Foreigners eager to visit to Thailand, but few have actually booked flights: Poll

[Andycoops]

IMO tourists want to enjoy a night out.

They work and a holiday is a time to relax, enjoy yourself without worrying about being in the office etc at 9am the next morning.

 

Western culture is to go out and have a few drinks, alcoholic drinks, when on holiday wether it be with a meal or to a pub or bar.

If the Muppets don't understand this, it will be tough on all the people that earned a living in those businesses.

[ThailandRyan]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

The lack of people seemingly willing to take the step of actually buying an airline ticket to return to Thailand is perhaps an indication of the confusion regarding Thailand’s reopening plan. 

Bingo, and ergo why few will actually come.  Thailand is a country balancing on the edge of a knife, their confusing rules and regulations should be cut to assist travelers in making the call.  Easier destinations to get to without the rigmarole. 

[Joules]

I would not even THINK about visiting a country that had such an insanely expensive insurance requirement!  Even the folks who want to visit might think twice when they find out how much they will have to pay up front over and above the plane ticket.  Might not be too bad for someone 25 years old, but the price goes up with age.

 

Oh, and by the way, my phone doesn't qualify for entrance.  I do not own a smart phone.  I suppose they'd turn me around for home at Suvarnabhumi.   Well, I am already in and have been for 15 years.  How things have changed!

[shackleton]

We have family members flying here end of November as the quarantine measures have been lifted 1 day instead of 10-14 ect

They are staying a month   not interested in Alcohol  they have waited over a year and are looking forward to coming here 

[trainman34014]

I have a Niece that works in a Travel Agency in Britain; very busy lately, so i asked her how many bookings they had taken for Thailand and /or how much interest is being taken in Thai Holidays by potential Tourists, not Ex Pat's returning.    She said no bookings have been taken and there is scant interest in Thai Holiday Material as too much hassle involved, much easier places to go without red tape and uncertainty.

[spidermike007]

It is likely the majority of those surveyed are ex-pats who want to return here. With over 70 countries fully open for tourism, with no restrictions other than a double vaccination, and a covid negative test, Thailand is appearing to be the major coward in the room (we will not even discuss Australia!). If they had some adults working on policy, and some coherence, and consistency, there might be a chance of attracting as many as 100,00 tourists for the high season. Maybe. As it stands, expect no more than 50,000 total. 

 

News bulletin! The Golden Goose has been shot in cold blood, mortally wounded, and is on life support. Expect no more than 5 million tourists a year, five to ten years from now, and for that number to remain consistent, or lower for the rest of our lifetimes. A once vibrant industry has been sabotaged beyond resuscitation. 

 

 

[Bangkok Barry]

Foreigners eager to visit to Thailand, but few have actually booked flights

 

So, not that eager then.

[farangroby]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

Interestingly, most of the respondents said that a ban on the sale of alcohol in bars and restaurants would not put them off visiting Thailand. 

 

18 hours ago, webfact said:

However, opinion was fairly mixed, with 47 percent of respondents voting no, while 35 percent said that an alcohol ban in Thailand was reason enough to opt for another destination.

The numbers talk better than fortune-tellers. With these draconian rules and bans, no one will come to Thailand to spend time and money, there are too many other countries that offer more

[Pimoo2]

US have opened for visitors, only requirement is proof of vaccination by approved vaccine. No hoops to jump thru! Thailand...take note!

[mrfill]

13 hours ago, Elkski said:

Where did they get this list of names to survey? No way do these numbers reflect a sampling of random people in foreign countries. I bet in USA less than 1% a year traveled to Thailand in the peak years.   This must be one expat list.   Over a month requires a trip to immagration or a SETV ahead of time.   Pure rubbish.  

"According to a straw poll carried out by ASEAN NOW"

[Molly Malone]

Very few booked flights!!!! OH gee whizz who could have predicted that???????

 

Gov greedy, stoopid whizz bang new rules are a BIG STOP SIGN, why? Well we want a holiday, not money grabbing new regulations, and CERTAINLY not sipping tea on nights out, because BARS & Clubs can't sell 

alcohol. Tourists are NOT 5 year old kids, Thailand has many wonderful features, but tourists like to party.

WAKE UP GOV goofballs! 

 

The great Thai folks who work in clubs and bars are your fellow citizens too! They helped to build your tourist trade over many decades, they need to make their living as well as all others.

[Sandy Bottom]

I would like to know where they get 30%?  Include a village, city, county country?  Not possible to reach 30% of any group deciding to come to Thailand. It a big world full of wonders without hoops to jump through. 

[BestB]

If reservations were high or coming in, no doubt TAT would have made a statement on how many thousands already booked and how much money Thailand will make .

 

Silence on the matter indicates it’s not taking off.

 

Personal opinion the reason for slow response is bars being closed 

[Blumpie]

IT's been nineteen hours since this story was published.

Where are the goal posts now?  Certainly not in the same place!

[Clarkey611]

19 hours ago, webfact said:

Interestingly, most of the respondents said that a ban on the sale of alcohol in bars and restaurants would not put them off visiting Thailand. 

What a complete load of tosh!

[Molly Malone]

Just now, Molly Malone said:

Very few booked flights!!!! OH gee whizz who could have predicted that???????

 

Gov greedy, stoopid whizz bang new rules are a BIG STOP SIGN, why? Well we want a holiday, not money grabbing new regulations, and CERTAINLY not sipping tea on nights out, because BARS & Clubs can't sell 

alcohol. Tourists are NOT 5 year old kids, Thailand has many wonderful features, but tourists like to party.

WAKE UP GOV goofballs! 

 

The great Thai folks who work in clubs and bars are your fellow citizens too! They helped to build your tourist trade over many decades, they need to make their living as well as all others.

Ps, this booze ban is as equally STUPID as the ban on Gyms was! Thank God and Lord Buddha that finally was 

abolished. 

[Caldera]

19 hours ago, webfact said:

According to a straw poll carried out by ASEAN NOW, 31 percent of respondents said they planned to visit Thailand this year, while 30 percent said they planned to visit between January and March 2022.

A poll on a Thailand-centric website, no surprise that many respondents are eager to travel to Thailand!

 

What does this mean for potential overall tourist arrivals though? Not very much!

 

I think most people are tired of Covid rules and regulations; those who are willing to travel will want to keep it simple. Thailand's entry process is still way too convoluted for a casual leisure traveler with no particular connection to Thailand.

[AJR3RD]

OMG. ROTFLMFAO. Of COURSE nobody's booking flights. Who the HELL in their right mind is going to pay thousands of dollars for a worthless INSURANCE policy covering everything from lost baggage to irritable bowel syndrome to come to (or, as in my case, BACK TO) a place that has done everything in its power to GET RID of expats in favor of money-laundering condo "investors"? Jig is up, people. Bubble's 'bout to burst. 

[Molly Malone]

3 minutes ago, BestB said:

If reservations were high or coming in, no doubt TAT would have made a statement on how many thousands already booked and how much money Thailand will make .

 

Silence on the matter indicates it’s not taking off.

 

Personal opinion the reason for slow response is bars being closed 

100% Correct! Puritanical thuggish Gov idiot mistake which is soooo obvious it hurts.

And I am NOT a bar or club drinker!

[JimboB4]

You know if I didn’t know any better I’d say that doesn’t sound very “eager” if they are not booking flights.

[Fat is a type of crazy]

Jetstar in Australia have just started selling their first tickets to Thailand for February. Big sales. I booked. Incredibly cheap so if it all goes pear shaped no big deal. 

[hotchilli]

19 hours ago, webfact said:

Following the news that Thailand plans to reopen its tourism industry, at least in part, from November 1, many foreigners are eager to visit the country, but those who have actually booked flights remain in the minority.

If they were eager they would book...

BS

[AJR3RD]

40 minutes ago, johnhender said:

But this is just to many hoops and add ons that cost too much money With all these requirements The cost benefit of going to BKK is not looking too good

Perfectly summarized. Spot on.

 

[mtls2005]

Until it's exactly like it was pre-COVID: cheap plane ticket, visa exempt, alcohol/entertainment/nightlife, people will make excuses about not wanting to visit for the beaches, food and temples.

 

 

 

[AJR3RD]

3 minutes ago, Fat is a type of crazy said:

Incredibly cheap

Really. How much did it cost you for your insurance policy? Covid testing? Quarantine while you're waiting for results? And when you arrive, which part of Disney Siam World created by the government will be visiting first? The former real street food vendors who've been relegated to one street? The fake floating markets? The poorest folks who've suffered mightily at the hands of a corrupt and incompetent government? Or maybe just a good deal at the Hilton? 

 

 

 

[AJR3RD]

38 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

If they had some adults working on policy, and some coherence, and consistency, there might be a chance of attracting as many as 100,00 tourists for the high season. Maybe.

Absolutely correct.

[Flink]

18 hours ago, Will B Good said:

Survey question 4 asks...... "if there is an alcohol plan".........????

 

 

I like the way they phrase it that "Interestingly, most of the respondents said that a ban on the sale of alcohol in bars and restaurants would not put them off visiting Thailand. " I'm sorry? how do you work that one out? 47% said no, 35% said yes and 18% undecided. Thats 53% which is bigger than 47% so therefore they are wrong. That being said, mathematics has never been TAT's strong point. 

 

18 hours ago, Will B Good said:

Survey question 4 asks...... "if there is an alcohol plan".........????

 

 

 

[Fat is a type of crazy]

7 minutes ago, AJR3RD said:

Really. How much did it cost you for your insurance policy? Covid testing? Quarantine while you're waiting for results? And when you arrive, which part of Disney Siam World created by the government will be visiting first? The former real street food vendors who've been relegated to one street? The fake floating markets? The poorest folks who've suffered mightily at the hands of a corrupt and incompetent government? Or maybe just a good deal at the Hilton? 

 

 

 

I doubt that someone in their mid fifties double pfizered is going to have a huge cost for insurance but I could be wrong. We have been told no quarantine for Australians. I have never been into floating markets or the like.  I have a girlfriend I haven't seen for 19 months. 

I must say you seem to have a lot of bad feeling about a country trying to restart tourism which is what their people are likely to want. Is it better in your mind for thai people that tourists stay away. I'll eat at a range of restaurants, get taxi's, etc. Not sure what you are trying to say in a sense.  Good deal at the Hilton would be nice. 

[newnative]

Nobody's booking flights because Thailand's travel policy is an utter mess.  

[Peterphuket]

14 hours ago, JCP108 said:

I always have an alcohol plan.

I suppose something like this:

 

1. Today I'll drink alcohol.

2. Tomorrow I'll drink alcohol.

3. Next day Go to step 1