Thailand strives to elevate tourism industry striken hard by pandemic

[soalbundy]

Beggars becoming choosers.

[thaibeachlovers]

Just now, smedly said:

you know my point earlier about infrastructure - those of us who have been here a long time just get used to seeing the dreadful smelly poluted dirty mess but everybody should take a walk around the place and take a long hard look - it really is shameful.

 

I watched a holiday series a few months ago mostly visiting places in Europe and OMG what a difference - absolutely everything was pristine spotless - pavements were flat and pristine - buildings were pristine and all freshly clean and painted and spotless - cities in the west have proper building controls and standards that apply to everything and if an owner doesn't meet them the building will be removed or the owner taken to court - standards exist and are strictly enforced - in pattaya we have corruption were money dissapears into an officials pocket resulting in substandard work and constant wasted budgets 

I agree with that, but I welcomed that Pattaya was a dump because it kept families and western women away, which meant it continued as Fun City.

Seems they are going to ruin it anyway though.

Pity. I loved Pattaya back in the 90s before they went crazy and started thinking they could make a silk purse out of a pig's ear.

[Samuiwind]

Thailand should focus on the source of income that is stabilising the economies in many tourist destinations. Retirees! They certainly already outnumber sandbox tourists and “quality” tourists, by a long shot.

Edited August 23, 2021 by Samuiwind
Misspelling

[charmonman]

Quality tourists? Now is not the time for Thailand to get picky.

 

Eliminate quarantine for fully vaccinated travellers. It won't do that much for tourist numbers given the current situation in Thailand but it would be a start for whenever they decide to start opening things up again.

[aussiexpat]

This logic must be taught very early in school to every Thai

 

Bar: few customers with beer at 80 baht, so they put the price up to 100 baht to make more money (in their mind) - result, no customers

 

TAT: few tourists with too many hoops to get there and too many restrictions once there, so they say they don't want those dirty falang anyway, only the super rich should come now - result, even fewer tourists

 

Edited August 23, 2021 by aussiexpat

[Nanaplaza666]

3 hours 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. 

Damn this is the most spot on answer i've heard in a while . 

[Sydebolle]

Interesting is the source of this (renewed) same story I've been hearing over the last 30+ years in the Land. This time it comes with compliments of PR China, Xinhua ......... 

[kingstonkid]

No country can survive strictly on tourism at this stage.

 

For too many years the cash cow was so good that they let a lot of other businesses leave or did not care to attract them.

 

They were happy with the military that were coming her on leave.  Then the single guys that wanted to party and the older guys that wanted to come here party find a young thing to make them feel young and hansome.

They wanted the good life that they could not afford in their country.

 

Previously we all discussed how much trouble Walking Street was having due to lack of "Quality"*** tourists.  Thailand pushed to attract the Chinese and Indian tourists who travel in packs for the most part.  Chinese wives know their husbands so do not let them out of sight.

Indian men go to bar drink a drink.

 

Walking street and Patpong both fell into the rut of offering the same thing every night.  Girls that stand on stage and sway to music in a non sexual way then can not figure out why cheap charlie not buy her a drink. Bars use the same ploy of no limit not minimum  just come in watch show then demand a min of 3k baht and think that others will not hear about it.

 

There is a limit to what people want and will do.  

 

Maybe it is time for Thai tourism to look at the other tourists.  The ones that have the money and have the power. The ones be they Thai Asian or North American that do control where and how much money is spent.

KIDS.  

Family vacations were on the rise and still are in a lot of countries.  That is where money can be made.  

 

Both the Old and new can and do exist in the same cities or locations. 

 

*** QUALITY TOURIST.  DEFINITION FOR WALKING STREET IS farang with money not necessarily hansome or rich but rich enough to pay for bargirl drinks and the buy out to take her home. Give her lots of things and then leave her or she left him.

For those that may not be awake enough to read LOL

 

 

[HeijoshinCool]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

trying to shift from mass tourism to attracting more quality visitors.

.

 

Hmmm, what's that old saying....?

 

Beggars can't be choosers.

[tjo o tjim]

It’s funny, living in another tourism-dependent location at the moment that is also trying to shift to high-value tourists.  The tourists that are out there now are of two types:  value tourists that spend almost zero, and very wealthy tourists that spend money in very concentrated ways.  (The wealthy do things like rent a house with chef and associated charter sailboat; the value are hard pressed to spend on anything but deals on accommodation and airfare.)

 

While I am still “connected” to Thailand, going there as a vacation is done for me.  It is just a trip to see friends and visit some old haunts at this point… if the option ever returns.  Other people seem to have found other destinations to shift their energy to.

[Nanaplaza666]

38 minutes ago, smedly said:

it is not hard to understand what they did in Phucket, it is also not hard to understand the people that are making use of the sandbox - it's maginally better than ASQ

 

but lets look at it from a tourist point of view 

 

- the only people in Phuket that have to do expensive multiple PCR tests are the fully vaccinated so called tourists - why not the whole population of Phuket ?  - money grab is the the only logical conclusion

 

- Fully vaccinated foreigners being forced to stay in expensive hotels while the general population have no such restrictions - money grab

 

- fully vaccinated foreigners not allowed to leave the Island when Thais can leave and travel when they want vaccinated or not - money grab

 

- restriction restrictions restrictions on fully vaccinated tourists - why ? - money grab

 

If they think this is the model for the rest of Thailand opening up they need their heads examined 

 

Placing all these restrictions and red tape on fully vaccinated genuine tourists is just complete nonsense - I do not know of anyone who will step foot in Thailand as a tourist while all these restrictions are in place - why should they.

 

Fully vaccinated tourists should be allowed to come without restriction, ok one PCR test before boarding a plane but all this other #### is just ridiculous.

 

Then there is the problem were everything is shut down in Thailand especially in the major resorts towns and cities, the only people that should restricted are unvaccinated Thais and that right there is the problem, they messed up big time on vaccines.

 

In 3 weeks time I will be fully vaccinated with Pfizer (along with many other farangs) and yet I will still be unable to resume normal activities.

 

There could be an option for some currently closed businesses to open up if they can put in place a fully vaccinated certification for both staff and customers, then the cops can spend their time making sure of compliance instead of spending time rounding up a few farang sitting on the footpath chatting - it is doable with a little effort and also include fully vaccinated foreign tourists to come with restrictions lifted, bin the money gouging sandbox and allow fully vaccinated tourists to get on with it without all the stupid red tape.

Hit the old nail right on the head , but try explaining this to the people on here that think the LITTERBOX sceme is working(not calling any names(Eibot) . If you can't even explain it to the few people on here that think it works ,i geuss it's impossible to explain it to the moneygrabbers out there . 

[henry213]

2 hours ago, alex8912 said:

 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 

I'm from Uk, myself and my (Thai) wife come into Florida 6 wks ago within days she got the same jab Moderna x2 as easy as that and we are just tourists, I was done in Uk, Amazing USA Well done. 

[Parsve]

ThaiIand want quality tourists, whatever they mean by that, but one thing is sure. Quality tourist will demand quality in all from living to treatment and experiences. Thailand can not offer that.

[Brickbat]

Smart countries have locked their borders. Won’t allow their idiots to travel overseas. So Thailand can only get low spending dregs , if that! 
 

the best way was to pay attention to doing a good job on managing this virus spread . Can’t even BUY a vaccine ! 

[ChipButty]

My feelings are if Thailand keeps these restrictions to long people will just find other holiday places to go and never come back to Thailand

[1duckyboy]

So when tourist numbers are down from previous levels the powers that be will say, "Yes, but these are quality tourists.", even though it's really the usual diehard farang "tourists". CYA 

Edited August 23, 2021 by 1duckyboy

[Millcx]

3 hours ago, malibukid said:

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.  

Just another Joke a minute

[Scrotobike]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Really rich people go to places like Dubai and the Maldives, not places like Thailand that thinks it's OK to leave uncovered holes in the road, and doesn't think things like pavements are necessary, as people can walk in the traffic, can't they?

I should pay you for making me laugh.

Ever thought about comedy as a job - you are very good at it (well you made me laugh)

[grain]

3 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

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.

Reminds me of this book I read, written by an Englishman who traveled around Thailand with his English wife in the 1950s. He had a connection with a very high up Thai he had met at uni in England, so everywhere he went he was met by gov officials who took him under their wings and showed him around. He got to see lots of temples and drank lots of Green Spot. He informed us in his book that Thailand is a devout Buddhist country so alcohol isn't available and prostitution is nonexistent, as that goes against the tenets of the Buddhist faith. So I guess the "quality tourist" concept was in play even way back then.

[NorthernRyland]

What Thailand offers is of little interest to wealthy people. The ruling class in their ivory towers will never be able to understand this simple truth.

[SymS]

Quality tourists want nothing to do with 1. quarantines, 2. garbage on the beach and along the road, 3. rip-offs.

[Isaan sailor]

Here’s my two cents worth:  vaccinate the population with high quality doses—not the junk that might have helped last year.  Then, end the quarantine for fully high quality vaccinated tourists.  And finally, drop that Baht down another 10%.  Not only would you attract higher quality tourists, but the economy would flourish too.

[Mr Meeseeks]

3 hours ago, alex8912 said:

tourists will really arrive this Nov/Dec

If the political protests are not ongoing in Bangkok and elsewhere.

 

There's a real possibility that when Thailand swings the doors open post-COVID, that there's widespread civil unrest that will discourage a lot of visitors.

[Bassosa]

3 hours ago, Benmart said:

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

Why on earth is Thaivisa doing business with a Chinese propaganda dept? What a joke.

[ChipButty]

1 minute ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

If the political protests are not ongoing in Bangkok and elsewhere.

 

There's a real possibility that when Thailand swings the doors open post-COVID, that there's widespread civil unrest that will discourage a lot of visitors.

I was thinking this covid situation is saving this government at the moment, the demonstrations would be far worse,

[ChrisKC]

Not much point in talking any kind of tourists to Thailand at this time.

 

A "quality" tourist to the Establishment is one who stays at a B20,000 a night hotel and buys a B50,000 Gucci handbag. This does nothing for the average small and medium size business and very little for the millions of street vendors whose demise has already set in.

 

My idea of a quality tourist is one who comes to Thailand to explore, experience and discover what Thailand is all about - yes, including all aspects of the nightlife. 

Backpackers and like-minded holidaymakers spread their spending over a wide range and more likely to support those at the very local level.

 

These people want to be welcomed wherever they go, whatever they do. They want to be treated fairly and with respect, They want a hassle-free fun time from which they will recommend to others when they return home. Then they want to think about visiting Thailand again.

 

Many Backpackers are young men and women who don't specially spend lots of money, but later, they are the ones who are now married, have children, are wealthier from successful jobs and very likely will spend more. 

 

The "Quality Tourist" syndrome is fixed firmly in the mindset of TAT and only makes many potential tourists feel they may not be 'good enough' to visit Thailand, when ALL tourists should be equally encouraged.

 

Let's see "Quality" in the delivery of service, freedom, fun, safe and never-to-be-forgotten experiences of a lifetime. 

 

 

[Taboo2]

4 hours ago, inThailand said:

Thailand strives to elevate tourism industry. 

 

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

Yes, that is a great description of 99.9% pf the Go Go and Bar Girls in Pattaya and BKK!!!!  

[Cadan]

Here we go again. Dreaming the dream. 

No tourists until Feb-Apr 2022. we have to realize that we do need the vaccine to get out of this mess and also that all of us will catch the virus sooner or later to built up immunity 

[sapson]

Only a few years ago they were interrogating visitors at the airport, people locked in holding cells, denied entry forced to buy a ticket out of the kingdom...........all because they wanted to come and enjoy the country and spend their money ..... but they werent genuine enough visitors for the discerning immigration officers.

[DaLa]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand's tourism industry is now struggling to survive

'Struggling to survive'...........