COVID: Will European tourists return to Southeast Asia?

[webfact]

Thailand in July launched a so-called sandbox scheme in Phuket, its most popular beach island

 

Heavily reliant on tourism, Southeast Asian nations are looking into ways to kick-start the vital economic sector, which has been battered by the pandemic.

    

It's little wonder Southeast Asia is now in a rush to welcome back tourists: In 2019, the tourism sector was worth $393 billion (€340 billion) for the regional economy.  Tourism accounted for about a third of Cambodia's GDP and one-fifth of Thailand's.  

 

But the coronavirus pandemic has hit hard. The region welcomed 143 million tourists in 2019, but this collapsed by 81% last year, bringing down visitors to just 26.1 million, mostly from neighboring states, according to data from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc. 

 

In 2019, the UK accounted for the 13th-largest share of tourists in the region, with 3.1 million British travelers visiting Southeast Asia. Some 2.1 million Germans and 2 million French also visited the region, according to ASEAN data.

 

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

 

Full story: https://www.dw.com/en/covid-will-european-tourists-return-to-southeast-asia/a-59489912

 

-- © Copyright DW 2021-10-15

 

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[RotBenz8888]

They don't care about us anymore, they want the Chinese billionaires. 

[BadSpottedDog]

I'm sure Europeans might be 'butt hurt' with this article. Do they seriously believe this?
Quote: "Europeans 'just don't bring much money"

[ftpjtm]

7 minutes ago, webfact said:

COVID - Will European tourists return to Southeast Asia?

ANSWER - Not until quarantine and insurance restrictions for vaccined tourists are scrapped, curfews are ended, and nightlife is re-opened. 

 

[BadSpottedDog]

Just now, ftpjtm said:

ANSWER - Not until quarantine and insurance restrictions for vaccined tourists are scrapped, curfews are ended, and nightlife is re-opened. 

 

.... and there are options for those who cannot have a vaccine. 

[WhatsNext]

It's simple : Go back to normal and everything will go back to normal.

 

There is no longer an emergency, there are no corpses in the street, the daily deaths from c19 approach the daily deaths on the roads in Thailand again. 

Don't forget that the daily c19 deaths include the flu deaths as for some weird reason (hint hint) we don't get that anymore. 

 

Only a few will come with the COE, test, vaccines, 21 kilo paperwork, insurance and o yeah, curfew, no alcohol and no entertainment. 

[ThomasThBKK]

51 minutes ago, BadSpottedDog said:

I'm sure Europeans might be 'butt hurt' with this article. Do they seriously believe this?
Quote: "Europeans 'just don't bring much money"

 

Nice lie from them, here's the actual numbers from Thailands government website: https://www.mots.go.th/mots_en/more_news_new.php?cid=330&page=3

 

This is from 2018, so not old, but pre covid. 

 

If you look at Tourism receipt numbers in USD or THB you can clearly see that Europeans plus Americans spend more than even China in Thailand, and way way more than the whole of ASEAN combined. 

That is with FAR LESS people and thus causing far less infrastructure problems for Thailand. They also stay the most amount of time here with over 16 days on average. 

 

 

 

 

 

[BadSpottedDog]

1 minute ago, ThomasThBKK said:

 

Nice lie from them, here's the actual numbers from Thailands government website: https://www.mots.go.th/mots_en/more_news_new.php?cid=330&page=3

 

This is from 2018, so not old, but pre covid. 

 

If you look at Tourism receipt numbers in USD or THB you can clearly see that Europeans plus Americans spend more than even China in Thailand, and way way more than the whole of ASEAN combined. 

That is with FAR LESS people and thus causing far less infrastructure problems for Thailand. They also stay the most amount of time here with over 16 days on average. 

 

 

 

 

 

Wow. Thanks for sharing. I knew that was the case. Why does Thailand have China envy? It's bizarre!

[smedly]

Will European tourists return to Southeast Asia?

 

 

not if TAT have anything to do with it

[RichardColeman]

It's on UK news that soon UK will only be doing lateral flow tests from green country arrivals soon - UK is moving in the right direction. Thailand is still playing covid hopscotch in the school yard. Tourists will come in mass when then throw the chalk and stones away 

[Mac Mickmanus]

4 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

It's on UK news that soon UK will only be doing lateral flow tests from green country arrivals soon - UK is moving in the right direction. Thailand is still playing covid hopscotch in the school yard. Tourists will come in mass when then throw the chalk and stones away 

When will that begin ?

[overherebc]

1 hour ago, BadSpottedDog said:

Wow. Thanks for sharing. I knew that was the case. Why does Thailand have China envy? It's bizarre!

Because the usual package tour Chinese don't care about quality of accom' or services.

They stay for a week and then leave.

Note I said package tours.

[Mac Mickmanus]

2 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

When will that begin ?

Here 

https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-fully-vaccinated-passengers-from-non-red-list-countries-can-take-lateral-flow-test-instead-of-pcr-12434019

[John Drake]

1 hour ago, ThomasThBKK said:

 

Nice lie from them, here's the actual numbers from Thailands government website: https://www.mots.go.th/mots_en/more_news_new.php?cid=330&page=3

 

This is from 2018, so not old, but pre covid. 

 

If you look at Tourism receipt numbers in USD or THB you can clearly see that Europeans plus Americans spend more than even China in Thailand, and way way more than the whole of ASEAN combined. 

That is with FAR LESS people and thus causing far less infrastructure problems for Thailand. They also stay the most amount of time here with over 16 days on average. 

 

 

 

 

 

Rather than just Thailand, the article and the numbers therein apply to "Southeast Asia."

[RichardColeman]

8 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

When will that begin ?

double jabbed brits - 24th October. I imagine other countries to follow

[itsari]

2 hours ago, RotBenz8888 said:

They don't care about us anymore, they want the Chinese billionaires. 

Did they care before ? News on me

[malcy]

Will tourists return to southeast Asia ?? Yes just not to Thailand !

[Cake Monster]

All the Nations in S E Asia will be looking at the Tourism Industry.

Many will be picking up the pieces from Thailand,s demise in the Sector.

Nations such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Malaysia are going to have increased Tourist numbers because Thailand has played a greed game, that now will bite them in the A55.

All the other Nations can offer more bang for the buck than Thailand, and also a better Vacation Experience.

As with Business,s, Covid has given many an opportunity, and time to stand back and do a reality check, and the results are going to surprise many for sure in the Tourism sectors of SE Asia.

[The Hammer2021]

Alcohol based socialising has been banned in Thailand. Go figure

[bananafish]

There will be no normal tourism until the whole world is normal. That means no mask mandates anywhere, no vaccine requirements anywhere. Once everything is as it was in 2019, only then will tourism come back to normal. 

 

2023.

[Jimbo2014]

3 hours ago, RotBenz8888 said:

They don't care about us anymore, they want the Chinese billionaires. 

Chinese billionaires are becoming an endangered species with Xi's ideological witch hunt.  Might not be a good idea to bet on them ???? 

[overherebc]

1 hour ago, itsari said:

Did they care before ? News on me

Well, of course they never did.

[madmen]

1 hour ago, Cake Monster said:

All the Nations in S E Asia will be looking at the Tourism Industry.

Many will be picking up the pieces from Thailand,s demise in the Sector.

Nations such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Malaysia are going to have increased Tourist numbers because Thailand has played a greed game, that now will bite them in the A55.

All the other Nations can offer more bang for the buck than Thailand, and also a better Vacation Experience.

As with Business,s, Covid has given many an opportunity, and time to stand back and do a reality check, and the results are going to surprise many for sure in the Tourism sectors of SE Asia.

Not while most are shut. How is that enticing numbers away? Thailand was the first to open so the rest of SEA can only dream of tourist 

[StayinThailand2much]

Southeast Asia, yes! Not necessarily to Thailand, though...

[StayinThailand2much]

4 hours ago, BadSpottedDog said:

Quote: "Europeans 'just don't bring much money"

At least they bring € and £, not yuan...

[StayinThailand2much]

1 hour ago, The Hammer2021 said:

Alcohol based socialising has been banned in Thailand. Go figure

Reportedly, the tourists come for 'the temples'...

[fabruer]

3 hours ago, ThomasThBKK said:

 

Nice lie from them, here's the actual numbers from Thailands government website: https://www.mots.go.th/mots_en/more_news_new.php?cid=330&page=3

 

This is from 2018, so not old, but pre covid. 

 

If you look at Tourism receipt numbers in USD or THB you can clearly see that Europeans plus Americans spend more than even China in Thailand, and way way more than the whole of ASEAN combined. 

That is with FAR LESS people and thus causing far less infrastructure problems for Thailand. They also stay the most amount of time here with over 16 days on average. 

 

 

 

 

 

Am I missing something? The spread sheet you posted shows exactly what the article say: per person spending of Europeans and Americans is less than East Asian/ASEAN. 

 

Most forum members (including me) won't like this, but from a business point of view it makes sense to chase customers that spend approx. 30% more per day per person in comparison.

[AMFWolfie]

4 hours ago, BadSpottedDog said:

I'm sure Europeans might be 'butt hurt' with this article. Do they seriously believe this?
Quote: "Europeans 'just don't bring much money"

These figures are based only on what they can see spent through official establishments and by what credit/debit cards are used. More difficult with cash that Europeans spend and also in establishments not monitored like bars and the like. Obviously it will look like the Chinese spend more because they go where they are taken to which is geared up to extort as much money as possible

 

[Burma Bill]

4 hours ago, RotBenz8888 said:

they want the Chinese billionaires.

Maybe not - for reference (August 9 2021):-

China’s tech tycoons lose $87bn of wealth after Beijing crackdown

Fortunes of Tencent’s Ma and Pinduoduo’s Huang fall sharply after regulatory assault on sector

https://www.ft.com/content/7e6f9a08-37be-4ab3-ae15-953533ab33b5

 

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, smedly said:

Will European tourists return to Southeast Asia?

 

 

not if TAT have anything to do with it

Thailand and TAT will quickly realise that the "new squeaky clean" image it wishes to portray won't cut-it.

Thousand of entertainment venues along with a plethora of support workers are waiting to re-open.

Thailand will go back to what it knows best... selling itself.

This new image won't help the unemployed get back some income.