Will tourism in Thailand bounce back from Covid differently?

[vandeventer]

 Laying on the beach with a mask on, the impression of the mask with the hot sun will make us look like alliins

[Expat68]

It will come back (not as before, slightly diluted) but travel anywhere in the world will never be the same again

[Gottfrid]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand will never lose its charm with fabulous beaches, temples, cultures, and mouthwatering food.

And a selection of other kinds of physical pleasures

[jonny on the spot]

I understand engineless submarine rides and over head jet fighter crashes will be the turning point for tourism.

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Eco back to nature resorts should also prosper, as the world adjusts to saving the planet.

LOL.

They used to stay in atap A frames and poop in a hole in the ground, but people wanted aircon, tv and hot water, so the A frames were replaced by concrete. Not going to happen in a major way IMO. However, there have always been those willing to pay for inferior places if they can feel good by doing so.

 

I can't see the bar scene returning as it was, given the on line alternative for companions. Perhaps some thing like Hua Hin had.

 

 

[LivingNThailand]

21 minutes ago, actonion said:

As for over rated Thai restaurant food, that has too much sugar and salt added , cooked in the cheapest oil, in very un hygienic  conditions 

When I tell my friends that Thai Food is terrible, they can't believe me.  Thai Food cooked in Thai restaurants in the United States is much better and healthier than Thailand, for the most part.  I do have a few favorite  restaurants  that when I put in my Mai Sai list (no sugar, little oil, no msg, etc) it turns out pretty good.

Edited March 28, 2022 by LivingNThailand

[LivingNThailand]

Y

17 minutes ago, Expat68 said:

but travel anywhere in the world will never be the same again

yes,  agreed.   That could be a good thing, less crowds.  But the restrictions will be overwhelming I think.

[wombat]

The sooner endemic is gazzeted the sooner we will know.

[wombat]

30 minutes ago, actonion said:

Fabulous beaches ..where? .......I've seen better, cleaner beaches  in south west UK  than Thailand..

..

I'm guessing you aren't a happy camper and won't be back?

[Spilornis]

One never knows.

The Bali nightclub bombings saw Bali tourism plummet for a year or more but when it returned it was in even higher numbers and from new sources.

 

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, Spilornis said:

One never knows.

The Bali nightclub bombings saw Bali tourism plummet for a year or more but when it returned it was in even higher numbers and from new sources.

 

You are joking aren't you...... just loads of noisy Aussies like it was before!

[farangroby]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The bar girls headed back to their families long ago, and may have settled back into country life, so will they be tempted back?

Considering that most of these girls normally have a farang portfolio big enough to allow them to have a rich life, it is clear that, as soon as possible, they will return to milk their deep pockets instead of spending 10 hours in the sun growing rice and sugar cane

[herfiehandbag]

Thailand used to be easy - get on an airplane, show your passport on arrival, get in a taxi and off you go.

 

Whatever does emerge, it is extremely unlikely, almost inconceivable, that those "in authority" will let go of the controls and requirements they have managed to impose.

 

And unless they do people won't come.

 

Simple.

Edited March 28, 2022 by herfiehandbag

[RAZZELL]

Pre-Covid approximately 2m people a month, now 200,000.

 

A 90% drop in visitors and TAT etc think it will get back to normal? When? Maybe in 5+ years time!

 

I have recently been to Chaweng in Samui and it was like a scene from a Zombie apocalypse movie. Around 80% of all businesses closed and the beaches deserted.

 

RAZZ

 

 

[Scouse123]

2 hours ago, blazes said:

Things are not looking rosy.  Almost nowhere in the world will life quickly return to "normal."

Perhaps Thailand will have to begin a new "cycle"....going back 20 or more years to the days when it was mainly backpackers that dominated the "tourist" trade.

 

In other words, taking the past as a guide, it may be two or three decades before Thailand gets back to what it was in 2019.

Agreed,

 

Also, last week Singapore announced even with dropping all the onerous restrictions, airport passengers were 13% of prepandemic levels. So, Thailand if you think the floodgates are going to open when you finally drop restrictions, think again.

 

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

I think I can understand this post, despite its incoherence. It does make me wonder what it looked like before it was edited.

When the choice is between a gambling, drinking, abusive Thai male, and a pot belly farang with plenty of money, it's not hard to guess which way the girls will lean.

Do some of these clowns writing this nonsense do not think these Thai women selling themselves are not the Mia Noi's of potbellied, balding Thai businessmen who are also a great deal older?

 

2 hours ago, Homburg said:

Other countries also have fabulous beaches, temples, cultures, and food.  It's a competitive world out there.  If other countries treat their tourists with more respect than Thailand does then the tourists will vote with their feet and take their tourist $$$ with them.    

 Spot on. When I go to Vietnam the beaches where I go are spotless with armies of cleaners constantly keeping them pristine.

 

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

They can come back when the Pattaya pavements are ready..... Covid will be a distant memory then. 

That will never happen as we all know and the bosses in local government will never get on top of this. They are all too busy getting their hair coloured in the local salons to look smart to be part of the welcoming committee for the millions of Saudi and Indian billionaires that will arrive shortly.

Edited March 28, 2022 by Scouse123

[JimHuaHin]

"Thailand will never lose its charm with fabulous beaches, temples, cultures, and mouthwatering food."  Really.

 

Which tourist countries do not have fabulous beaches, temples, cultures, and mouthwatering food?

 

Most of Thailand's main tourist beaches look ugly and dirty - too many touts, too many people walking around selling "cultural" junk, too many beach chairs, .... where are the natural clean incrowded beaches.

 

On my first organised group 2-week tour of Thailand in 1974-1975; we were taken to 2-3 temples every day;  after 3 days of this, the tour group revolted and told the toun guide, no more temples!!!

 

Which tourist countries do not have cilture and mouthwateing food?

 

When will the TAT wake up, and market a unique very different tourist experience?

[Neeranam]

3 hours ago, eggzthaioz said:

Thai government officials and decision makers just don't get it.

While all the stupid restrictions are in place tourists aren't going to come.

As a long term visitor over 45 years I'm off to Cambodia to spend my tourist $$$. Then off to Vietnam for awhile.

Thailand won't be getting any of my doe ever again.

Bunch of idiots running the country. 

I wonder whats in Cambodia that tickles your fancy? 

 

Thailand wants quality tourists and they will come in time. 

[Stoker58]

  Things have changed in the source markets, the West, Russia and China. These are outside Thailand’s control and will greatly limit any bounce back.

  That said, they also badly need to replace the current bureaucratic maze with a proper welcome mat for farangs bearing cash.

[Scouse123]

3 minutes ago, RAZZELL said:

Pre-Covid approximately 2m people a month, now 200,000.

 

A 90% drop in visitors and TAT etc think it will get back to normal? When? Maybe in 5+ years time!

 

I have recently been to Chaweng in Samui and it was like a scene from a Zombie apocalypse movie. Around 80% of all businesses closed and the beaches deserted.

 

RAZZ

 

 

And it is going to be like that for a long time yet.

 

Those in their ivory towers in Bangkok in their CCSA meetings that are waiting for the floodgates at Suvarnabhumi to open will be sat there a long time. There will be an initial rush/surge and that will be it.

 

As I mentioned in another post, Singapore has announced even with lifting restrictions passenger traffic levels are 13% or pre pandemic levels.

 

I will stay here because I have strong family ties but for leisure, I will go to Vietnam and Cambodia, even the UK where I get far more value for money, and at least a genuine smile whilst they are taking my money.

 

What this military government doesn't understand is that foreign tourists are not impressed nor intimidated by the Thais with their shiny uniforms and tacky medal ribbons, and won't dance to a tune just because Prayuth wants it to be that way.

[Neeranam]

1 hour ago, actonion said:

Fabulous beaches ..where? .......I've seen better, cleaner beaches  in south west UK  than Thailand..

..

As for over rated Thai restaurant food, that has too much sugar and salt added , cooked in the cheapest oil, in very un hygienic  conditions 

Aberdeen, Balmedie and Cruden Bay are lovely beaches, with the best golf courses in the world. One made by Donald Trump, one by Old Tom Morris but with sideways rain and 10c in summer they are nothing compared to beaches on Koh Mak. 

[BritManToo]

1 minute ago, Neeranam said:

Aberdeen, Balmedie and Cruden Bay are lovely beaches,

Agree, but the gale force winds and torrential rain put me off a bit.

I lived and worked in Glasgow for 6 summer months, once the windows to my apartment were blown out, it also rained every day.

[Neeranam]

6 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Agree, but the gale force winds and torrential rain put me off a bit.

I lived and worked in Glasgow for 6 summer months, once the windows to my apartment were blown out, it also rained every day.

Did you read the bit I wrote after that, about the weather? 

[Scouse123]

4 minutes ago, JimHuaHin said:

 

 

Most of Thailand's main tourist beaches look ugly and dirty - too many touts, too many people walking around selling "cultural" junk, too many beach chairs, .... where are the natural clean incrowded beaches.

 

On my first organised group 2-week tour of Thailand in 1974-1975; we were taken to 2-3 temples every day;  after 3 days of this, the tour group revolted and told the toun guide, no more temples!!!

 

Which tourist countries do not have cilture and mouthwateing food?

 

When will the TAT wake up, and market a unique very different tourist experience?

Agree with you completely.

 

I have also had to take tuk tuk drivers in Cambodia to one side, when I have taken family and friends there, and make them understand that two days is quite enough for Angkor Wat for the majority of western tourists, and beautful as they are, we do not require a SEVEN day pass to see these wonders from dawn till dusk on a daily basis!

 

Food? Indian food is great, Vietnamese food is good, Cambodian food cooked properly is mouthwatering. Singapore has foods from every corner of the earth with prices and budgets to suit. Their street food and open cafes are a delight.

 

Beaches? I would not rate Thailand as even halfway in the clean beaches guide, except for some of the smaller islands.

 

I think in these CCSA and TAT meetings they must be full of ' Yes  men ' and too afraid to speak out and tell those in power the honest truth, Thailand is just not ' that special ' anymore and hasnt been for a long time.

[shackleton]

Tourists will return to Thailand once the Corivirus restrictions are lifted 

Paperwork travelling into Thailand required ect

Pattaya   Phuket bar scene will not be on the scale as before 

As we know the Government is trying to show Thailand as a family holiday 

Scene not girls and bars 

Thailand does have more to show and will recover in the future 2023 onwards 

 

[Harveyboy]

2 hours ago, heybuz said:

Fabulous beaches,I don't think so.

yep amongst the plastic bags and condoms..great beaches...

[Scouse123]

17 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

I wonder whats in Cambodia that tickles your fancy? 

 

Thailand wants quality tourists and they will come in time. 

Nothing wrong with Cambodia apart from the lack of quality beachside venues.

 

The Cambodians are far more genuine, polite and friendly than the Thais are these days.

 

Thailand wants quality tourists?

 

Quality tourists' demands are higher.

 

They require decent clean beaches without the constant harassment of vendors, hawkers and the noise of jet skis.

 

They want decent walkways and pavements,  They want their ' hosts ' to have a good command of the international language. They want to use toilet facilities that are first world at tourist sites, not holes in the ground and filthy facilities.

 

Shall I continue with the requirements of ' quality tourists '? 

 

Thailand needs to understand that it is not all " Take, take and take " but that seems alien to their culture or beyond their understanding!

 

A country ruined by greed and obsessed by money, whether it be stealing, cheating, lying or any other means.

[Scouse123]

12 minutes ago, shackleton said:

Tourists will return to Thailand once the Corivirus restrictions are lifted 

Paperwork travelling into Thailand required ect

Pattaya   Phuket bar scene will not be on the scale as before 

As we know the Government is trying to show Thailand as a family holiday 

Scene not girls and bars 

Thailand does have more to show and will recover in the future 2023 onwards 

 

Thailand was built and prospered for a long time attracting those who came for the prostitution and hedonistic behaviour!

 

To attract a different type of tourist, they have to seriously upgrade their infrastructure, attitude, and their facilities because they are way below the standards expected to attract ' well heeled ' tourists.

 

It's one thing making brash statements they want it to be a family resort, it's another providing these facilities and backing them up with infrastructure long term to get the families coming.

 

"Thailand and families" does not have a great ring to it, nor is it known for it's family appeal..

 

It will be a long road to achieve this and will the Thai authorities give it time and be prepared to wait?............................ I doubt it.

[nattaya09]

Drop the superfluous COVID visitor requirements  now and maybe by the end of the year, you can build enough confidence by tourists to view a trip to Thailand as a holiday rather than a risk

[spidermike007]

Yes. Entirely different. Everything has changed. Even Thailand. Zombie paranoia combined with pasteurization of the flavor and culture of the place may somehow seem appropriate for the fake puritans, but this is not appealing for tourists.

 

It may return to 2 million arrivals next year. And as many as 5 million by 2027. 

 

Is Thailand making any effort, on any level to address the issues that were present, pre-Covid? Traffic and public safety, air quality, road congestion, luxury taxes, wine taxes, jet ski scams?

 
I could go on all day. My guess is nothing is being done to address anything, and every issue they currently face is being blamed on Covid. Now, they have a real scapegoat, and looking within for the source of any of the problems is less likely than ever.

 

I truly believe, that 20 or 30 years from now, in tourism industry, business and sociology classes, at the uni level, there will be tours of these hollowed out shells, of huge hotels that were built, and could neither find guests to stay, nor even a market for condo conversions, and ended up abandoned, after buyers could not be found, or owners refused to accept 30% of the land and construction costs, as a sales price. 

Edited March 28, 2022 by spidermike007

[IamNoone88]

This seems to be written as a 600 word personal statement for journalism class 101, rather than a newsworthy article. Must have been a slow day on the press desk.