It’s expats, not tourists that are visiting Thailand: Business leader

[webfact]

File photo for reference only

 

A key figure in Thailand's tourism industry pulled absolutely no punches when commenting on the country's supposed "reopening".

 

Thanet Supharothatrangsi, chairman of the Chonburi Tourism Business Association, echoed what people online have been saying for weeks if not months.

 

In an interview with business media he said there are virtually no tourists coming into Thailand despite the rhetoric of the government after their much vaunted reopening claims. 

 

The only arrivals are not true tourists at all. Just business people, property owners or those with families.

 

The tourism industry is hardly benefitting at all. He blames all the obstacles put in the way of potential tourists, says Thailand shot itself in the foot when it had the opportunity to do better and now is even lagging behind neighbor Cambodia.

 

He slammed the petty and baffling alcohol and nightlife restrictions saying tourists couldn't even celebrate New Year with a drink.

 

Thanet's comments come as leading ministers wax lyrical about 50,000 visitors since November 1st and millions more to follow praising their wonderful Thailand Pass scheme as a simple panacea to reignite the tourism industry. 

 

Thanet says it's all smoke and mirrors. 

 

"The reality," he said," is that tourism recovery is slight in the extreme. In Chonburi we are seeing 200-300 tourists a day. 

 

"Not even 10,000 have arrived - normally pre-pandemic it would be a million.

 

"Thailand has shot itself in the foot despite being the first country in SE Asia to open its borders to international tourists".

 

Opening up should have meant really opening up, not this half baked reopening, he said.

 

An RT-PCR test from their home country within 72 hours would have been sufficient not being tested again on arrival, he said. 

 

They should have been allowed to come in and go anywhere immediately without restrictions, he noted.

 

Instead ridiculous obstacles have been put in their way with all the Thailand Pass documentation and tests on arrival and one day quarantine to wait for results. 

 

He said that Cambodia opened up after Thailand but they had no silly obstacles so people were going there instead. 

 

"Real tourists are not bothering to come to Thailand", he continued in a controlled and measured set of statements completely mirroring what netizens have been saying.

 

"You can see by the hotel bookings. They are just staying one night in a hotel to wait for their test result  then they are going elsewhere. 

 

"They are not tourists, they are business people, home and condo owners or people with families in Thailand".

 

Apart from a few souls "tourists are simply not coming to Thailand" said the business leader.

 

He called for the hoops and hurdles facing potential tourists to be removed but especially the on- arrival RT-PCR test.

 

He said the country's tourism businesses were ready for visitors and it was time for the authorities to get real, stop making the big claims and get people visiting Thailand again. 

 

They were ready since the start of the Phuket Sandbox months ago but since then there have been delays after delays as the authorities chopped and changed their minds confusing everyone. 

 

He also attacked the decision not to reopen nightclubs, pubs and bars and the issue of not allowing alcohol to be served or having drinking restricted. 

 

"Tourists won't even be able to have a drink to celebrate the New Year," he continued. "They have been told they can't do that until at least January 15th". 

 

He cited the Pattaya Music festival with all its restrictions and banning of alcohol as yet another pathetic example of the obstacles in place.

 

"People can't have a drink and can't even get up out of their seats to dance to the music," he said pointing out that such restrictions only applied inside the restricted area.

 

Outside this people were buying alcohol and enjoying the sounds.

 

"What sort of control is that?" he fumed clearly exasperated by his country's measures. 

 

As further evidence of his claims he pointed to a leading German tour company that would normally be sending 3,000-4,000 tourists a month. 

 

He said they were sending just 20 a day and not to Pattaya - they were nearly all going to Phuket, he lamented. 

 

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[ThailandRyan]

The majority of us knew this already. Many friends I have have returned after being gone for a long time in order to return to family with less restrictive measures put on them that create financial hurdles.

[norfolkandchance]

He should get a job at TAT.

[JCP108]

He speaks the truth.

[Jingthing]

Obviously!

[Zark Muckerberg]

21 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thanet says it's all smoke and mirrors. 

Smart guy this Thanet!

[Karma80]

24 minutes ago, webfact said:

"They are not tourists, they are business people, home and condo owners or people with families in Thailand".

 

Apart from a few souls "tourists are simply not coming to Thailand" said the business leader.

Give that man a prize. I feel sad for anyone genuinely sucked into coming here for a short visit. You need to be very very motivated.

[Captain Monday]

My THAI friends in the US have not been to Thailand in 2 years.

They are not super wealthy they come once a year maybe.

If I did not have a home and friends no way I would have come to Thailand this year, twice.

 

First time 15 nights in a room. Allowed 1 hour "relaxation" after about a week poolside on a lounger separated from the dirty farang  inmates by red tape lines. Think Hannibal Lechter in a 5 star prison, dry. 

[kevin612]

This is true, why tourists visit Thailand when entertainment is closed?

[GeorgeCross]

..and all predicted weeks before opening by expats already here.

 

did they bother to consult with any of us?

 

no, of course not. they know everything.

 

????

[Andycoops]

Thailand hasn't shot it's self in the foot, it's shot it's self in both feet.

[Misterwhisper]

How horribly un-Thai of Mr. Thanet. Speaking the truth, I mean.

[bkk6060]

He is right, but these folks coming have/do spend money.

In fact, their investment in many cases is/will be much larger then the 2 week tourists.

They should be thankful any of them are returning at all.

[smedly]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

A key figure in Thailand's tourism industry pulled absolutely no punches when commenting on the country's supposed "reopening".

 

Thanet Supharothatrangsi, chairman of the Chonburi Tourism Business Association, echoed what people online have been saying for weeks if not months.

well said and 100% correct 

 

and for those that have failed PCR tests on arrival - I'd be willing to bet they are from only one or two countries that should now be red listed for producing fake test docs

[doctormann]

5 minutes ago, Andycoops said:

Thailand hasn't shot it's self in the foot, it's shot it's self in both feet.

Continually!

[JonnyF]

Good to see that someone finally gets it. Better late than never. 

 

Let's hope this insight catches on.

[khunpa]

OMG! Finally someone with common sense, who is not afraid of speaking out. 

 

Hope he does not end up in attitude-adjustment camp, because he surely qualifies.

[ThailandRyan]

9 minutes ago, Misterwhisper said:

How horribly un-Thai of Mr. Thanet. Speaking the truth, I mean.

Waiting for him to be called into the principals office and made to wai and apologize.....

[Gsxrnz]

This guy will be branded a heretic and fired or demoted.  The few bureaucrats and politicians who speak the obvious are not destined for long and illustrious careers.

[Gsxrnz]

20 minutes ago, Andycoops said:

Thailand hasn't shot it's self in the foot, it's shot it's self in both feet.

...with a .50 cal full auto and an ammo belt that is as long as infinity, and that's pretty long.

[Gandtee]

34 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Waiting for him to be called into the principals office and made to wai and apologize.....

It could be worse. He could be picked up, bundled into a car and never seen again.????

[Jambo55]

1 hour ago, Captain Monday said:

My THAI friends in the US have not been to Thailand in 2 years.

They are not super wealthy they come once a year maybe.

If I did not have a home and friends no way I would have come to Thailand this year, twice.

 

First time 15 nights in a room. Allowed 1 hour "relaxation" after about a week poolside on a lounger separated from the dirty farang  inmates by red tape lines. Think Hannibal Lechter in a 5 star prison, dry. 

Not even a Chianti :( 

[gearbox]

I'm currently in Phuket and there are tourists coming....just not enough. Once the figures are collected for a month or two I expect the Thailand Pass and the PCR test on arrival to go away. The risks seems to be too small to be worth handling with obstacles like these. My prediction is Jan 2022 for proper reopening.

[yogi yogi]

i can go to cambodia easily from thailand now?  via plane.  no cambodian restrictions?  what about coming back to thailand after going to cambodia.?  i have to do one night quarantine again?  what about if i come back via land?  same one night quarantine required? so many questions, no answers?

[frankie machine]

isn't it way against the law for a thai official to tell the truth?   computer crimes, or insulting the government, something like that?

[Henryford]

No tourist in their right mind would come now. Imagine Christmas and New Year without a drink.

[GeorgeCross]

2 minutes ago, Henryford said:

No tourist in their right mind would come now. Imagine Christmas and New Year without a drink.

oh god.. the horror.

[Mavideol]

2 hours ago, JCP108 said:

He speaks the truth.

thus should not expect a job from TAT or from any other Thai government agencies  555

[IamNoone88]

I like this guy already!

[Eric Loh]

2 hours ago, JCP108 said:

He speaks the truth.

Obviously self interest on his mind. Soft pressure on the government to lift alcohol restriction for his fellow bars and clubs businessmen.