EDITORIAL | by Michael Bridge

The annual migration of many expats leaving Thailand and returning home to enjoy their own summers has almost finished.

Many Brits, Swedes, Norwegians, Dutch, and Germans have departed, and even cash-strapped Russians are eventually leaving too.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is still hoping that tourists from India will fill the void left by the Russians, sprinkled with a few Middle East vacationers escaping their own hot temperatures.

But it is unlikely to be busy again until October when the Europeans normally like to escape the chilly winter months and come back to Thailand. 

Hopefully, by then the entry rules will be simpler.

Good for residents

Since the exodus, living down in Pattaya it is noticeably quieter, which as a full-time resident can be quite a bonus.

 

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Firstly, getting around is a lot faster with no tourist buses and hardly any traffic jams.

Then finding a tee time at your favorite local golf course is also no problem, with many discounted packages on offer.

Even booking a hotel across the “land of smiles” is very inexpensive now. You pay 3-star rates but can live it up and stay in a 5-star luxury resort!

Weekends away from Bangkok

Of course, every resort or city has exceptions, with certain popular restaurants still doing good business, especially at weekends when the Bangkok selfie crowd drive down the expressway to spend the time by the beach.

Cozy Beach in Pattaya with six new themed restaurants, all seem to be busy at the weekends and their car parks are packed.

So, it may be great for residents, however can Thailand’s beleaguered hospitality industry wait until next October to attract potential international tourists?

It will be a tough few months ahead.

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2022-04-28

 

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and then.....there were none!

I just get me coat and turn the lights off on the way out. 

Now Even More Amazing Thailand Has It All, 

 

 

Edited April 27, 20224 yr by Orinoco

If people are leaving their countries to get away from the Russia-Ukraine war than they are not real tourist. They are just looking for a place that's cheap ,safe, warm to hot, until the Putin's war is over. 

The European holiday season begins in June . That should replace the foreigners returning home considering the easing of entry rules into Thailand on the 1st of May .

Hopefully eased even more by the 1st of June .

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The annual migration of many expats leaving Thailand and returning home to enjoy their own summers has almost finished.

Many Brits, Swedes, Norwegians, Dutch, and Germans have departed, and even cash-strapped Russians are eventually leaving too.

I do not know anybody that fits this bill - going back home for their own summer - seems total bull to me, to cover for lack of tourists and blame foreigners.

 

I only know of 2 people that have left, 1 to get some work done on the NHS and a second to go sell his house to marry his latest boo and finance her. Certainly not holidaying in their own country !

I am off in two weeks for six months.

First time in 30 years that I am going to spend such a long time outside SE-Asia.

But time is ripe to rediscover Western Europe before the great replacement and total chaos.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is still hoping that tourists from India will fill the void left by the Russians, sprinkled with a few Middle East vacationers escaping their own hot temperatures.

TAT bosses have done nothing but hope and predict for the last 2 years.

If they really want to kick-start tourism the need to kick-out the dinosaurs running the show.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Firstly, getting around is a lot faster with no tourist buses and hardly any traffic jams.

How many expats will you find in a tourist bus? In fact there have been no tourist buses for around 2 years. nothing to do with an expat migration.

 

No traffic jams? LMAO Jammed at weekends with Thais.......................

1 minute ago, sungod said:

How many expats will you find in a tourist bus? In fact there have been no tourist buses for around 2 years. nothing to do with an expat migration.

 

No traffic jams? LMAO Jammed at weekends with Thais.......................

Come come, it is much easier to get about where I live, Pattaya area, although in the last few weeks Bangkok  traffic has been heavier. Been using the truck a lot more in the last couple of years, in the past traffic kept me on the bike. In a way I dread the return of tourists and the dangerous Pegas buses on the Railway line bypass, and U-Turning on North Rd. 

Less activity on this site as well. Big topics getting much fewer replies than before. I reckon a lot of blokes simply packed up. Several here have made such statements, as well as a few long time YouTubers.

the question they left for holiday or left for ever... The first is not bad, the second however ...... But what can you expect from a Government like this??

1 minute ago, CrunchWrapSupreme said:

Less activity on this site as well. Big topics getting much fewer replies than before. I reckon a lot of blokes simply packed up. Several here have made such statements, as well as a few long time YouTubers.

I agree, tourists aside lots of long termers seem to be leaving. I go to the pub and theres few I know now outside my own circle. Many don't have work where I live and have moved on for work. Quite a few of the retirees off as well it seems. It's all a pity but I suppose its part of normal movements as a country develops. 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

But it is unlikely to be busy again until October

But Hotels have still tripled prices showing many they still can't grasp "supply and demand" business practices.

I go back to the USA today.  Waiting for the COVID tests results are nerve racking.  I will miss Thailand.  I would like to thank all forum members for the useful advice, interesting reading and humor.  I am coming back for a full retirement sometime over the next two years.

33 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

the question they left for holiday or left for ever... The first is not bad, the second however ...... But what can you expect from a Government like this??

What could I expect from my European "home" country (GerMoney) ? 

Nothing, absolutely nothing. 

My Lufthansa flight from BKK on Sunday night is fully booked. Maybe people are returning after the Easter Holidays?

A troll post commenting on moderation has been removed.

1 hour ago, Whale said:

I suppose its part of normal movements as a country develops. 

Or, in Thailand's case, doesn't.

2 hours ago, vandeventer said:

If people are leaving their countries to get away from the Russia-Ukraine war than they are not real tourist. They are just looking for a place that's cheap ,safe, warm to hot, until the Putin's war is over. 

 

2 hours ago, vandeventer said:

If people are leaving their countries to get away from the Russia-Ukraine war than they are not real tourist. They are just looking for a place that's cheap ,safe, warm to hot, until the Putin's war is over. 

Nothing in the article to suggest that at all.

1 hour ago, MrJ2U said:

But Hotels have still tripled prices showing many they still can't grasp "supply and demand" business practices.

Tripled prices and a more expensive THB will not help the tourist industry

 

2 hours ago, lazygourmet said:

I am off in two weeks for six months.

First time in 30 years that I am going to spend such a long time outside SE-Asia.

But time is ripe to rediscover Western Europe before the great replacement and total chaos.

I know Western Europe very well, so there's nothing for me to rediscover really. Western Europe was a nice episode for me, but it was clear that my heart belongs to Asia. 

you wanted them, now you don't... most migrating to Vietnam

I'm not sure Russian tourists are cash-strapped considering the current Ruble exchange rate. That may be true for other Europeans tourists relying on Euros at this time.

Edited April 28, 20224 yr by SymS
grammar

This seems to be a recycled article that has little to do with anything actually occurring now from what I view around town.

So few arrived in the first place they won't be missed when they leave.

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

the question they left for holiday or left for ever... The first is not bad, the second however ...... But what can you expect from a Government like this??

How is the government effecting expats? They made zero impact on my life and I doubt expats are leaving on morale grounds because you got to have none to live in Pattaya ????

1 hour ago, micmichd said:

I know Western Europe very well, so there's nothing for me to rediscover really.

I know western Europe fairly well, but I could spend another lifetime there and not get bored. Italy alone would do it. Or France. I hope to spend this entire Fall on the continent. 

hope re-entry  if they RETURN !! makes life easier with less red tape ands silly high med. insurance 

6 minutes ago, Enzian said:

I know western Europe fairly well, but I could spend another lifetime there and not get bored. Italy alone would do it. Or France. I hope to spend this entire Fall on the continent. 

For me, boredom's the same in any language. I got bored after 3 years in Thailand.