Thailand wants to lose its reputation for being ‘cheap’, aims to become premium travel destination

[webfact]

The view from a luxury resort in Koh Samui. File Photo

 

By Online Reporter

 

The days of Thailand being regarded as a cheap holiday destination for foreign tourists appears to be coming to an end.

 

Speaking on Monday (July 4) at an event aimed at promoting tourism in Thailand, Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the country should aim to become a “premium travel destination”.

 

Mr Anutin told representatives from many of the country’s leading hoteliers, businesses and private hospitals that they should no longer offer big discounts as a means to attract foreign tourists.

 

“We cannot let people come to Thailand and stay because it’s cheap,” said Mr Anutin who was speaking at the Thailand Moving Together, which was held at Suvarnabhumi airport.

 

Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/thailand-news/thailand-wants-to-lose-its-reputation-for-being-cheap-aims-to-become-premium-travel-destination/

 

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[ThailandRyan]

Premium tourist destination, how's that going to be accomplished if they do as Anutin says.

1 minute ago, webfact said:

Mr Anutin told representatives from many of the country’s leading hoteliers, businesses and private hospitals that they should no longer offer big discounts as a means to attract foreign tourists

Looks like Anutin will kill off the majority of folks who come here for medical tourism.

[2baht]

Well try having some respect for tourists and don't view them as targets to rip off!

[Shuya]

Fits very well with Indians and Chinese as target group number 1

[Jerno]

Keep on dreaming. Or smoking that fine hemp.

[StayinThailand2much]

A hell of a timing to go 'upmarket'. Is that in preparation to an announcement that there are fewer tourists because 'Thailand became an upscale destination'?

[scubascuba3]

If Thailand became just another developed expensive location why bother to come, other holiday locations much closer, beaches look the same whether in Portugal or Thailand

[BKKTRAVELER]

And, he is back to work...

[Laughing Gravy]

More delusional grandeur and belief that Thailand is the centre of the universe. I call it home but I am in no way do I take Thailand for what it is.

 

Firstly the infrastructure needs to be updated. Get rid of electricity above  the ground. That will take 40 years at least. Have a functionally political system that is a true democracy and not one that really is another name for dictatorship. That will take at least 2 generations or even more.

 

I could go on and on but I have made my point. Keep Thailand for what it is and what it has always been.

[JonnyF]

Sounds like he wants to charge more, without improving the quality of the product.

 

Hanging electricity cables, Mangey Soi dogs, dirty beaches, smog, taxis with crazy drivers and no seatbelts etc. all offered at a premium price. Good luck with that Anutin.

[LomSak27]

Anutin does what he has to do. It is the head PooYai who so wants Thailand to be a destination of the rich and famous. A nation resembling Singapore. As long as he is Numba One Big Pooba, lip service must be done. Anutin like a good subordinate, made his pitch.
 

Meanwhile the same guy just made Thailand a destination resort for hopheads & big beat bong huffers. Now he is out stumping for no discounts, charge them full price. I bet his audience would love to, but putting that one over on potheads is going to be one tough sell. 

[Gold Star]

That is a huge chasm to leap.

 

Great dreams and aspirations.

 

On the surface, it looks nice, but they haven't discovered how to use the smell preventing P-traps in plumbing, ground or earth wiring, safety, and quality yet. It gets even worse when a tourist steps foot off the resort.

 

It will still be a third world country for a long time, and that is why I like it here.

 

[sanuk711]

Goverment =---- I Know, Got an idea

 

We had 30 million plus coming back to Thailand just before Pandemic, lets see what we can do about  changing everything around......

[shackleton]

With the Tourism board projecting more Indians and Chinese tourists coming to Thailand   both not known as  big spenders????

 

Chinese with their morning Buffets ????

 

Plus the Indians sharing a coke 5 straws  plus having their gold chains ????

Donated to the ladies of the night does not bode well for

businesses hotels nightclubs ect 

 

[ezzra]

Yes , replace the 'cheap' with the moniker of the pot hub of SE Asia...

[ivor bigun]

Was talking to a friend who is staying at a hotel in Pattaya and he said from next week he was told all the people staying there will be Indian ,i know we joke about it but lets face it they spend very little and you rarely see them in the bars etc.

Thailand is never going to be a high end tourist destination.

[Rimmer]

A misleading troll post and a reply has been removed

[MRToMRT]

53 minutes ago, webfact said:

“We cannot let people come to Thailand and stay because it’s cheap,”

If he ever does become PM in a power share, 90% of the farangs here are knackered.

[scorecard]

Here we go again... yawn.

[86Tiger]

31 minutes ago, Gold Star said:

 

 

..........they haven't discovered how to use the smell preventing P-traps in plumbing, ground or earth wiring, safety, and quality yet. It gets even worse when a tourist steps foot off the resort.

 

It will still be a third world country for a long time, and that is why I like it here.

 

 

 

 

Boom.  Truth hurts.

 

Let's add streets flooding every time it rains.  The warm smell of sewage from storm drains as one walks a street with blocked, uneven sidewalks.  Black nasty on bottom of shoes every time you walk down a street.

 

 

You want to be a premium destination?  You gotta look (and smell) the part first.

 

 

 

[sqwakvfr]

“Premium” and High End Tourist usually come with high expectations.  Based upon my experience if indeed many Premium and High End Tourist come in large numbers,  many will be disappointed.  If you go to a high end hotel or restaurant in LOS the food and drinks could be high end but the service will  not be.  

 

Unless there is some kind of epiphany among service workers in LOS then it will be better to stick with the low end (backpackers) to medium level tourists.  These guests come with low to moderate level of expectations.  I have never been disappointed in LOS when I got into any business with low to no expectations.  

[overherebc]

58 minutes ago, Shuya said:

Fits very well with Indians and Chinese as target group number 1

Gold necklaces are target number 1. ????

[jaywalker2]

They've been saying this for years and then always end up focusing on Chinese and Indian tour groups. I don't think there are many high end tourist destinations with wires hanging all over the place, broken sidewalks even in the luxury districts, trash everywhere, legendary poor service, one of the highest road fatality rates in the world, and nearly a foreigner a day falling from balconies or dying in some other bizarre way.

[phetphet]

Typical  billionaire without any money  worries.  I think he must have been sampling what he has been legalising.

 

If hotels are too expensive, no one will come. Many have already gone out of business or are up for sale due to the pandemic. . 

People have no money after what has been, and is happening in the world today. Dream on.

 

 

[LennyW]

Nothing new here, for years the modus operando has been; Lack of customers = jack up the prices.

[rbkk]

"Cheap" depends on the exchange rate.

[moogradod]

57 minutes ago, BKKTRAVELER said:

And, he is back to work...

..... and starts to make again mistakes - or am I ? Premium to him seems to be "high priced". But the attractiveness is determined by price / performance. Or does it not matter anymore how much they are making in the end ? Lift prices for the same thing and the majority goes elsewhere.

 

There are some societies in the world were exclusivity is of prime and only importance. If you need to be of royal descent for example to participate. But this here is a completely different matter.

[Classic Ray]

Cheap? It’s certainly not that any more with the increases in energy esp electricity and fuel, all imported products and freight costs, rise in basic staples like chicken and pork (and beer!) This will be reflected in tourist restaurant prices and souvenirs.

 

Flights have rocketed in price, entry and mask requirements as opaque and changeable as ever.

 

As others have pointed out, European destinations are much more pleasant, affordable and short flying times. 

[overherebc]

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

If Thailand became just another developed expensive location why bother to come, other holiday locations much closer, beaches look the same whether in Portugal or Thailand

I can't remember if this beach is in Thailand or The Algarve.

[kotsak]

Tourism devastated during Covid and now this clown says this just when things started picking up?