Doesn’t Thailand have enough events already to attract tourists?

[webfact]

 

by Michael Bridge

The Thailand Tourism Authority of Thailand, known as the TAT, has very well-paid executives trying to promote the land of smiles to a global audience.

They are spending huge sums on getting tourists to choose Thailand rather than other destinations.

However, in reality Thailand has not lost its appeal, so perhaps TAT should look at what attracted people here in large numbers in the past.

Certainly, the Burapha Bike Festival, one of the country’s biggest public festivals annually held in Pattaya attracted over 50,000 bikers, many from overseas.

Canceled for the past couple of years because of Covid concerns, hopefully, it will return in 2023.

The Honda LPGA Thailand was again held behind closed doors this year, but in the past up to 25,000 a day would flock to see the top fifty female golfers in the world at Siam Country Club. It will return in March 2023.

At last, one event did go ahead in 2022 when the Full Moon Parties recently returned to Haad Rin. 

Apparently, the southern Island of Koh Pha Ngan attracted over 10,000 party-goers this past weekend for the first full-scale full moon party in over two years.

 

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The event went off without a hitch with tourists, marine, and immigration police all there to ensure that everyone was able to have fun while also maintaining some sense of law and order. 

One local said that a large number of foreign tourists meant that the iconic event was still in people’s minds, even after two years of silence. 

As the word spreads that it was an enormous success, they expect that the next party on May 16th will attract even more partygoers.

These beach parties have become well-known around the world, and it is amazing to see them back in fashion.

Pattaya is also getting ready to host a mega music festival in May with some of the World’s top DJ’s, revealed that the UK’s number one electronic music festival.

Known as Creamfields, it will be hosted at Nongnooch Pattaya Garden between 28 and 29 May, with a promising line-up of electronic artists like R3HAB and Fedde Le Grand. 100,000 are expected over the two days

2018 marked the first year MotoGP™ made its way to the Chang International Circuit which attracted a huge crowd of over 100,000 and was voted by the riders as the best organized meeting of the year. 

The fans will be back as the Moto GP circus returns on October 2nd, 2022, to this popular Buriram circuit.

So, you see Thailand already has a number of events that will attract foreigners before we remember that Thailand’s beaches, hospitality, and incredible cuisine are also huge attractions.

 

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[daveAustin]

15 minutes ago, webfact said:

perhaps TAT should look at what attracted people here in large numbers in the past.

Not hard. Sex, booze and laidback lifestyle with minimal rules & regs. Very little of any of that right now. Can have all the festivals you want; strict entry does not a happy tourist destination make.

[Mac Mickmanus]

21 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

Not hard. Sex, booze and laidback lifestyle with minimal rules & regs. Very little of any of that right now. Can have all the festivals you want; strict entry does not a happy tourist destination make.

You can still buy sex though and beers still available 

[RandiRona]

Tourists coming to Thailand are only interested in Go Go Bars and Temples with Go Go!! Plus they dont want to register and pay through their noses to get to those so stop looking at wrong place. Get rid of Thai Pass and tourists will figure it out themselves just like they always did precovid.

[Mac Mickmanus]

10 minutes ago, RandiRona said:

Tourists coming to Thailand are only interested in Go Go Bars and Temples with Go Go!! Plus they dont want to register and pay through their noses to get to those so stop looking at wrong place. Get rid of Thai Pass and tourists will figure it out themselves just like they always did precovid.

Surely if guys are horny enough , they will jump through the hoops and get a Thai pass ?

Guys who haven't had sex since before Covid should be very eager to jump through the hoops 

[Willy Wombat]

People used to come to Thailand for the cheapness and easy laid back attitude.

To escape their home countries overbearing governments and rules.

 

Stop pretending the that you will be the Asian riviera and attract millionaires by the plane load.

 

Amd get rid of the antiquated corona rules

 

 

 

 

 

[it is what it is]

36 minutes ago, Willy Wombat said:

People used to come to Thailand for the cheapness and easy laid back attitude.

To escape their home countries overbearing governments and rules.

 

Stop pretending the that you will be the Asian riviera and attract millionaires by the plane load.

 

Amd get rid of the antiquated corona rules

 

 

 

 

 

 

yup, If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.

[Laughing Gravy]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The Thailand Tourism Authority of Thailand, known as the TAT, has very well-paid executives trying to promote the land of smiles to a global audience.

Get rid of them as they have failed, continue to fail and are so out of touch with reality.

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

They are spending huge sums on getting tourists to choose Thailand rather than other destinations

This is failing miserably. Who are they very well paid executives. Whn you continue to keep making the same mistakes it is difficult to defend the term stupid.

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

However, in reality Thailand has not lost its appeal, so perhaps TAT should look at what attracted people here in large numbers in the past.

Never a truer statement.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

So, you see Thailand already has a number of events that will attract foreigners before we remember that Thailand’s beaches, hospitality, and incredible cuisine are also huge attractions.

Not when you have to jump through hoops to get there.

[Led Lolly Yellow Lolly]

What Thailand really needs is it's own cocktail using the historical country name for mystique.

 

... Oh, hang on a minute ..

 

 

[Orinoco]

Thailand still thinks it's special. It's not anymore.

That boat sailed a few years back.

 

 

[jacko45k]

You would think so.... a month does not go by without Beach Rd, Pattaya,  getting closed because of some market selling TAT's tat and food poisoning risk!

[NHPT]

No special events needed....just get rid of Thailand Pass and any arrival restrictions and testing and we will all come back...

 

Im thinking hotels in Vietnam will be full soon, Thailand will still be 70% empty

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The Thailand Tourism Authority of Thailand, known as the TAT, has very well-paid executives trying to promote the land of smiles to a global audience

Who know nothing.

[ikke1959]

Thailand is not attractive for a full moon party or events like that... THat are 1 day/evening events.. Thailand should focus on the food, the weather, beautiful beaches, beautiful wedding locations for everyone, historical buildings, and of course the sex industustry which is all over the world know, although Thailand pretent different. Cheap is Thailand not anymore as the THB is too expensive and double pricing is a standard now. In former travelguides hey wrote Thailand is safe, but nowadays it is less safe for tourists too. A tourist want to go to on a holiday to relax, eat drink what and whenever they want, and travelaround  and not being scammed because of the idea that they are rich, and not have the feeling that they are intruders or criminals....If TAT only focus on events they will miss the boat.

[spidermike007]

People come to Thailand because it is reasonable, because it has nightlife and because it is fun. They also like that the place has some character, warm weather, and hot women. Whitewashing the character, street life and color out of the place is just dumb, and dreadfully misguided. 

 

The goons in charge are focusing their efforts in all the wrong areas. They are trying to make Thailand a Quaker State. A land of purity. Total BS. Nonsense. Misplaced priorities, and wasted efforts. And completely fake and hypocritical. No doubt these terribly ignorant fools are trying to rid Thailand of one of it's most popular attractions. The nightlife. And we are not just talking about the "industry". Little do these ninnies know, the girls will just go underground, and online, but it will operate more in line with the enormous sex industry in the US. Illegal, underground, unprotected, unregulated, potentially overpriced, and potentially more dangerous for all involved. So, they would be moving the nation backwards, and harming their people, and tourism, in the process.

 

I think alot of nightlife venues will ever re-open. Many are permanently sabotaged. And I would venture to guess this was intentional sabotage.

 

The charlatan puritans want to remake Thailand, in their own image. At least the image they perceive of themselves, which we all know is a major form of pathological delusion.

So, that included killing Thailand's nightlife. Willfully. Covid became that opportunity and it was seized with vigor. And within their bubbles of self delusion, they do not get the fact that the nightlife here is part of Thailand's charm and appeal, to a significant portion of tourists, regardless of whether or not they partake of it.

[vandeventer]

Yes , Thailand has enough events to please the tourist but it also steals all their holidays to get a day off from work. How many Chinese holidays do they steal? How many American holidays? And European holidays? What I am saying is there is a hell of a lot of celebrations over here and I wonder how anything gets done.

[RichardColeman]

Simply selling beer 24/7 like the rest of the 21st century civilized world might be a good start. The stopping of selling beer for hours in the day and on every public holiday seems ludicrous to me - still Ma and Pa do well out of it  guess

[Nicholas Paul KNIGHT]

This article states that well paid executives trying to encourage Tourists, well obviously the pre-requisites for being one of these well paid people is NOT Common-sense or logic .

For years with well known SCAMS, DOUBLE PRICING, poor amenities at many Tourist attractions have stopped the local expat community as well as telling tourists that all Thailand wants is money. 

Making a Tourist wanting to come back is the best free advertisement and that they are not getting , why . Look at what you are providing as one person said to me many years ago, look after the poorest and the rich will be fine, likewise Tourists, attract the low-end the upper end will do just fine .

Logic not normally used in Thailand sadly .

[Mac Mickmanus]

12 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Simply selling beer 24/7 like the rest of the 21st century civilized world might be a good start. The stopping of selling beer for hours in the day and on every public holiday seems ludicrous to me - still Ma and Pa do well out of it  guess

They should have prostitutes in every bar and beer on sale 24 hours a day , 7 days a week 

[Gottfrid]

1 hour ago, Orinoco said:

Thailand still thinks it's special. It's not anymore.

That boat sailed a few years back.

 

 

No, there is no boat that has been sailing. Just a few bitter wanna be expats that couldn´t hack it in Thailand. Now they are just too bitter, and feel the need to spread negative information about the country. My guess is, that you might be one of them or you just listen to far too many of them.

[sean420]

If they were to lift all the new Covid restrictions I’m back..My Thai wife is very upset she can’t go home with no problem..Airline tickets went from $550 to $1100 now flying from San Francisco..

We are currently spending are time and money on the beaches of Mexico 

[sungod]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Pattaya is also getting ready to host a mega music festival in May with some of the World’s top DJ’s, revealed that the UK’s number one electronic music festival.

Someone needs to proof read these articles before they are put out, they dont read right, very amateur.

[Stargeezr]

I am always welcomed back by my Thai family, and when I stay in Hua Hin or Jomtien Beach, South Pattaya, 

the Thai people I see, and visit with are very friendly and glad that I came back for another holiday.

  I have never been affected by the Thai governments, except for some visa changes. I wished the 90 day visa

was available for just regular visits, instead I have to get a 60 day visa, and then pay 1900 baht to extend 30 more days.

   Corrupt Thailand is what I tell the immigration people every time I have to get my extension. I agree

that there are many festivals, to enjoy with the local Thai people, and I do enjoy a lot of them. It will be a

good day when a genuine democratic government is in power, but that will be quite a while yet.

  

[brianthainess]

Oh so it was TAT that invented full moon parties, who'd have thunk that. Most of what Tourists do and enjoy has naff all to do with anything TAT dream up, entrepreneurs will always find a way to attract tourists, even temples.

[Henryford]

Millions want to come to Thailand. It is the restrictions on entry that is stopping them not a lack of festivals.

[ikke1959]

52 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

No, there is no boat that has been sailing. Just a few bitter wanna be expats that couldn´t hack it in Thailand. Now they are just too bitter, and feel the need to spread negative information about the country. My guess is, that you might be one of them or you just listen to far too many of them.

I don't think so... Many people living here are quite happy with the local people there are no issues or almost none... THe problem occur with the Government and his offices as immigration, police and so on... Rules, grumpy, double standards that is what expats and retirees makes unhappy...If you are not in the same situation you can't understand. Why are the foreigners often treaten as criminals, or unwanted??? Again not by the locals, but enter Thailand at the border and find out how smiling the immigration is for instance... or ride a motorcycle without an helmet and get a fine while 10 Thais pass you with also no helmets.. 

[Excel]

1 minute ago, ikke1959 said:

or ride a motorcycle without an helmet and get a fine while 10 Thais pass you with also no helmets.

I think you misunderstand and perhaps do the RTP an injustice.  The reasons that the RTP are always too ready to stop a foreigner on a bike without a helmet are several. Firstly is the simple fact that the RTP can extort more money from a foreigner than a poor Thai. Secondly they care about the health of foreigners and they stop them because they warn them about the dangers of head injuries. This in-turn would/could have a serious impact of their rates of extortion if too many foreigners were to be killed or incapacitated.  Thirdly, and in line with government ideals, the RTP do not often stop Thais riding without a helmet as they don't give a toss if a poor Thai dies or not as this country is for wealthy Thais only.

 

PS. This post has a health warning for those allergic to sarcasm.

[eastlight]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

People come to Thailand because it is reasonable, because it has nightlife and because it is fun. They also like that the place has some character, warm weather, and hot women. Whitewashing the character, street life and color out of the place is just dumb, and dreadfully misguided. 

 

The goons in charge are focusing their efforts in all the wrong areas. They are trying to make Thailand a Quaker State. A land of purity. Total BS. Nonsense. Misplaced priorities, and wasted efforts. And completely fake and hypocritical. No doubt these terribly ignorant fools are trying to rid Thailand of one of it's most popular attractions. The nightlife. And we are not just talking about the "industry". Little do these ninnies know, the girls will just go underground, and online, but it will operate more in line with the enormous sex industry in the US. Illegal, underground, unprotected, unregulated, potentially overpriced, and potentially more dangerous for all involved. So, they would be moving the nation backwards, and harming their people, and tourism, in the process.

 

I think alot of nightlife venues will ever re-open. Many are permanently sabotaged. And I would venture to guess this was intentional sabotage.

 

The charlatan puritans want to remake Thailand, in their own image. At least the image they perceive of themselves, which we all know is a major form of pathological delusion.

So, that included killing Thailand's nightlife. Willfully. Covid became that opportunity and it was seized with vigor. And within their bubbles of self delusion, they do not get the fact that the nightlife here is part of Thailand's charm and appeal, to a significant portion of tourists, regardless of whether or not they partake of it.

Excellent post Spider

[Lacessit]

The TAT does not recognize Thailand has more than enough events to repel potential tourists. Thailand Pass, expensive hotels, potentially even more expensive quarantine with zero say in it by the tourists.

There are plenty of things to attract visitors, the hurdles are the problem.

[Clarkey611]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The Thailand Tourism Authority of Thailand, known as the TAT, has very well-paid executives trying to promote the land of smiles to a global audience.

And a very dodgy calculator!