joke

IT's all goggleygook.  

Look, nobody is going to Thailand for a vacation.  People are going there to get reunited and that is it.  

Nobody in their right mind is going there to have a vacation, get home, and quarantine for 2 weeks.  Full stop.

[Jonathan Swift]

1 hour ago, wasabi said:

Amazing Thailand. Amazing they don't realize they should try to shift AWAY from dependence on Tourism and for the tourists who still want to come stop pretending this is the next Monaco or Miami. It's appeal was the wild nightlife, beautiful beaches and people living a carefree life on the cheap. Now it's a labyrinth of documents, visas and requirements to even set foot in the country. 

you're right of course, but they have put all their eggs in one basket for too long, and in this crisis it's impossible to change their economic base quickly enough to make a difference. So magical thinking and pipe dreams are all they have to cling to. makes me sad

[smedly]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Focusing on high-end tourism has always been an ambitious target for Thailand. The authorities now believe that Thailand must use the pandemic as the catalyst to overhaul the industry, as this is the only way that the sector can survive and navigate through the crisis.

there were for sure hidden gems in Thailand most of which have been ruined through poor planning, greed and corruption, many places need serious infrastructure improvements - a lot of them are long past recovery and need flattening and starting over.

 

walk (or try to without breaking a leg) around Pattaya and take a long hard look at the place, run down buildings - no footpaths and any that exist are a health risk, rubbish everywhere, the place is an eye sore, yes some lovely hotels inside but step outside and you are in the 3rd world country that Thailand is, earning huge tourist money for decades quickly stuffed into greedy pockets instead of spending on improving the place - what a waste. 

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

For 2021, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) predicted that even in the best-case scenario, there will only be around 1-2 million foreign tourists visiting the country. Some believed that this figure is still considered too optimistic given the current vaccination rate and rising number of daily cases in the country

And it's still pitiful. 

The governments meddling with vaccine procurement has held this nation back and will well into 2022. Forget mass tourism for almost any country this year, as for wealthy tourists there are much better options than the sandbox scheme...  

[bkk6060]

It will never be a quality tourist destination it does not have that reputation worldwide.  Too many true quality holiday/beach resort places in the world no way to compete for that.

Most people want to come here for a semi above 3rd world inexpensive vacation with cheap accommodations, food, etc.  They should actually promote and enhance the experience for male entertainment seekers that is where the most money is spent in short periods of time.

[hotchilli]

50 minutes ago, inThailand said:

Thailand strives to elevate tourism industry. 

 

By degrading, scamming and lying to tourists? Sounds like a typical plan here. 

People put up with Thailand before with all it's wrinkles... now with a mountain of paperwork and closed facilities there's no attraction.

[Straight8]

bahahahahahhahaha  ????

[nobodysfriend]

1 hour ago, sezze said:

Quality tourists , what does that mean ? We all heard it before , but nobody ever mentioned what a quality tourist actually is . Attracting very wealthy people ?

To make Thailand a tourist destination for the big spenders ?

Need to make Thailand attractive for them first .

Less bureaucrazy ( intended ) , no more rip-offs , the list is endless .. where to start ?

[drenddy]

Open the country for vaccinated tourists, PCR 48 hrs before and on arrival, then establish more ASQ, as more will get positive tests, but at lower prices(or impose insurance companies to cover new cases or close contacts, even as asymptomatic), then go <deleted> yourself with this never ending disrespectful attitude towards tourists.

Edited August 23, 2021 by drenddy

[Blumpie]

1 minute ago, Straight8 said:

bahahahahahhahaha  ????

What's really funny is they want more "quality tourists".  The real punchline is up to this point, the insinuation is people weren't quality or important.  

[drenddy]

How can you expect quality tourists, when many of the 5 stars hotels in Bangkok have street hookers, beggars with no hands/legs, street vendors at their footsteps?

 

Thailand is not a premium destination.

Singapore it is.

Edited August 23, 2021 by drenddy

[JBond009]

Thailand has/had a golden opportunity. The CCP has clamped down and shown the world thier true colors. Capital is fleeing quickly and few companies will invest in the future. Companies are looking to quickly shift their mfg to safer places. The Thai gov. should be laying out the red carpet to attract these companies. Case in point, got a new router, where was it made? Not China!!!! It was made in Vietnam. It could have been made in Thailand. There is still a great opportunity, but they need to put this C19 <deleted> behind them.

[Gsxrnz]

I seriously wonder if there is an idiom in Thai which equates to building castles in the sky, or counting chickens before they hatch.

[Caldera]

The usual nonsense talk about "quality tourists". The reality will be much different: Once tourist dollars will be up for grabs again, Thailand will resume hunting for them, as indiscriminately as before the pandemic, but with renewed vengeance to make up for lost time. Talk is cheap, but ultimately, greed is always the biggest factor.

[10baht]

Vaccine , vaccine , vaccine, Vaccine , vaccine , vaccine,Vaccine , vaccine , vaccine,Vaccine , vaccine , vaccine,Vaccine , vaccine , vaccine, And no BS hoops to jump through. And Vaccine doesn't = Chinovac as when the Delta variant really takes hold that shot will not lead Thailand out of this abyss. Bullet proof shoes might help though.

[vukovar77]

31 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

And it's still pitiful. 

The governments meddling with vaccine procurement has held this nation back and will well into 2022. Forget mass tourism for almost any country this year, as for wealthy tourists there are much better options than the sandbox scheme...  

Tourism in most Europe destinations is going very well, about 70-80% tourists compare to 2019.But no silly requirements  and obstacles like in Thailand and borders are open.

 

[jacko45k]

2 minutes ago, vukovar77 said:

Tourism in most Europe destinations is going very well, about 70-80% tourists compare to 2019.But no silly requirements  and obstacles like in Thailand and borders are open.

 

And a heatwave coming.......

[drenddy]

3 minutes ago, vukovar77 said:

Tourism in most Europe destinations is going very well, about 70-80% tourists compare to 2019.But no silly requirements  and obstacles like in Thailand and borders are open.

 

 They took a calculated risk, numbers went up, but life must go on.

[ChipButty]

1 hour ago, inThailand said:

Thailand strives to elevate tourism industry. 

 

By degrading, scamming and lying to tourists? Sounds like a typical plan here. 

Doesn't just happen to tourist I've lived here for 25 years and twice recently I've had someone try and rip me off, one was a pharmacy