by Natthaphon Sangpolsit

BANGKOK (NNT) - The prime minister has indicated that he was pleased with Thailand’s tourism offerings being continually ranked among the top of lists compiled by international firms and publications.

 

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha noted that comprehensive tourism development has been undertaken with the aim of ensuring sustainable growth. He added that the government places major importance on the travel industry.

 

Kiplinger, an American publisher of business forecasts and personal finance advice, recently released its list of “10 Cheapest Countries to Visit”, placing Thailand as its Number 4 destination.

 

Kiplinger reported that average daily expenses during a visit to Thailand totaled US$52, with accommodations costing $21 per night on average and a day’s worth of meals costing about $14.

 

The publisher added that while flights to Thailand can be expensive this time of year, savings on other expenses more than made up the difference. It also said Thailand is known for tropical beaches, jungle temples, Buddhist statues and delicious food offerings at restaurants and street markets. Additionally, it said these attractions have consistently made the kingdom the most visited country in Southeast Asia.

 

On Kiplinger’s listing of the 10 Cheapest Countries to Visit, Laos ranked first with average daily expenses totaling just $15. Turkey meanwhile ranked second at $23 and Indonesia third at $47.

 

Recently, Thailand was also celebrated as an outstanding tourism destination alongside Italy at Grand Travel Awards 2023 in Stockholm, Sweden. The annual event, now in its 30th edition, selects its destinations by polling Swedish travelers and travel agents.

 

Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG230312170010367

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2023-03-13

 

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This really is complete rubbish

Thailand is not as cheap as it was a decade ago. Food prices, tour costs, and visa on arrival costs have risen quite a bit. Vietnam is cheaper than Thailand so it's a puzzle how Thailand is ranked higher than Vietnam.

As the saying goes... "you get what you pay for". I very much doubt the line of people heading to Laos is very long at all.

Really with Australian beef selling in makro for 1900 / kilo

Really just to walk out of the Country it cost 1000 baht.  

Last time I check petrol prices are the same as Canada England cheaper for groceries 

6 minutes ago, arick said:

Really just to walk out of the Country it cost 1000 baht.  

Last time I check petrol prices are the same as Canada England cheaper for groceries 

I love it when posters convert the price of a liter of petrol to Pounds and say it costs the same here as in the UK. Well yes, if you do a straight conversion it is, except the average wage here is 15,000 baht a month but the average wage in the UK isn't 15,000 Pounds per month so not exactly apples and apples!

accomodations 21 USD a night??? What time was this article written??? Last week was mentioned that prices of hotels raised to even more than 50 % than before Covid.. and with the inflation, the strong THB  we all notice that living costs are up too... 

average price of 21 USD per night?  You will get what you pay for.  As an example, 600 baht per night hotels in Pattaya are not impressive.  Small non air con rooms can be had.  In the up country yes there are cities with cheap hotels.  But they are not in areas that tourists flock to.  So take the survey with a grain of salt

49 minutes ago, mithunonthenet said:

Thailand is not as cheap as it was a decade ago. Food prices, tour costs, and visa on arrival costs have risen quite a bit. Vietnam is cheaper than Thailand so it's a puzzle how Thailand is ranked higher than Vietnam.

Oh man, my first trip to Thailand was in 2004.  over 40 baht to 1 USD.  Bar fines, soapy massages, foot massages, food prices all fine.  Hotels say of the Flipper or Eastiny Place class were like 700 baht per night.  Prices cost more, baht buys less.  The higher quality hotels have raised prices much more.  Still, mid range places are not horrible, but not a big bargain, that's for sure.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

It also said Thailand is known for tropical beaches, jungle temples, Buddhist statues and delicious food offerings at restaurants and street markets.

There's something else Thailand is famous for, now what is that? ????

15 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

accomodations 21 USD a night??? What time was this article written??? Last week was mentioned that prices of hotels raised to even more than 50 % than before Covid.. and with the inflation, the strong THB  we all notice that living costs are up too... 

It's still easily possible to get good value/decent quality rooms inexpensively. We've just returned from a trip to Bangkok and Hua Hin so we've seen prices first hand.

9 minutes ago, 2baht said:

There's something else Thailand is famous for, now what is that? ????

i came for the hoooooooooooooooooooz

hey good morning little buddy. miss me.

Deodorants are triple the UK price!

48 minutes ago, nigelforbes said:

I love it when posters convert the price of a liter of petrol to Pounds and say it costs the same here as in the UK. Well yes, if you do a straight conversion it is, except the average wage here is 15,000 baht a month but the average wage in the UK isn't 15,000 Pounds per month so not exactly apples and apples!

He didn't say that.... compared it to Canada, UK he was comparing groceries. People in UK can't afford to put their heating on. 

5 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

He didn't say that.... compared it to Canada, UK he was comparing groceries. People in UK can't afford to put their heating on. 

It doesn't matter, it's virtually the same thing, CAD = 1.66 per Pound, not 43. Average monthly CAD salary =3,500, not 15,000.

1 hour ago, mithunonthenet said:

Thailand is not as cheap as it was a decade ago. Food prices, tour costs, and visa on arrival costs have risen quite a bit. Vietnam is cheaper than Thailand so it's a puzzle how Thailand is ranked higher than Vietnam.

You might consider who's behind such a survey and proposed rankings. 

 

YES!!! Cheaper for tourists.

 

You can work ANYWHERE in America and make like 800 baht an HOUR or maybe 10,000 a day or perhaps 200,000 per month...... then come to LOS and it's very, very cheap.

 

It's expensive to the old farangs who are on a fixed pension and cannot evolve with the outside world!!!!

 

inflation to a farang is like AIDS to a sexworker.   Yea, maybe you can survive, but it's not fun!!!

 

that's why you should have bought Bitcoin and invested!!!!

Maybe if you don't get lung cancer from the incredible toxic air that almost

covers the entire country for many months.  The world needs to be constantly educated

as to how deadly the air is here virtually all the time. 

2 hours ago, arick said:

Really with Australian beef selling in makro for 1900 / kilo

And any decent bottle of wine 1000 baht +

6 minutes ago, Henryford said:

And any decent bottle of wine 1000 baht +

Of which, import tax is 297 baht plus local taxes of 350 baht for a total of 647 baht on  1,000 baht bottle.

 

https://www.siamdevelopment.com/wine-import-tax-in-thailand/

57 minutes ago, BananaStrong said:

YES!!! Cheaper for tourists.

 

You can work ANYWHERE in America and make like 800 baht an HOUR or maybe 10,000 a day or perhaps 200,000 per month...... then come to LOS and it's very, very cheap.

 

It's expensive to the old farangs who are on a fixed pension and cannot evolve with the outside world!!!!

 

inflation to a farang is like AIDS to a sexworker.   Yea, maybe you can survive, but it's not fun!!!

 

that's why you should have bought Bitcoin and invested!!!!

All the money in the world will put you in the same place we're all going to.  

 

2 hours ago, gk10012001 said:

Oh man, my first trip to Thailand was in 2004.  over 40 baht to 1 USD.  Bar fines, soapy massages, foot massages, food prices all fine.  Hotels say of the Flipper or Eastiny Place class were like 700 baht per night.  Prices cost more, baht buys less.  The higher quality hotels have raised prices much more.  Still, mid range places are not horrible, but not a big bargain, that's for sure.

 

What have the prices in 2004 got to do with prices compared among a group of countries in 2023, in order to find out what best deals are now?

 

 

 

Half rack of pork ribs with BBQ sauce just went from 450 Baht to 699 Baht in one of my local haunts in Bangkok. That's over 16 quid. Hardly a cheap meal. If I'd wanted a bottle of wine that would have been another 1000 Baht.

 

Thailand is cheap if you want to live in a hovel, ride a Honda Wave and eat chicken fried rice. Otherwise, not so much.

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

accomodations 21 USD a night??? What time was this article written??? Last week was mentioned that prices of hotels raised to even more than 50 % than before Covid.. and with the inflation, the strong THB  we all notice that living costs are up too... 

Just back from Laem Sing.  Fairly decent rooms with air con and breakfast started at $41.

2 hours ago, arick said:

Really just to walk out of the Country it cost 1000 baht.  

Last time I check petrol prices are the same as Canada England cheaper for groceries 

Why did it cost you 1000 to walk out of the country?

 

1 hour ago, nigelforbes said:

It doesn't matter, it's virtually the same thing, CAD = 1.66 per Pound, not 43. Average monthly CAD salary =3,500, not 15,000.

It does matter, you quoted him and then went on based on your inability to read what was posted. 

Whilst accommodation and travel within the Country remain fairly cheap, the cost of Tour Excursions and Attractions, and the costs for just living, IE Supermarket prices Etc have sky rocketed as they have in many other Countries.

However, Thailand publishes an Inflation rate of just 6.5 %, which is a total nonsense, with the Inflation rate nearer to 12 %,as those living in the Country will testify.

 

Just now, jacko45k said:

It does matter, you quoted him and then went on based on your inability to read what was posted. 

The outcome is exactly the same regarding the price of petrol relative to home currency, regardless of whether CAD or GBP is used, do the math. If you want to beat me up for having misread the post and used GBP instead of CAD, be childish and go for it, it doesn't change the outcome of the example however.