Thailand’s once mighty foreign tourism industry lastingly damaged with lower spends and numbers

[morrobay]

6 minutes ago, peter zwart said:

People come people go and new ones will arrive

Right the higher spending tourists are going and the lower spending tourists are coming. In Pattaya section news said domestic tourists/foreign tourists is about 10/1.   Like I've said before July, August used to be a mini high season along the beach for Europeans. With the so called improvement projects there like the glorified road that is supposed to pass for a promenade that is full of motorbike riders . As well as cafes replaced with fast food - they have lost that

visitor demographic. There is not an endless supply of first time visitors (especially these days) to make up for the loses in returning visitors.

[Photoguy21]

With countries suffering high cost of living and Thailand making demands on visas etc what did you expect? Add to this double pricing and you have a good receipt at least for disaster.

[realfunster]

3 hours ago, wombat said:

Curious wants to know what the correlation between the Frogs and LOS is?

France is consistently one of the highest visitor countries, maybe even number one IIRC, so I guess they are comparing the relative recovery of two “heavyweights” on the global tourism scene. 

[Xonax]

3 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Bangkok seems to be mostly Arabs walking the malls and going for medical tourism.

Big influx of Indian males in Pattaya walking around, getting massages hitting on girls on Beach Road.

That is the majority of tourists I have seen can't remember the last time I saw a western family here on holiday. School has started now they won't be coming anyway.

The Chinese will change the numbers significantly when they start coming, but a world wide recession could kill any large recovery until 2024.

Some major cities in China are currently on Covid19 lockdown. I gues that the chinese vaccines were no good and they should not be allowed to travel abroad, before getting vaccinated with a better vaccine! 

[mikeymike100]

7 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Not to worry, Indian trillionnaires to save the day! 1 million of them expected to arrive on Dec. 31st, on 99 chartered airplanes...

And the expected Chinese and Arabs??

 

[shackleton]

The Thai Tourist board keep talking about wanting more   quality tourists  more Families ect

Wanting to come and experience what Thailand has to offer

Gone are the old days 80s -90s when it was mainly   single guys coming to enjoy the bars and girls I am referring mainly to Pattaya here 

I would guess these days are gone now with what's happening around the world economic woes ect 

Expensive flights cost of living up its going to take time 

 

 

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

This news must be disturbing for the sector in Thailand and raises questions about the permanent damage inflicted on the Thai industry since 2020

Since 2014... that's the truth about Thailand in general... tourism & commerce.

[Millcx]

Don’t blame COVID .. The decline had started before … priced out of market and less value for the £

[Xonax]

2 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

It also makes Thailand look kind of retarded. Do they think there's some large percent of the population around the world that's going to spend their last $1000 on plane ticket to Thailand and arrive with literally zero dollars in the bank? They must think they're pretty clever by putting an end to this scam which totally was going to happen if not for that visa requirement. 

There are many examples of people from 3rd world countries, who arrive on a plane without any money, as they are planning to work illegally in the destination country, for as long as the visa allows them to. After that they may continue to work illegally on overstay. Look no further than Chantaburi, where hundreds of africans are working in the gemstone business. A business which happens to be exempted from personal income tax and VAT payment in Thailand, in case you have ever wondered, why there are so many foreigners working in this business. Some of them most likely have staffs working here illegally on tourist visa's. You will probably be able to find other seasonal business here, that need workers for a shorter period of time, and happily employ people on tourist visas.

[Caldera]

Yeah I mean where's the money supposed to come from? Inflation, energy price hikes, etc. etc. China is still closed, Russia is at war.

 

Chasing the high-roller pipe dream won't mean they just magically materialize in significant numbers!

[Harveyboy]

7 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Not to worry, Indian trillionnaires to save the day! 1 million of them expected to arrive on Dec. 31st, on 99 chartered airplanes...

with Big gold necklaces..ladyboys cant wait for all these Hamsun men

[Harveyboy]

7 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Not to worry, Indian trillionnaires to save the day! 1 million of them expected to arrive on Dec. 31st, on 99 chartered airplanes...

with Big gold necklaces..ladyboys cant wait for all these Hamsun men

[richard_smith237]

7 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Easy to increase tourists: (1) Extend the duration of visa exempt enter from 30 to 45 days as has been proposed.  (2) Change the evisa for tourist visas to a simple process like that used by Cambodia (nothing needed but name,. address, passport data).

I agree with you all you write with the exception of changes to the e-visa process.

Simply remove it and have a longer Visa Exempt entry for all arrivals, give arrivals 90 days. 

 

Just make it as easy as possible for tourists, remove all restrictions and welcome tourists with promotions.

 

We have a winter trip booked to Japan, currently vaccinated tourists can enter, but they have to be part of a ‘tour group’ and we have to apply in advance for a Visa. 

If that is still the case by Jan then I’ll just pull the plug and not bother, I’ve no interest in silly rules and particularly no interest in being a part of a tour-group.

 

 

[MrJ2U]

The government and it's agencies are such a mess.

 

The people who are running the show have no idea how to attract tourists.

 

Anutin's asinine ideas of just "increase" prices at hotels and supporting dual pricing at hospitals is just another example of government idiocy.

 

Thanks for making travel for expats cheaper by collapsing the tourism industry. 

[Harveyboy]

Thailand dug a hole for itself with the way it handled Covid ...incompetence and the thought that Thailand was the be all of holiday destinations ..the way people were treated by these morons has come back to bite them in the Ass  

[LudwigK]

Once more .....angry Farangs 8=))))))

You don't even need them as tourists???????????????????? 

[OneMoreFarang]

"lastingly damaged"

 

And they know that after the Covid restrictions are lifted since maybe 1/2 years?

Yes, something/someone is definitely "lastingly damaged"...

[Banana7]

5 hours ago, mania said:

ANA & United have some good deals going.

Also not sure if true as we couldn't wait to book but some say airfares always drop after Labor day in the US

Will see as that is Monday

You're kidding? The prices on United from YYZ to BKK round trip use to be CAD$1000 to $1300. Now the cheapest is CAD$2997. See attached.

UnitedFlights.docx

[flyfrog]

Hope the Indian trillionaires smoke a lo of weed, cause this is the new hype for the moment or will it attrack more back packers????

[DBath]

“On Tuesday, executives at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) talked up the possibility of targeting wealthy Indian families to come to Thailand to celebrate wedding events…” ????????????

 

As they say in Texas, ”All hat and no cattle”…..All talk and no do.

Edited September 1, 2022 by DBath

[billd766]

8 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Not to worry, Indian trillionnaires to save the day! 1 million of them expected to arrive on Dec. 31st, on 99 chartered airplanes...

Both Indian millionaires will arrive in their private jets. The rest will follow in the style of Indian railways.

 

https://www.businessinsider.com/indias-trains-are-insanely-crowded-2016-2#indian-railways-is-one-of-the-worlds-largest-employers-with-14-million-on-staff-2

[madmitch]

3 hours ago, connda said:

European's disposable income will be going toward paying for enough energy to heat their homes this winter, so don't expect to see many except for the much touted "rich, well-heeled" farangs who collectively will do little for the average Thai engaged in the tourist industry.  Energy prices in the West will finish what Covid started.  Better shift the focus of tourism toward Eurasia, Middle East, and Global South.

But this should open up opportunities for Thai tourism. It could be cheaper for retirees to spend their winter in Thailand than back home in Europe.

 

On a separate point, the reason France is faring better than Thailand is down to geography, with the country easily reachable from the whole of Europe and attracts long-stayers, weekenders and day-trippers alike.

 

Thailand's neighbours are more likely to hop over for a short time (and you can interpret that whatever way you want????).

 

Thailand's tourism industry will remain in the doldrums until the Chinese and, to a lesser extent, the Russians return. Even then I can't see it exactly flourishing.

[billd766]

6 hours ago, mania said:

What was uttered to you at some backwater crossing has nothing to do with reality & for you to parrot it anywhere is just passing on unsubstantiated nonsense

I suggest you educate yourself with the facts

You might even be surprised  ????

 

6 hours ago, mania said:

 Ok move along now nothing to see here ????

 

5 hours ago, mania said:
 Ok move along now nothing to see here 

Perhaps you are the one who should move along. He has related a first hand experience that has happened to himself and his wife.

 

You were not there and as such you have NO idea what was said or what happened.

 

You OTOH seem to be wrapped up in what the Thai paperwork says, which is 

 

1   not always correct

2  not always relevant

3  not always adhered to

 

ALL Immigration Offices and officers are supposed to adhere to the same schedule, but each office and officer is different.

 

I prefer believe the person that it actually happened to, rather than a keyboard warrior who was not there and has no idea what was said.

[FarangFB]

5 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

If Thailand seriously wanted more tourists they could start offering discounted rooms more, sub the national carrier to drop flight costs, try to get the baht weaker, 

Yeah let's cut earnings from those who have been mostly affected in the past 2.5 years (hotels, air transport). They're are already heavily discounted, I live in Thailand and when I go to Bangkok there are many great hotel choices for the cheapest price they've ever been. Even under 1000b you can find some quite decent places.

 

The baht has been the weakest since I've been coming here (2010).

 

I can blame 10 other things for lack of tourists but not the baht or the hotels.

[DBath]

6 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Sidewalks, you got sidewalks........?

We got sidewalks with broken manhole covers that will eat you alive. ????????????

 

 

[John Drake]

3 hours ago, connda said:

European's disposable income will be going toward paying for enough energy to heat their homes this winter, so don't expect to see many except for the much touted "rich, well-heeled" farangs who collectively will do little for the average Thai engaged in the tourist industry.  Energy prices in the West will finish what Covid started.  Better shift the focus of tourism toward Eurasia, Middle East, and Global South.

OTOH there is the possibility that those with the choice will close down their homes in cold weather countries and save money on heating by relocating to Thailand (or similar warm weather place) for three months or more.

[BostonRob2]

6 hours ago, malibukid said:

CM is looking pretty tacky lately.  literally starting to stink.  tree branches hanging down blocking the sidewalks, time for a trim.  sidewalks are in shambles.  wires dangling down from power polls.  unsafe crossings with lack of pedestrian signals and or crosswalks.  town needs a makeover.

That's funny it looked like that in the 1980s.

 

Rooster

[robsamui]

Oh but doesn't arrogance come before a fall!

Thailand has always been so unbearably smug about its own self importance - even the children every day in school chant how wonderful the Thai nation is and that its the "biggest and best" nation in the world.

And, being the biggest and best nation in the world, of course everyone wants to go there. And because its such an important nation, Thailand can create dozens of stern and complex immigration rules and regulations because this is a sign of a nation's status.

Until one day they wake up to realise that all their self-important posing and posturing and red tape, and Mickey Mouse uniforms with gold braid and rows of gaudy medals are not seen by the rest of the world as impressive at all. It's all rather childish, really.

 

And the overall hassles to visit the "biggest and best nation in the world" just can't compare to how much easier it is to go somewhere else instead.

 

When will Thailand ever understand that it's not a question of hunting hopefully for the right demographic of wealthy tourist - but that it's Thailand itself which needs to change.

 

 

 

 

Edited September 1, 2022 by robsamui

[Chongalulu]

9 hours ago, Sheryl said:

They need to address the unnecessarily cumbersome and difficult new evisa process.

 

It is completely absurd to require tourists from first world countries to submit proof of having $1,000 in the bank (most are paying that much or more just for the air ticket) to get a tourist visa.

 

And unreasonable to expect would be tourists to upload bank statements and similar sensitive documents to an insecure government website.

 

Most of the information demanded in the tourist visa application is unnecessary, can be hard to provide (people often want to select their hotel on arrival, for example) and it discourages people or leads them to instead come for a shorter time visa exempt.

 

Easy to increase tourists: (1) Extend the duration of visa exempt enter from 30 to 45 days as has been proposed.  (2) Change the evisa for tourist visas to a simple process like that used by Cambodia (nothing needed but name,. address, passport data).

The military mind is not best equipped to understand even the basics of economics nor marketing of an industry. It’s limited to thinking a simple reopening of a severely damaged and ravaged infrastructure is all that’s required and vague wishful thinking of a 'better class ' of tourist. They will be lucky to retain a decent fraction of the numbers of old with little will to understand the new dynamics of more expensive airfares and constrained spending currently hitting many source countries . The postponement of resuming flights to Thailand by one of Europe’s most significant airlines until further notice is a signal of reality flying above the rather dense heads here.

[CygnusX1]

So many reasons given here for the lack of tourists compared with France, but the overwhelming reason is face masks - the elephant in the room that many pretend not to see. Exchange rate - not too far from long term average. 300 baht tourist tax - negligible. Dual pricing - who cares, always been that way. Broken footpaths - part of the charm of a 3rd world country. Bureaucratic evisa - a minor irritant. People don’t have money to travel - I’m on a low income by Australian standards, but have heaps to splurge on travel, especially as I’ve spent nothing on travel for more than two years, same applies to most westerners.

 

Even though I own a condo in Thailand and have a 20 year elite visa, why would I travel from a mostly mask free Australia to Maskland, as NorthernRyland ably puts it. Masks have just been dropped on direct flights from Australia to Rome, and that’s where I’m thinking of my next holiday, rather than my usual long stopover in Thailand on the way to Europe. 

 

It’s a fact that the majority of Westerners loathe face masks - here in Australia, about 10% are wearing them in crowded shopping malls and supermarkets, so they sure don’t want to holiday in a country in which they’re ubiquitous.