Thailand sets sight on 10 million tourists in 2022, planned ‘tourist tax’ put on ‘indefinite’ backburner

[webfact]

 

By Thanaphum Charoensombatpanich

 

Thailand could welcome as many as 10 million tourists during this year if the current influx of tourist numbers continues, a move that could help spur the tourism industry, a key backbone to the economy that has been hammered due to the impact from the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus.

 

“Our aim is to raise the tourism numbers to 7-10 million from initial projection of 2-3 million tourists,” 2014 coup leader and incumbent Prime Minister told the parliament during the no-confidence debate late yesterday.

 

Prayut, who was trying to defend against the allegations made by the opposition for the past 2-days of grounding the Thai economy to its knees, said that his efforts to lure more tourists into the country was being hampered by the shortage of aircrafts, rising fuel prices that have pushed up ticket prices and the continued restrictions from Thailand’s largest tourist market – China.

 

Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/42001/thailand-sets-sight-on-10-million-tourists-in-2022-planned-tourist-tax-put-on-indefinite-backburner/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2022-07-22

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

[jacko45k]

Just put it on  the burner....... 

Edited July 22, 2022 by jacko45k

[SooKee]

That's 10 million per month surely? ????

 

Of course, the policies that made Thailand less attractive than, like, anywhere else, had nothing to do with it at all ????

Edited July 22, 2022 by SooKee

[ThailandRyan]

Surely a mistake to put the planned tourist tax on the back burner, or did they just up the dual pricing at National park's and elsewhere to Triple pricing.  Enough is enough, and 10 million tourists by years end is a little far fetched with airlines canceling flights due to staff shortage and air fares rising.  I saw yesterday that BA has also moved the restart of flights to Thailand into next year before.  My Family just priced there trip here for December for 2 weeks from the US over the Christmas period and by staying with us for the two weeks the cost is the same for them as it was in 2018 with them staying in a nice hotel on the beach in Phuket for the 2 weeks.  Instead they will be heading to Hawaii.  Many more friends who would travel on a regular basis are now making just one trip for the 2022 year and rethinking plans for 2023.

[Rmac442]

Crystal ball time again !!

British Airways have cancelled any plans to return to BBK ...

Travel to BBK over the next 6/8 weeks is significantly more expensive as a result of limited supply, high fuel costs and European high season ... Hardcore Pattaya tourists will find the money !!!!

[Rmac442]

Came back thru BBK last week ..living here for 12 years. Endless annual visas, re-entry permit and still the 'lady' at passport control is scanning the pages of my passport for what ?? ...then finger print capture, how many copies do they need !!!! 

Treated like some sort of potential criminal ...

 

[mikebell]

In this morning's papers, 'we must admit revenue this year is more likely to tally 1.2 trillion baht, 300 billion below the target," 

[ikke1959]

40 minutes ago, Rmac442 said:

Came back thru BBK last week ..living here for 12 years. Endless annual visas, re-entry permit and still the 'lady' at passport control is scanning the pages of my passport for what ?? ...then finger print capture, how many copies do they need !!!! 

Treated like some sort of potential criminal ...

 

And that is only at the airport even for the ones living here.. As a tourist it feels even worse, as we know that they need lots of papers for everything every year. And the smiles at the counters gives you a welcoming feeling too.. There is a lot of work to do

[KannikaP]

1 hour ago, Rmac442 said:

Came back thru BBK last week ..living here for 12 years. Endless annual visas, re-entry permit and still the 'lady' at passport control is scanning the pages of my passport for what ?? ...then finger print capture, how many copies do they need !!!! 

Treated like some sort of potential criminal ...

 

Maybe they are checking your fingerprints against the copy they already have on file.

[tomacht8]

.... to lure more tourists into the country was being hampered by the shortage of aircrafts, rising fuel prices that have pushed up ticket prices and the continued restrictions from Thailand’s largest tourist market – China.

 

In short, it's not our fault, it's the others' fault.

 

The government has nothing to do with the timely vaccine order, no emergency decree is still issued, there were no illogical

mask requirement rules, no curfews, all entertainment establishments were not closed for 2 years, no quarantine and entry rules were constantly changed, there were no alcohol and party bans, tourist nightlife has not been closed, the bureaucratic paperwork required for entry has not increased, foreigners were not made the scapegoats for the epidemic, all IT entry systems ran smoothly, the dual price system was abolished and not renewed, there were no statements that everything will only be more expensive for tourists (hotels, tourist tax), 

the entire immigration procedures have all been simplified and the entire infrastructure such as road safety, garbage, sewage, stray dogs, roads, flood prevention, etc. have been improved, 

 

Conclusion: If the tourism figures all depend only on exogenous factors, I propose my Thai mother-in-law as the next prime minister. And she would certainly have done it better for all normal , not privileged, Thai people.

 

 

 

Edited July 22, 2022 by tomacht8

[Pouatchee]

planned ‘tourist tax’ put on ‘indefinite’ backburner

This was in the headline. Where do they actually discuss this?

Another misfire from TV... clickbait.

I actually wanted information on this rather than read about the despot leader.

[stoner]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

said that his efforts

pssssst. its not about you big p

[tjo o tjim]

1 hour ago, KannikaP said:

Maybe they are checking your fingerprints against the copy they already have on file.

Of course they are... but when four fingers on one hand matches just stop... especially on leaving the country.  

[Pattaya Spotter]

Wasn't it 20M yesterday...another two days they'll be close at 5M or so????

[racket]

10 million is actually nothing if you think about it. A mid tier city in Europe gets on average 15-20million a year.  

[Photoguy21]

If you want tourists scrap the tax, make entrance fees to sites the same as for locals and increase the time you can stay in country without applying for a visa to say 3 months.

None of it will happen but don't complain when less tourists than expected arrive.

[MyFriend You]

4 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Just put it on  the burner....... 

Out of the frying pan and into the fire would be a good place for this cockamamy idea.................Peace

Edited July 22, 2022 by TunnelRat69

[dutchman]

They call us dirty farangs ( Anutin ) it is legit to scam us, it is legit to double prices and the hussle for paperwork fees running immigration up and down ( bureaucratic )

Welcome you here, leave your money and go home please

[Rmac442]

3 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Maybe they are checking your fingerprints against the copy they already have on file.

To be sure ..to be sure !!!

[ThailandRyan]

2 hours ago, Pouatchee said:

planned ‘tourist tax’ put on ‘indefinite’ backburner

This was in the headline. Where do they actually discuss this?

Another misfire from TV... clickbait.

I actually wanted information on this rather than read about the despot leader.

Guess you do not check the links in the OP to get the entire story.  It is not Clickbait as you like to say.

 

From the link:

 

"He added that the talks of collecting money from tourists is not true, and it is not to be implemented yet.

“This issue has been pushed off ‘indefinitely’ we have been trying to access why do we need it,” he said."

[vivananahuahin]

We can make a print sreen of what they say and come back 6 months later, if the target is not reached, an excuse will be find like usual.

Sometimes it's better shut up.

[SGD]

Avani Pattaya last month 39999 to 49999

 

This month 84000++

[vandeventer]

5 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Just put it on  the burner....... 

10 million tourist, mostly from Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia the oil and gas rich have plenty of money. It's a shame Biden won't expand America's oil and gas drilling as we would have many American tourist.

 

[Pouatchee]

36 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Guess you do not check the links in the OP to get the entire story.  It is not Clickbait as you like to say

No I don't. If the writer does not havd the skills to summarize effectively then it falls into click bait category. If you have enough time on your hands to waste on ineffectually written posts then good for you.

[Lingba]

enough already with these stupid prediction articles

[ThailandRyan]

1 minute ago, Lingba said:

enough already with these stupid prediction articles

I predict you will return and add the same quote again in a few months.....my friends Piranha Fish told me so.

[John Drake]

1 hour ago, Photoguy21 said:

If you want tourists scrap the tax, make entrance fees to sites the same as for locals and increase the time you can stay in country without applying for a visa to say 3 months.

And then make up all the lost revenue through charges and "insurance" for retirement extensions.

[Photoguy21]

1 minute ago, John Drake said:

And then make up all the lost revenue through charges and "insurance" for retirement extensions.

There wouldn't be lost revenue as people will spend money if they was here. It will increase the income.

[John Drake]

2 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

There wouldn't be lost revenue as people will spend money if they was here. It will increase the income.

They are going to get that insurance money. They've been determined to do so for years. They'll either get it from the entering tourists or make it mandatory for the retirement extensions. 

[Photoguy21]

1 minute ago, John Drake said:

They are going to get that insurance money. They've been determined to do so for years. They'll either get it from the entering tourists or make it mandatory for the retirement extensions. 

Before you can get anything from a tourist you have to get them into the country. Right now the barriers are there. Reduce them and the country will get more back.