When I ask my friends who used to come every year:   

“When are you back?”   

Then the answer is: "We don’t know, because right now Thailand is too expensive from a European point of view, perhaps because the war in Ukraine has pushed the Euro down."

I think that is where the problem lies for the Europeans because it is correct that Thai Baht vs. the Euro is up near the point where tourists, before the Corona, stayed away, because Thailand had become too expensive.

What is the opinion of other Europeans?

2 years Covid.
Russian war.
Super high inflation.

Electricity, gas, food prices extremely high and not compensated with a higher salary.
Rents, used cars, all jumping like crazy.

People have other things on their minds than a holiday in Thailand.

Those that I know in the UK who would come here quite regularly, have put Thailand on the back burner. They all cite the same reasons. Thailand Pass hassle in conjunction with regular changes of the requirements.  Money wasnt the issue. Better choices nearer to home.

Yes they will come back and so will the Chinese.  Don't have a clue when other than not in the next 6 months.  The doom and gloom is always palatable in a time like this but 99% of the time all returns to normal.  Thailand will get rid of the Thai Pass and assume the silly insurance in the next couple years.  If the world enters a deep recession the inevitable will just be delayed.  

In the UK when they start getting their massive increase in energy bills,  many will postpone holidays. Lots of costs are going up i reckon companies are taking advantage of the situation, all over the world

1 hour ago, Misab said:

What is the opinion of other Europeans?

The thousands of Europeans who are here already, and whose numbers are increasing, don't appear to agree with your friends.

3 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

In the UK when they start getting their massive increase in energy bills,  many will postpone holidays.

Those with holiday arrangements on the other side of the world probably aren't going to have a problem paying their electric and gas bills!

36 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Those with holiday arrangements on the other side of the world probably aren't going to have a problem paying their electric and gas bills!

they may in cheaper locations like Thailand

What is holding back for most Norwegians, is the stupid paperwork and insurance (most norwegians tourists travel with insurance with enough cover anyway, it is just the stupid details), and maybe no more direct flights from Oslo could void for some. 
 

Anyway small group with around 200 000 a year  travelled to thailand before covid. 
 

 

 It is still certainly cheaper to be in Thailand .. been keeping a house and condo mothballed. Utility prices have gone through the roof in the UK. As a former expat now looking to change direction for my retirement I intend to liquidate Thailand and " holiday" in more places and be flexible as getting back to Thailand even as a tourist is just hassle. There are nicer and easier places. No BA flights tells you something .. just booked via Singapore  to return  in September ...

Well apparently the PM says there will 20 million arriving last Q this year, so he's expecting a boom from the world and Europe - insanity reigns complete it seems

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Those with holiday arrangements on the other side of the world probably aren't going to have a problem paying their electric and gas bills!

Think delay most due to "the paperworks".

Why go thailand if same options elsehwere without.

It will get better, but going to take a while maybe a couple of years. But you never know. Worse might be around the corner ( Putin and Xi). Seems covid crisis is over as a reason, but the Chinese look tied up for at least another year over covid. The health of the European economy is going to be a key consideration. Thailand should seriously look at other ways to create economy than relying on Tourism. Does world economy look healthy to you?

I am currently holidaying in the UK for the first time in 3 years.

 

Some things are not that different in price to Bangkok.

 

In central London a pint of Guinness in a pub is about 240 baht, burger and chips about 550.

 

I think the days of mass tourism in Thailand are gone.

 

Fashion and tastes change. People move on. 

 

Thailand is not the cheap destination it was 15-20 years ago.

 

In real terms it has probably doubled in price for Brits.

 

 

RAZZ

 

 

Edited May 4, 20224 yr by RAZZELL

I usually go once or twice a year. 2 reason for me, Thai pass 

Hassle and cost of flights! I was looking at July or August but £1000 each is too much, I'll go elsewhere

Not while the baht is so ridiculously strong. 

Even after a small shift,  it still makes Thailand expensive for Europeans

13 minutes ago, fulhamster said:

Not while the baht is so ridiculously strong. 

Even after a small shift,  it still makes Thailand expensive for Europeans

I agree, as I see it the problem is the strong Baht.

Thailand is doing it best to keep tourists away, and until there is a change of attitude, there will not be any return to the previous 'mass' tourism.   Thee current obsession with 'quality tourists' will ensure this.

people will come when visiting Thailand is easy;  as easy as booking a flight and going to the airport.  Visa free entry on arrival, and no travel restrictions.

So long as Thailand keeps up the Thailand pass or any other entry restriction, tourists will be looking fro easier places to visit.

Let Anutin keep dreaming of the millions of tourists that he claims are queueing up to visit Thailand.  They ain't coming until entry is easy. 

Not gonna go down like they expect it to. Thai's have spent two years figuring out how to do without the tourist. Tourist are not going to be welcomed back with open arms as many expect. The world has changed. It will get off on the wrong foot right away, just wait for the new headlines. I may be wrong.

What worries me is that as Thailand loses it Euro and UK base, they will simply look for the next cash cows..

While they cant travel now that wont be forever and theres millions of chinese.. As they become the backbone of the industry many of the services will cater to them.. Hence bars change, nightlife changes, and the possibility of Thailand selling itself to sheer volume tour group china, walking over every coral reef, elbowing in at every buffet.. Thailand never been very good at going up the value chain it seems to always go down it step by step to the greater volume guests.. 

Its not hard to imagine a decade further a much less appealing Thailand due to the market it chases.. 

2 hours ago, IAMHERE said:

Thai's have spent two years figuring out how to do without the tourist.

Pretty sure the opposite it true. Thailand is desperate for tourist money to come back.

Anyone who doesn't go on holiday because the exchange is not as great as it was last year just has to spend one day less than that had to enjoy the same ammount of opulence as they had on the previous trip.

 

Go for 13 days instead of 14 and problem solved.

 

The reason my friend and I have not gone, is because of the inconsistent regulations, potential quarrantine, heavy paperwork and hardly any fo the bars have been open, or have to reinvent themselves as 'restaurants' and the police might kick you out at any moment. Yeh thanks i aint signing up to that any time soon!

Everyone I know hasn't come to Thailand but because of price  but rather the Thailand Pass,  and before that Test and Go and Sandbox. They just can be bothered, even with Thailand Pass only. Turkey, Spain,  Bulgaria, and Dominican Republic seem to be popular now. 

The high cost and poor availability of air travel right now is a big deterrent. I just shelved plans for a quick and dirty visit between jobs, but either could not get a seat on short notice, or the asking price both ways, was ridiculous, with unwanted transit hotels, and therefore more costs, just put me off altogether. 

45 minutes ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Reminds me of my first ladyboy exp.....thank buddha for KY.........(this is a joke btw)

"Those that mind don't matter and those that matter don't mind." 

Doesn't say much for your self-esteem that you need to defend your comment with a disclaimer -whether it's true or not. 

My opinion is let the ass fall out the Baht and all problems are swept away...except for elites looking for a good price on imports.

 

I think US govt. has said many times Thailand (elite) is engaged in currency manipulation not in line with where the Baht should sit 'naturally' among a basket of comparable currencies.

 

 

It’s everything combined that turn western tourists away from traveling far from home. Flight costs, awful paper work, lack of decent fast visa applications, dangerous roads, price of taxis in Pattaya, and Phuket, low quality food , crumbling infrastructure, air pollution, sea pollution and last but not least, inflation at home of 5% , a war, and many many westerners choosing to visit their own countries to help the economy ( I know many and we have fabulous beaches and summer weather) , and an amazing choice of neighboring countries to discover. 

Another Thailand is too expensive no one will come thread.

Not everyone is poor pinching pennies living in their mommies basement and cannot travel to still, one of the least expensive countries to visit.

Edited May 4, 20224 yr by bkk6060

Off-topic, troll posts and replies removed.  

 

15 hours ago, RAZZELL said:

I am currently holidaying in the UK for the first time in 3 years.

 

Some things are not that different in price to Bangkok.

 

In central London a pint of Guinness in a pub is about 240 baht, burger and chips about 550.

 

I think the days of mass tourism in Thailand are gone.

 

Fashion and tastes change. People move on. 

 

Thailand is not the cheap destination it was 15-20 years ago.

 

In real terms it has probably doubled in price for Brits.

 

 

RAZZ

 

 

Average cost of pint of Guinness in a central London pub is £4.45.