EDITORIAL | by Michael Bridge

Although there is hope that by the relaxing of travel restrictions, international vacationer’s will return, it seems the hospitality industry may have to rely on Thais to fill their rooms for the next few months.

Certainly, during this month’s Songkran holiday, many resorts from Pattaya to Koh Chang or Hua Hin to Phuket were remarkably busy.

Thailand is known for having many holidays, so we have listed below the next eleven Thai holidays between now and the end of August.

1st May Labour Day
2nd May Labour Day Holiday
4th May Coronation of King Vajiralongkorn
13 May Royal Ploughing Day
15 May Viskha Bucha Day
16th May Viskha Bucha Day holiday
3rd June Queen Suthida’s Birthday
13 July Asahna Bucha Day
14 July Khao Phansa Day
28 July King Vajiralongkorn’s birthday
12th August Her Majesty the Queen Mother’s birthday

Now of course not everyone will down tools and head to the hills or the sea on these days, but there will be times when factories will close for long weekends, as will offices and government departments too.

Media reports are stating that Thais are currently not tending to travel overseas due to the pandemic, however, there is a trend starting to try to forget the lockdowns and pandemic restrictions, and to take the family on a well-deserved break around Thailand.

Vietnam and UK 

This is not just a Thai trend as many domestic flights and trains are fully booked as Vietnam has a holiday this weekend.

Their National Reunification Day (April 30) and International Labor Day (May 1) fall on the weekend (Saturday and Sunday) and so the next two days are public holidays to compensate.

 

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Even in England, resort hotels were reported struggling to cope with staff shortages as people drove to the West Country for an Easter break.

With the chance of staying in a 5-star resort at 3-star prices many Thais and expats alike are starting to realise that the Land of Smiles has a lot to offer.

If you are not committed to taking time off during these national holidays, then you will find a significant difference in prices especially during mid-week for both domestic flights and rooms.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is still pinning its hopes on international tourists returning in the traditional high season starting in October.

So, it seems now is the time to pack the bag and head to the beach, which in most cases is in better shape than it has been for ages, due to a lack of suntanned tourists.

Enjoy Thailand!

 

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7 minutes ago, webfact said:

With the chance of staying in a 5-star resort at 3-star prices many Thais and expats alike are starting to realise that the Land of Smiles has a lot to offer

They are delusional in my view, not many regular Thais have the kind of coin needed for a stay like this.  

"Local tourists may help Thailand's tourism industry survive"

 

"May" is the key word........highly improbable.

Michael, this topic has been beaten to death by TAT and other mindless Gov't officials.  Give us a break and editorialize something else, please.

 

groundhog day

Thai people have neither the income nor the length of time off to save the tourist industry

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Although there is hope that by the relaxing of travel restrictions, international vacationer’s will return, it seems the hospitality industry may have to rely on Thais to fill their rooms for the next few months.

A no brainer.... 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Media reports are stating that Thais are currently not tending to travel overseas due to the pandemic,

Or short on funds or the hassle to get back-in?

4 hours ago, webfact said:

With the chance of staying in a 5-star resort at 3-star prices many Thais and expats alike are starting to realise that the Land of Smiles has a lot to offer.

Over Songkran it was the opposite for many hotels... 3-star charging 5-star prices.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

.....it seems the hospitality industry may have to rely on Thais to fill their rooms.....

If you alienate the foreign tourists, what do you expect!

1 minute ago, Moti24 said:

If you alienate the foreign tourists, what do you expect!

Well by definition, they are aliens. 

Domestic travellers are not  tourists , they may spread a few baht around but they will not bring back 2 million lost jobs.

Just now, joecoolfrog said:

Domestic travellers are not  tourists , they may spread a few baht around but they will not bring back 2 million lost jobs.

Why do you say that? Do they not stay in hotels, eat in restaurants, visit theme parks and attractions, go shopping in Malls? I believe they do from what I see. 

4 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

They are delusional in my view, not many regular Thais have the kind of coin needed for a stay like this.  

And unfortunately most hotels rated at 5 stars are only 3 stars

Thai holidays between now and the end of August.

1st May Labour Day
2nd May Labour Day Holiday
4th May Coronation of King Vajiralongkorn
13 May Royal Ploughing Day
15 May Viskha Bucha Day
16th May Viskha Bucha Day holiday
3rd June Queen Suthida’s Birthday
13 July Asahna Bucha Day
14 July Khao Phansa Day
28 July King Vajiralongkorn’s birthday
12th August Her Majesty the Queen Mother’s birthday

 

I make that that Thais will not be working 15% (allowing for a current 6 days week) of the working time from 1st May to 12th August.  5 day working week, and Thais working days in the period drops by 18% at work - sheer lunacy.

 

They need to work after a pandemic shutdown, not be drowned in public holiday spending !

7 holidays in 5 weeks time.....rising petrol prices, rising living costs, opning of the schools....It is clearly that the rich have no idea how the Thai people live.. They have to work to earn just enough money to eat and pay their bills and no work no money is normal in Thailand... How can you expect that these people will travel around ??? It would be better that there were less holidays.. If people get money they will spend more too....and as gambling is illegal and the lottery tickets are overpriced, stop with this scam too...Life would be better

What overpaid official public servant came up with this astounding earth-shattering conclusion?  Such genius and insight!

finally, some smart moves

17 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

7 holidays in 5 weeks time.....rising petrol prices, rising living costs, opning of the schools....It is clearly that the rich have no idea how the Thai people live.. They have to work to earn just enough money to eat and pay their bills and no work no money is normal in Thailand... How can you expect that these people will travel around ??? It would be better that there were less holidays.. If people get money they will spend more too....and as gambling is illegal and the lottery tickets are overpriced, stop with this scam too...Life would be better

Next week the gold shops and pawn shops will have lines out the doors and long queus as families sell their gold and other items to pay for the new school year. No ones going on holiday except government employees....

4 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

They are delusional in my view, not many regular Thais have the kind of coin needed for a stay like this.  

You're not counting all the Gov workers that worked during the pandemic here.  Then add in the police and hiso Thai's and there's something ....

Just now, HaoleBoy said:

You're not counting all the Gov workers that worked during the pandemic here.  Then add in the police and hiso Thai's and there's something ....

They are not regular Thais, read my comment above.

Read the headline and thought OMG, this is so out of date. Then I read who wrote it...............

 

Its becoming the daily drivel, please try and think of something original to write rather than done to death topics in bullet point format.

11 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

2nd May Labour Day Holiday
4th May Coronation of King Vajiralongkorn
16th May Viskha Bucha Day holiday
3rd June Queen Suthida’s Birthday
13 July Asahna Bucha Day
28 July King Vajiralongkorn’s birthday
12th August Her Majesty the Queen Mother’s birthday

Here's what I am actually getting as public holiday in the private sector, being 7 of 11 from your list. As I understand, if a holiday falls on the weekend, it is not standard practice to give both days (weekend & following Monday) as public holidays to employees.

 

As a long-standing TV member, you will also be aware that annual leave entitlement is pretty low in Thailand, so I don't begrudge Thai workers their public holidays. although I do feel it is an insidious method from the "powers that be" to keep certain things at the forefront of Thai people's minds...

Thais have different preferences. Although many seem to think Pattaya is a magical place, most Thais prefer to visit temples. So the main people who will benifit will be the monks with their tourist orientated temples. Temples often have many money making activites to extract money from misguided Thais. Local tourism will never give Thais that lucrative income they are used to. Plus it is not so easy to overcharge or scam a Thai in their own country. Most are wise to the scams used on foregn tourists   

Just now, johncat1 said:

Thais have different preferences. Although many seem to think Pattaya is a magical place, most Thais prefer to visit temples. So the main people who will benifit will be the monks with their tourist orientated temples. Temples often have many money making activites to extract money from misguided Thais. Local tourism will never give Thais that lucrative income they are used to. Plus it is not so easy to overcharge or scam a Thai in their own country. Most are wise to the scams used on foregn tourists   

Really, can't say I have seen the traffic round the Wat much, not like when the Chinese were pouring in to walk about the place. 

These people are a bunch of clowns local tourists do not have the spending power of foreigners and dare I suggest the locals who do have the money take there holidays in other parts of the world 

Thailand is not China or USA or europe where local tourism can simulate economy so as they say 

" Show me the Money!!!!!"

 

 

 

Edited May 2, 20224 yr by metisdead
Trolling image removed.

5 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

They are delusional in my view, not many regular Thais have the kind of coin needed for a stay like this.  

I'm not sure what a regular Thai is anymore, there were thousands of Thai tourists staying at luxury resorts on Koh Chang last Monday the 25 th. not a public holiday but could still take off time during the week, they were still pouring off the ferry at 5pm. Oh and not wearing masks.

3 hours ago, Thunglom said:

Thai people have neither the income nor the length of time off to save the tourist industry

Lets not forget rising food and fuel costs. I an seeing less and less cars on the road and people in shopping malls.

Thailand is like a modern day beggar nation.   11 holidays in 4 months !!    That's crazy.  I get like 6 days per year.

Here's a tip. If Thailand is worried  about putting food in the mouths of their citizens, perhaps get rid of the ridiculous number of public holidays each year and get people to spend more time working and in other industries besides tourism.   

Only an idiot would cut off an industry's main customer base (foreigners) and then think that the way to make the industry better is through more vacation time.