Hua Hin beach on Thursday (Nov 4). Image: Hua Hin Police

 

There is a very obvious reason why Hua Hin and neighbouring Cha Am are yet to welcome a single foreign tourist following Thailand’s reopening on Nov 1.

 

Anyone who enters Thailand under the current ‘Test & Go’ policy is required to spend the first night of their stay at an approved SHA+ hotel which must be located within two hours of one of the airports included in the opening. 

 

Hua Hin airport is not one of the airports included in the reopening. 

 

Most foreigners entering Thailand, which on average has been approximately 2,000 per day since November 1, are arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, which rules out Hua Hin and Cha Am as destinations people are immediately able to visit.

 

As well as Bangkok, other destinations such as Phuket, Koh Samui and Pattaya, whose airports (U-Tapao for Pattaya) are included in the reopening, are likely to draw more tourists, particularly given that they are all already more established tourist destinations than Hua Hin.

 

Hua Hin’s tourism market is currently being driven almost entirely by domestic tourists. 

 

However, the situation is expected to improve. 

 

Krod Rojanastien, who has headed up the Hua Hin Recharge project, told local Thai media that he expects the number of foreign tourists to visit Hua Hin to increase from Nov 10. 

 

Meanwhile, Air Asia is expected to recommence flights to Hua Hin from Kuala Lumpur before the end of the year, while flights connecting Hua Hin and Singapore are proposed for early next year.

 

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Somehow I find 2000 new  tourists arriving a day a bit much to digest. 

Besides double pricing has a new meaning this year after Covid …. it’s called triple pricing the dirty farang.

HUH?
it would be quite easy for a "tourist" to book 1 night in a bangkok hotel ( after a long flight who wants to get in a car an drive 2 hours anyway)
and then the next day taxi, bus or train down to Hua Hin>

 

 

as to post above ;  i have found prices in Phuket are lower for the past 18 months than they have been for years before, great deals can be had for accomodations

 

59 minutes ago, DrMJA said:

Somehow I find 2000 new  tourists arriving a day a bit much to digest. 

Besides double pricing has a new meaning this year after Covid …. it’s called triple pricing the dirty farang.

And jumping through the hoops as well 

3 hours ago, DrMJA said:

Somehow I find 2000 new  tourists arriving a day a bit much to digest. 

Besides double pricing has a new meaning this year after Covid …. it’s called triple pricing the dirty farang.

Why do you find it difficult to believe that  2000 people per day out of 75 billion would come each day? That is only 750,000 per year. I am surprised it is not higher ????????‍♂️

Same situation (possibly worse) in Pattaya. No one coming to the beach, others getting arrested in restaurants shortly after 10:00 pm for having a beer as tourists tend to do. I wonder how many of those arrested were honestly surprised, having no idea what the idiotic laws were?

 

I know those in power aren't in touch with reality, but SOMEONE should have told them how badly this would turn out.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Hua Hin’s tourism market is currently being driven almost entirely by domestic tourists

Which is better than waiting for international tourists to make the real money, make it affordable to locals who will fill the beaches, hotels and local eateries, then international tourists can be seen as an added bonus.

If flying internally with air asia after arriving be prepared for a shock .

My mate wants to come and see his wife and kid up north and looked at flight from Bkk to roi et with air asia after 1 night in Bkk waiting on test . 
There is no hold luggage allowed and only 7kg carry on allowed. So now he is having the hassle of getting his bags sent while he gets a flight .

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Which is better than waiting for international tourists to make the real money, make it affordable to locals who will fill the beaches, hotels and local eateries, then international tourists can be seen as an added bonus.

HH is affordable to locals. The Thai people that go there made up 76% of the total tourist arrivals in 2019. The locals filled up the three star and upwards hotels in HH to 90% occupancy last holiday weekend showed by their actions that the prices are OK. Many Thai people have money and it does not take that many people to fill up Hua Hin rooms.

No ones in Hua Hin because not many people go to Hua Hin.

 

 

4 hours ago, ronster said:

If flying internally with air asia after arriving be prepared for a shock .

My mate wants to come and see his wife and kid up north and looked at flight from Bkk to roi et with air asia after 1 night in Bkk waiting on test . 
There is no hold luggage allowed and only 7kg carry on allowed. So now he is having the hassle of getting his bags sent while he gets a flight .

I’ve 20kgs hold luggage and 7kgs carry on included in my ticket price. An extra 25kgs is 200 baht if prebooked.

 

Log in, go to manage booking and is straightforward, meals,seating, extra baggage etc.

 

Flying from Phuket to Udon Thani.

This is very typical of Hua Hin Airport, one of the most under utilized airports in the world. Always been that way. We know what the excuse used to be. What is it now? Truly pathetic. It is a perfect hub. Yet? 

 

This while reopening feels like it is being run by children. 

3 hours ago, Gold ticket said:

I’ve 20kgs hold luggage and 7kgs carry on included in my ticket price. An extra 25kgs is 200 baht if prebooked.

 

Log in, go to manage booking and is straightforward, meals,seating, extra baggage etc.

 

Flying from Phuket to Udon Thani.

I looked yesterday for around 3 weeks time and it says no hold luggage on the dates . Maybe destination’s vary. 

Hua Hin is a boring place which tries to be as Non-Thai as only possible. A receipt to (touristic) disaster…

On 11/5/2021 at 2:12 PM, davidkas said:

Why do you find it difficult to believe that  2000 people per day out of 75 billion would come each day? That is only 750,000 per year. I am surprised it is not higher ????????‍♂️

OMG. The global population has increased tenfold in a year?

Staggering indeed. Hardtimes ahead I bet!

????

On 11/5/2021 at 4:45 PM, Zikomat said:

Hua Hin is a boring place which tries to be as Non-Thai as only possible. A receipt to (touristic) disaster…

what are the characteristics of a Non-Thai place ?

On 11/5/2021 at 11:46 AM, Mac Mickmanus said:

And jumping through the hoops as well 

Had some friends that wanted to come for a month but after seeing

all the hoops they are heading to Mexico