PHOTO: Post Today

 

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O’Cha was pleased with the number of incoming foreign tourists in Thailand after reaching more than one million since the country began to reopen from January, expecting tourism income to reach 1.8 trillion baht this year.

 

Government spokesperson Thanakorn Wangboonkongchan reported today, May 23rd, that while the domestic rate of Covid-19 infections was gradually decreasing, the number of tourists visiting Thailand had reached 1,016,103 people from January to May 2022.

 

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This resulted in the number of tourists in the first quarter of 2022 increasing by 2,368 percent, compared to the same period in 2021, and the revenues increasing by 1,424 percent.

 

Full Story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/05/23/more-than-a-million-foreign-tourists-arrive-in-thailand-since-january-government-expects-tourism-income-to-reach-1-8-trillion-baht-by-year-end/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-05-23

 

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Who was the millionth visitor, where are they from, were they given a voucher for a free stay at an exclusive location, were they given round trip tickets, was the needed insurance refunded and were they given a 30 baht scheme card?  So many questions left unanswered....

14 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

This resulted in the number of tourists in the first quarter of 2022 increasing by 2,368 percent, compared to the same period in 2021, and the revenues increasing by 1,424 percent.

 

Hmmm, let's think about those numbers......... 

 

One of the stated goals was to attract more high-quality, bigger spending tourists. Backpackers and prostitourists still pay a lot of bills and make a contribution. A lot of businesses and workers depend on them. But one guy who will spend 200,000 baht......... is worth ten guys who'll only spend 20,000, right? 

 

But.......... 

 

When tourist count has exceeded last year by almost 2,400 percent............. and revenues have only gone up by 1,400 percent............. it means each tourist is spending considerably less  this year........... than they had last year! And this with inflation running rampant? 

 

Seems like a good time to ask........ 

 

How's that goal of attracting significantly BETTER tourists working out? 

 

(Oh, sorry....... awkward question! ????????????) 

 

CHEERS! 

23 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Who was the millionth visitor, where are they from, were they given a voucher for a free stay at an exclusive location, were they given round trip tickets, was the needed insurance refunded and were they given a 30 baht scheme card?  So many questions left unanswered....

it was a sexpat from the UK and he was given a free voucher for a 1 hour massage at Noi's massage in Pattaya.

I have yet to meet a tourist with no other reason than to come to Thailand ..

Then again I don't live in Pattaya !!!

Tons of people going to Thailand for sure, immigration is more packed, condos more packed and I noticed some old friends from high school travelled to Thailand recently. 

 

Cheap living costs, infrastructure/quality of life relatively the same if not better, it's a no brainer if you work online.

 

So about 5% from 3 years ago, would be more if they got rid of the useless Thailand pass

11 minutes ago, steven100 said:

it was a sexpat from the UK and he was given a free voucher for a 1 hour massage at Noi's massage in Pattaya.

But was it for a Soapy massage with extra bubble, dont leave out the details my friend....lol

4 minutes ago, proton said:

So about 5% from 3 years ago, would be more if they got rid of the useless Thailand pass

How can we truly be sure of that?  Is Thai Pass creating the dilemma or is it the global economy and the monetary exchange rates.....

1 hour ago, ThailandRyan said:

Who was the millionth visitor, where are they from, were they given a voucher for a free stay at an exclusive location, were they given round trip tickets, was the needed insurance refunded and were they given a 30 baht scheme card?  So many questions left unanswered....

Perhaps it was a Thai returnee, so in that case no return ticket or insurance refund needed... ????

53 minutes ago, steven100 said:

it was a sexpat from the UK and he was given a free voucher for a 1 hour massage at Noi's massage in Pattaya.

Probably a 500-baht voucher... ????

 

1 hour ago, Rmac442 said:

I have yet to meet a tourist with no other reason than to come to Thailand ..

Then again I don't live in Pattaya !!!

I'm in Pattaya now, and let me assure you , you cannot move at 2 am on the streets of Pattaya as it's awash with Indians fresh from the gold shop - apparently 

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

 

I'm in Pattaya now, and let me assure you , you cannot move at 2 am on the streets of Pattaya as it's awash with Indians fresh from the gold shop - apparently 

Until 2:10 a.m., when the gold necklaces, mysteriously, have become the property of Thai transgenders... ????

7 hours ago, proton said:

So about 5% from 3 years ago, would be more if they got rid of the useless Thailand pass

the Thai Pass isn't stopping anyone who wants to come IMO. All the tourists I've met lately have said it was easy peasy. I would suggest that tourist numbers haven't recovered because no country in the world is anywhere near back to pre-covid arrival levels. 

1 million tourist? Did they pay 300 baht? or were most in transit on their way home?

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O’Cha was pleased with the number of incoming foreign tourists in Thailand after reaching more than one million since the country began to reopen from January, expecting tourism income to reach 1.8 trillion baht this year.

Tourists, or every man wife, g/f & their dog entering the kingdom for whatever reason?

11 hours ago, steven100 said:

it was a sexpat from the UK and he was given a free voucher for a 1 hour massage at Noi's massage in Pattaya.

What will he do with the other 50 minutes, small talk?

11 hours ago, steven100 said:

it was a sexpat from the UK and he was given a free voucher for a 1 hour massage at Noi's massage in Pattaya.

I had to leave a tip though ????

10 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Probably a 500-baht voucher... ????

And a gift basket of Chicken Essence.

 

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O’Cha was pleased with the number of incoming foreign tourists in Thailand after reaching more than one million since the country began to reopen from January, expecting tourism income to reach 1.8 trillion baht this year.

Not forgetting that Thailand is ground zero for "massaging" everything... 

figures including arrivals and expenditure are a top priority.

11 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

How can we truly be sure of that?  Is Thai Pass creating the dilemma or is it the global economy and the monetary exchange rates.....

I'll look for it so I can post it here... but I just read where Las Vegas is receiving about 3 million visitors a month.  ????‍♂️

1. I remember reading earlier that they were claiming a million tourists this month. Someone is changing their tune. Or, truth is being revealed. 

 

2. This resulted in the number of tourists in the first quarter of 2022 increasing by 2,368 percent, compared to the same period in 2021, and the revenues increasing by 1,424 percent. Does not mean much. It is a bit like saying Burkina Faso has 7% economic growth. 7% of what? There was no tourism last year. 

 

3. No matter how they spin it, tourism numbers are still low. Few like the Thailand pass system. Few want to grovel for permission to visit. Scrap the pass. Then there is a chance of 2 or 3 million tourists a year. Maybe even 5 million without a couple of years, but it will never be the same here, after all the sabotage and destruction, and purification campaigns. 

More than a million?

Luckily, they are not in my area.

Yet more BS being spewed out 

Arrivals or tourists?  TAT use this ‘trick’ all the time.

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

the number of incoming foreign tourists in Thailand after reaching more than one million since the country began to reopen from January, expecting tourism income to reach 1.8 trillion baht this year.

The usual nonsensical numbers. Tourism was worth 3 trillion Baht in 2019 when almost 40 million tourists arrived. So, to reach 1.8 trillion Baht this year, either they're expecting 23 million tourists to arrive during the second half of year (most of which is regarded as the low season anyway) or else their campaign to attract high-spending foreigners has been the greatest success ever in the history of the global tourism industry.

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

1. I remember reading earlier that they were claiming a million tourists this month. Someone is changing their tune. Or, truth is being revealed. 

Nowadays, everyone's a tourist! - I'm sure they also count returning Thais and expats as "tourists". I pointed that out recently, referring to a post, where the nationalities of arrivals were proudly announced; India, U.S., Britain, Germany, etc.: ca. 350,000 in total. But no word where the other 65% came from, so my suspicion is that, at least, 30% of the "tourists" are actually returnees (Thais and expats). - My observation of seeing exactly 1 (!) genuine tourist (luggage, didn't know the place, no Thai partner) this year confirms it, IMHO.

1 hour ago, lujanit said:

Arrivals or tourists?  TAT use this ‘trick’ all the time.

True. In some years I was 6 or more tourists. (You're welcome, TAT!)

14 hours ago, KanchanaburiGuy said:

Hmmm, let's think about those numbers......... 

 

One of the stated goals was to attract more high-quality, bigger spending tourists. Backpackers and prostitourists still pay a lot of bills and make a contribution. A lot of businesses and workers depend on them. But one guy who will spend 200,000 baht......... is worth ten guys who'll only spend 20,000, right? 

 

But.......... 

 

When tourist count has exceeded last year by almost 2,400 percent............. and revenues have only gone up by 1,400 percent............. it means each tourist is spending considerably less  this year........... than they had last year! And this with inflation running rampant? 

 

Seems like a good time to ask........ 

 

How's that goal of attracting significantly BETTER tourists working out? 

 

(Oh, sorry....... awkward question! ????????????) 

 

CHEERS! 

Last year's figures were skewed by two things---or one thing, depending how you want to look at it.

 

Last year, arrivals were required to quarantine for 14 days, later reduced to 7 days. That means they were gouged for the pleasure of staying inside a hotel room, seeing no one, until their quarantine period ended. That cost money. Also, anyone coming to Thailand (before the quarantine was reduced) knew his first two weeks were shot, so anyone coming was likely to stay about a month or more.

 

Arrivals in 2022 need not do quarantine, so some folks might only be coming for a week or two. Thus, they are likely to spend less overall than someone who was gouged for his first two weeks in quarantine, then let out to spend yet more when free to roam.

 

Given the demographic of arrivals (mostly single males who are NOT coming for the temples), this year's spend might even be better on a daily basis. Many of the arrivals are not only in a hotel and eating out, but likely dropping cash in bars and agogos.

 

I will grant that to rejoice at 1 million in five months---vs 40 million in 12 months of 2019---is not glass half full, it's more "I think this glass was once wet, because I see some moisture on the bottom".

 

Still, one has to love silver linings.

14 hours ago, dj230 said:

Tons of people going to Thailand for sure, immigration is more packed, condos more packed and I noticed some old friends from high school travelled to Thailand recently. 

 

Cheap living costs, infrastructure/quality of life relatively the same if not better, it's a no brainer if you work online.

 

Not sure if you're in Thailand, as you say "going to" and "travelled to", but I live in a condo in Pratamnak which is far from "packed". Most Russians have gone home as far as I can see. On my floor there have only been 2 other inhabited apartments in the last 6 months. Last visit to Jomtien immigration I was in and out in 20 minutes, the day before the last public holiday. "Tons of people"? Is that an accurate summation? Your buddies from high school? Hardly indicates a million fold resurgence. If you live in hope, you'll die in hope. We'll never know until the bars are booming and the shutters are up on all the many, many closed  businesses here in Pattaya. I'd say they are the only reliable indicators, at least for this town. Whatever TAT dreams up.