Thailand feels the pinch of a golden week with no gold as Chinese stay home

[Knocker33]

23 hours ago, newnative said:

     And, that so very neatly explains why all the 7-11s are closed but everything else in tourist Pattaya is open!  Thanks so much for sorting that out so smartly!   Non-Chinese-owned hotels all open and booming, no unemployment there.  Phew!  Speedboats all up and running to the islands, no unemployed boaters.  Yaa!   All the shows and entertainments like Tiffanys and Kaan open and running, no unemployed workers at all those venues.  Whopee!  Happy days!

There is more to Thailand than Pattaya.

[Jiggo]

On 10/2/2021 at 6:58 AM, aussiexpat said:

"With fully vaccinated travellers able to enter from November 1 without serving quarantine"

 

Where's the official source report on this?

There is not one....

[Jiggo]

15 minutes ago, Knocker33 said:

There is more to Thailand than Pattaya.

Is their, where...

Edited October 3, 2021 by Jiggo

[Jiggo]

1 hour ago, Kenneth White said:

Not all countries love the Chinese money, especially in America.

It's not the Chinese people nobody likes it's the CCP.

I don't know were you got your stats but it is not a global opinion, period..

Don't think Australia are too happy as well...

[newnative]

1 hour ago, Knocker33 said:

There is more to Thailand than Pattaya.

     There certainly is!   And, it's been great exploring different parts of Thailand the past 10 years.  My partner and I look forward to visiting areas we haven't been to yet, and returning to places we enjoy like CM.  

[Eric Loh]

2 hours ago, Kenneth White said:

Not all countries love the Chinese money, especially in America.

It's not the Chinese people nobody likes it's the CCP.

I don't know were you got your stats but it is not a global opinion, period..

Sure not all countries love the 250 billion euros a year that the Chinese tourists spend a year around the world. And America think the 34 Billion USD spend each year by Chinese tourists are chop suey. Get real. 

 

[billd766]

4 hours ago, Jiggo said:

Is their, where...

Out in Nakhon Nowhere where many of us live. No Chinese either.

[jacko45k]

On 10/2/2021 at 9:59 AM, Blumpie said:

I would only hazard a guess that chinese won't be travelling for 3-4 years from now.  And even then, that seems like a pipe dream.

Nice to see some good news in these times.......

[JonnyF]

The Chinese staying in China?

 

What a novel idea. Let's hope it catches on.

[relax33]

15 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

17 hours ago, Kenneth White said:

Not all countries love the Chinese money, especially in America.

It's not the Chinese people nobody likes it's the CCP.

I don't know were you got your stats but it is not a global opinion, period..

Sure not all countries love the 250 billion euros a year that the Chinese tourists spend a year around the world. And America think the 34 Billion USD spend each year by Chinese tourists are chop suey. Get real. 

Don't Forget China is the 2nd biggest foreign buyer of US treasury bills n r still the biggest foreign buyer if u include the portion that HK is holding ...
They were originally the biggest foreign buyer even excluding the HK stake until Trump riled them with his racist out bursts
so yeah ...  Acting like Chinese $ r disliked on the shop front but quietly sucking them in by the mountain loads on the back end ...
If the Chinese really gets irk n unload their Treasuries in the name of (ahem) national security interests ..than u will really see the usd  go down n interest rates shoot up to make all types of financing (like home loans) really expensive for US consumers ...

Edited October 4, 2021 by relax33

[Lancelot01]

On 10/2/2021 at 3:57 AM, Scouse123 said:

Yes, Read and agree with it.

 

I think this guy Xi, is out to set himself up for a legacy and wants to be remembered and go down in history for his radical approach.

 

He also is invading everyday life of the Chinese and wants to control absolutely everything.

 

A bit like Chairman Mao without the red book!

 

Maybe Huawei will do it in a notebook or a mini computer form for him and distribute it to every kid to wave around. Brainwashing in its highest forms by completely controlling the media and ruthlessly crushing any dissent, opposition or differing opinions.

 

 

 

 

I've been saying this for almost 30 years. 

The world seems to be  sleepwalking into the future China takeover.

[Kenneth White]

23 hours ago, relax33 said:

Don't Forget China is the 2nd biggest foreign buyer of US treasury bills n r still the biggest foreign buyer if u include the portion that HK is holding ...
They were originally the biggest foreign buyer even excluding the HK stake until Trump riled them with his racist out bursts
so yeah ...  Acting like Chinese $ r disliked on the shop front but quietly sucking them in by the mountain loads on the back end ...
If the Chinese really gets irk n unload their Treasuries in the name of (ahem) national security interests ..than u will really see the usd  go down n interest rates shoot up to make all types of financing (like home loans) really expensive for US consumers ...

If China is the 2nd biggest foreign buyer of US treasury bills wouldn't that indicate the Chinese like USD and not the other way around?

If President Trump is racist for calling out the CCP and President Xi Jinping for his manipulation of the Chinese currency and unfair trade tactics that other US administrations, including the current Presidents administration you must be a liberal because that is the only tactic they know and that is so lame. President Trump run the White House and his administration like a business not as it has been and the present administration run theirs. 

 

If the USD falls in value it will not be the Chinese it will be the present administrations fault. 

[Kenneth White]

On 10/3/2021 at 8:01 AM, Eric Loh said:

Sure not all countries love the 250 billion euros a year that the Chinese tourists spend a year around the world. And America think the 34 Billion USD spend each year by Chinese tourists are chop suey. Get real. 

 

Like I said "not all countries". You are giving me old information and most likely exaugurated. 

[Kenneth White]

On 10/3/2021 at 6:26 AM, Jiggo said:

Don't think Australia are too happy as well...

No they are not. I have a few Ausi friends here in Thailand and some of what they say is not permissible language. 

[DaveSamutP]

On 10/2/2021 at 7:21 PM, Nabby said:

I should have added that China will never change its Zero-Covid strategy, so that means the extremely tough return quarantine policy is unlikely to change anytime soon, maybe not even within 5 years, so forget about the Chinese. Personally, I don't mind that at all. 

I agree. They know what they created and why. They also could be planning for the next "accidental" leak which may prove deadlier and more costly.

[DrPhibes]

China is closing up on several fronts and re-instituting ideological indoctrination.  Recently declaring Crypto-currency illegal so as to not allow flight of capital out of the country as things go bad.  Same with not issuing passports, don't want to lose the best and brightest.  I think they will manipulate internal capitalism to fail and use all the suffering to drive home the social example of why communism/socialism is better.  I understand Jack Ma is doing a lot of painting these days...

 

I would not count on mass tourism out of China for a long time.

[relax33]

10 hours ago, Kenneth White said:

If China is the 2nd biggest foreign buyer of US treasury bills wouldn't that indicate the Chinese like USD and not the other way around?

If President Trump is racist for calling out the CCP and President Xi Jinping for his manipulation of the Chinese currency and unfair trade tactics that other US administrations, including the current Presidents administration you must be a liberal because that is the only tactic they know and that is so lame. President Trump run the White House and his administration like a business not as it has been and the present administration run theirs. 

 

If the USD falls in value it will not be the Chinese it will be the present administrations fault. 

TBH, too lazy to be drawn into the discussion as i do not benefit from the demise of the usd.
But its a known fact that the US is using its so called reserve currency status to dupe other countries into bankrolling its debt when it makes zero financial sense to do so given that it pays zero interest rates..

Technically, if the US were to be treated as a company that is borrowing from any western bank, u bet it will need to pay 20-30% annual interest given its high debt load ..  look what Citibank is already charging for unpaid credit card bills that is miniscule compared to the US debt level …

If the same standards that the IMF used to judge TL during the Asian Financial crisis were to be used on the US now, than the usd will need to be trading at a min 30% discount ..
History often repeats itself, so researching on the demise of the UK after it lost its status as the world’s leading economic power (n how it cost the pound to plunge) will be a good guide

As for currency manipulation by the Chinese, I guess this is one of those things that we will not want to wish for in the event that what we wish will come true ..
As China is still the factory of the world, the quality of life of most US consumers r greatly enhanced by being able to buy consumer products cheap owing to the favorable rmb exchange rate
This helps keep US inflation in check n also help enhance the profits of US MNCs ..  

But u r right that the the Chinese would not want to be helping the US n still be labelled a currency manipulator .. (stupid eh )
The rmb has went up since the trade war started n will inevitably go up in future unless relations can return to what they were 10 years ago …

Really silly for me to be duped into writing so much, far easier to be respectful n say the emperor has got beautiful clothes  (who cares if he barely has any ... ha)  ... especially when   ..
In Life, right or wrong is just a word …!!!

[elgenon]

On 10/3/2021 at 2:04 AM, Kenneth White said:

Not all countries love the Chinese money, especially in America.

It's not the Chinese people nobody likes it's the CCP.

I don't know were you got your stats but it is not a global opinion, period..

Actually, America got used to big-spending Chinese tourists. There is a huge are of Southern California where you just need to speak Chinese. 

Thais don't like the rudeness of Chinese at the temples, etc. I can even relate to you stories of Chinese rudeness to me in Thailand. 

[Kenneth White]

On 10/5/2021 at 9:20 AM, relax33 said:

TBH, too lazy to be drawn into the discussion as i do not benefit from the demise of the usd.
But its a known fact that the US is using its so called reserve currency status to dupe other countries into bankrolling its debt when it makes zero financial sense to do so given that it pays zero interest rates..

Technically, if the US were to be treated as a company that is borrowing from any western bank, u bet it will need to pay 20-30% annual interest given its high debt load ..  look what Citibank is already charging for unpaid credit card bills that is miniscule compared to the US debt level …

If the same standards that the IMF used to judge TL during the Asian Financial crisis were to be used on the US now, than the usd will need to be trading at a min 30% discount ..
History often repeats itself, so researching on the demise of the UK after it lost its status as the world’s leading economic power (n how it cost the pound to plunge) will be a good guide

As for currency manipulation by the Chinese, I guess this is one of those things that we will not want to wish for in the event that what we wish will come true ..
As China is still the factory of the world, the quality of life of most US consumers r greatly enhanced by being able to buy consumer products cheap owing to the favorable rmb exchange rate
This helps keep US inflation in check n also help enhance the profits of US MNCs ..  

But u r right that the the Chinese would not want to be helping the US n still be labelled a currency manipulator .. (stupid eh )
The rmb has went up since the trade war started n will inevitably go up in future unless relations can return to what they were 10 years ago …

Really silly for me to be duped into writing so much, far easier to be respectful n say the emperor has got beautiful clothes  (who cares if he barely has any ... ha)  ... especially when   ..
In Life, right or wrong is just a word …!!!

You make many good point. You mentioned China being the factory of the world and I agree they are but the quality control of what they produce is substandard in many way. Countries like Thailand that are pour will purchase Chinese goods not for the quality but the price. I live in Thailand and my wife buys based on price and not quality. I tell her if you buy based on quality your purchase will last longer. This kind of reminds me after war II the Japanese came out with the transistor radio and in America we laughed but look at Japan now. Japan produces quality and a far price where as for China I don't think they will ever reach the standard of the Japanese. If they did it would be a game changer. 

[relax33]

6 hours ago, Kenneth White said:

You make many good point. You mentioned China being the factory of the world and I agree they are but the quality control of what they produce is substandard in many way. Countries like Thailand that are pour will purchase Chinese goods not for the quality but the price. I live in Thailand and my wife buys based on price and not quality. I tell her if you buy based on quality your purchase will last longer. This kind of reminds me after war II the Japanese came out with the transistor radio and in America we laughed but look at Japan now. Japan produces quality and a far price where as for China I don't think they will ever reach the standard of the Japanese. If they did it would be a game changer. 

No good points my friend, am just a bystander trying to relate to things as I see it …
Life is too short for me to have a bias on anything …
   

When we say “China is the factory of the world “, most people may infer that we are saying this huge factory belongs to the Chinese when in fact it belongs to the world ..
Actually what China is doing is just to host the “Factory of the world “on its soil .  

Inside this big nationwide production facility, u have manufacturers from all over the world n many local factories who survive by manufacturing for others ..
All these entities r attracted to China because it has everything in place ( infrastructure, Supply Chain, technological know- how etc) to enable them to collaborate to produce things fast, at a greater scale n at a lower cost than at most other places ..

U mentioned a good point about quality  ..,
The truth in today’s competitive world is that Quality is dependent on price point .
What most Chinese manufacturers do is to manufacture goods to different price points for every category of product ..
They have to do this to optimize their production capacity

The Quality problem arise because many western big store buyers like Walmart  often squeeze the Chinese Manufacturers to maximize profit, so these guys have no choice but to supply them with the lower quality stuff to meet the price point they desire .

Local Chinese n foreigners who know the Chinese market can easily get good quality products by paying more for them but still at prices lower than what they are selling in the West ..

What discerning Chinese consumers do is to buy from
a) local manufacturers who supply to reputable western brands
b) japanese, german n other MNC manufacturers based in China
c) big established Chinese brands that offer extensive product warranty for their products eg fridge makers who offer 6 year warranty for the compressor
d) smaller Chinese brands with good reviews, extensive product warranty n compelling prices

Over the last 20 years, China has been aggressively importing industrial robots from Japan n Germany before learning how to reverse engineer n manufacture it themselves ..  
Many plants r now fully automated n equipped with the latest manufacturing gear n
it has got to the point where it is really quite hard to produce really poor quality products unless one is forced to use lower grade materials to cut costs  ..

Presently 95% of the world’s electronics r either designed or produce in Shenzhen .. .
The iphone, ipad n mac pcs n most popular laptops n electronic gear had been made in China for ages n most will say that they r usually pretty reliable  ..

China had been producing cars, consumer products etc to Japanese n German Standards for more than 20 years cars so the technology, production standard,  quality control, best in class manufacturing practices etc have already been mastered a long time ago  
All the major Jap n German Cars (bmw, audi, VW, honda, toyota, nissan etc) r produced there now.
There r several popular n good quality Chinese products now like Huawei n Xiaomi phones, DJI drone and camera equipment, Chinese branded White goods (Midea, Haier, Hisense, Konka etc), Gas n Electric cars (Nio, Lee Auto, BYD )etc

So the trick is to know how to spot n buy the better quality stuff (not difficult if buying directly from China if n if u know which r the established brands there)

Of cos u do come across situations where a Chinese product has lesser quality compared to eg a Japanese one but is still more worthwhile to buy given its much lower price  
eg if a Chinese washing machine sells for $300 n has a 4 year warranty while a Toshiba one sells for $1000 with a 10 year warranty ..
Many would think it is still better value buying the $300 one as it costs much less n will prefer the opportunity to change to a new model if it breaks down rather than to hang on to a old washer for 10 years  ..

TL dealers r famous for bringing in cheap, low quality products from China to maximize their profits  … so most of the Chinese staying in TL will buy online from Tao Bao (the Chinese Amazon)   n have it shipped over to TL ..

The other thing is that many things these days r just manufactured for profit n not to last .
Many Japanese Fridges that are bought 10 years ago will have better quality than a brand new model that is bought today ..
The same thing is occurring with German products with many saying that they are not made to last now n am only selling well now based on their past reputation (Bosch n Siemens already having a reputation for breaking down n requiring costly spare parts after a few years)

 

[relax33]

20 hours ago, relax33 said:

he same thing is occurring with German products with many saying that they are not made to last now

Sorry, forget to add that there r still lots of high quality products made by the Germans, Japs n others that is far superior to what the Chinese can do; especially those made by specialty craftsmen that requires many years of training  to attain the required standards..
The Germans r really good at specialty materials n manufacturing equipment n their strength in things like metallurgy is something the Chinese openly admit that they cannot match ..
Many Chinese manufacturing plants use German manufacturing equipment n parts  for their durability even though they openly grumble about their high cost .

Although the Chinese had came a long way, there r still many things that they can only do to medium quality but what they do is to compensate by selling it at really low prices that provide great value to the consumer  ...

eg u can find rechargeable Chinese shavers selling at one tenth the price of a Braun ..
Most of these shavers usually last for 4 years  compared to a good Braun at 8 - 10 years if lucky  ..
But at 10-20% of the price of a Braun, few will complain i guess  ..

For these cheap shavers, what typically give way first is the shaving foil maybe after 2.5 - 3 years ...  this can be replaced by buying spares with the original purchase ..
The next thing that give way is the rechargeable battery. 
The battery will maybe drop to 60 - 70% of its original strength after repeated charging for 3 years ..
Technically u can still use the shaver .. only that u will need to charge it more often.
U can of cos also replace the metal hydride battery with a new one but most people seldom bother to do so given the low cost of the shaver ..

One fascinating thing I found is that the Chinese r really good at making knock off versions of watchmaker's watches (patek philip, blancpain, rolex etc)
They started out copying these watches for fun as a test of skill to see how well they can make it 
Many r so well made that even experts find it hard to tell the difference .. n some have quality that is almost even better than the original watch ...
They come in many grades with the  top grades (costing 20 - 30% of the real watch) being the most prized
This resulted in these fake watches being collector items for people who own the real stuff as well  ..
Go google on the topic  n u will be surprised that some of these watches r being sold in places as far as Turkey n Italy too