Agoda says Thailand needs better attractions in the post-Covid travel world

[kingstonkid]

17 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Thailand never had to do anything to atrack tourists, but with a post coup government they have broken down down the whole sector, and that was not only because of Covid.. Now they have to invent new things to get tourists back...Maybe a start to be more foreign friendly, instead of for example create a group police officers to chase foreigners. 

The challenge is that like most SE Asian countries the main tourists that they catered and built their models around were backpackers and single males or couples looking to party.

 

Now with this new generation, we are looking at families travelling.  Let's face it there really is nothing in Bkk for kids or young people.  Just as there is nothing for older couples that want a nice night out having a couple of drinks and dancing or such.

 

Wherever they build  the casino is going to get a boost but they also need to add entertainment to the list.

 

Yes the indian market seems strong and the Chinese are coming back but again they do not spend the large amounts of money.

 

The big money for 5 star hotels is with the families.  Single guys and couples just look for a cheap  bed with maybe breakfast. 

 

 

 

 

[alien365]

I think the more attractions that are added would actually hurt the country. In addition to the sex trade, people come here for the culture and history. Building a touristy floating market with no history or a brand new flashy temple only distance Thailand from what many come for. 

[chalawaan]

17 hours ago, John Drake said:

Segregated beach resorts. Russians only. Chinese only. British only. Germans only. Americans only. Indians only.

Yes, the Germans and Brit gals like getting their boobs baked, there definitely should be a beach or two hundred that are nipple nirvana, the ladies who lunch wearing black tablecloths can hang out in their own zone, there's enough sand for everyone.  

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I think it's important to remember that people who actually live here see the place thru a somewhat different lens of experience and awareness than the tourist who merely pops in for maybe a couple of weeks per year.

 

Thinking back to my past tourist days here, the attributes that stand out in my mind are ones like CHEAP, EASY and FUN. Back then years ago, easy to travel visa exempt, air fares and hotels not expensive, and my encounters with the locals back in those days were more pleasant and genial.

 

Today, while it still may be easy to come, the airfares certainly are not cheap, the hotels have become less so for the quality of what's provided, and I'd argue the FUN element has declined considerably over the years.

 

My perception is, the Thais you're likely to interact with have largely lost the prevailing sense of "sanuk" that used to pervade this place. Perhaps it's partly due to years of military rule, their policies to curtail the nightlife, the economic declines and financial struggles brought about by the COVID pandemic, etc etc.

 

These days, rather than the focus on how to have happy and satisfied tourists, it seems to be on how the locals can make a quick buck thru whatever means, and attitudes toward service, safety and infrastructure upkeep that are marginal at best.

 

[bignok]

36 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

I think it's important to remember that people who actually live here see the place thru a somewhat different lens of experience and awareness than the tourist who merely pops in for maybe a couple of weeks per year.

 

Thinking back to my past tourist days here, the attributes that stand out in my mind are ones like CHEAP, EASY and FUN. Back then years ago, easy to travel visa exempt, air fares and hotels not expensive, and my encounters with the locals back in those days were more pleasant and genial.

 

Today, while it still may be easy to come, the airfares certainly are not cheap, the hotels have become less so for the quality of what's provided, and I'd argue the FUN element has declined considerably over the years.

 

My perception is, the Thais you're likely to interact with have largely lost the prevailing sense of "sanuk" that used to pervade this place. Perhaps it's partly due to years of military rule, their policies to curtail the nightlife, the economic declines and financial struggles brought about by the COVID pandemic, etc etc.

 

These days, rather than the focus on how to have happy and satisfied tourists, it seems to be on how the locals can make a quick buck thru whatever means, and attitudes toward service, safety and infrastructure upkeep that are marginal at best.

 

Still cheap flights, hotels, buses, trains. Nothing much has changed in 20 years.

 

People age and view the world differently.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

14 minutes ago, bignok said:

Still cheap flights, hotels, buses, trains. Nothing much has changed in 20 years.

 

 

Back for many years right up until COVID, I could pretty regularly find RT flights on my preferred airline between BKK and the West Coast US for under $1000.

 

Last month, I was lucky to find the same flight for anything under $1500.

 

[bignok]

7 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

Back for many years right up until COVID, I could pretty regularly find RT flights on my preferred airline between BKK and the West Coast US for under $1000.

 

Last month, I was lucky to find the same flight for anything under $1500.

 

Small tourism market. Most come from India, Malaysia, China.

[kinyara]

11 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

Back for many years right up until COVID, I could pretty regularly find RT flights on my preferred airline between BKK and the West Coast US for under $1000.

 

Last month, I was lucky to find the same flight for anything under $1500.

 

I notice a lot of comments regarding increased pricing regards Thailand often comparing to when long-term visitors first came here. I really don't understand why people expect Thailand to be immune from the effects of inflation over time just like every other country in the world. Obviously Thailand can't control the global airline industry's pricing either.

[richard_smith237]

4 hours ago, chalawaan said:

Agoda self promotion much?

It's a travel agent website, not the arbiter of ANYTHING.

But... it has a degree of 'power' simply due to its market presence and as an 'expert' in the Global Tourism industry authorities would do well to listen to the 'experts'....

 

4 hours ago, chalawaan said:

 

Thailand has many touristic faults, what place doesn't?

 

But what Thailand does as a destination, in spite of the supposedly expert goons in Bangkok coming up with ideas like Durian KitKat and overpriced alcohol imports, it does incredibly well.

 

It doesn't need more or new "attractions".

Completely agree with this.....   Thailand already 'does' tourism well... It just needs to 'polish' what it does to and do a better job or courting, welcoming tourists and not ostracising tourists with dual pricing and making frequent public announcements and create policies with indicate an underlying thought that 'tourists are just a burden'.....

 

The single biggest two show stoppers at the moment are the Costs of flights and costs of hotels in Key tourist areas....

 

 

Thailand does do well at Marketing itself as a 'foodie' destination and it most certainly is... not just Thai food, but decently priced excellent food from all over.

 

4 hours ago, chalawaan said:

It desperately needs more and new and enforced safety regulations. 

 

Too many balcony deaths, boat sinkings, bus crashes, club fires, and high wire ride failures. 

Agreed.... Thailand has been crying out for improvements in these area's for decades. 

 

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

1 minute ago, kinyara said:

I notice a lot of comments regarding increased pricing regards Thailand often comparing to when long-term visitors first came here. 

I've lived here for MANY years...

 

But my comments on airline ticket pricing were comparing 2019 (pre COVID) with now.... I had no intl travel during the COVID years, so no basis to compare.

 

[sqwakvfr]

Been traveling internationally for over 30 years.  I first came to BKK  20 years ago because Emirates Airlines had cheap fares from Dubai.  Dubai was the main vacation starting point for anyone in Iraq or Afghanistan. Then I discovered BKK and many parts of LOS were much cheaper then the other places I was considering.  I would disagree with esteemed CEO of Agoda and if LOS maintains it's status as a relatively cheap holiday location then it does not have to change.  

[sqwakvfr]

33 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

Back for many years right up until COVID, I could pretty regularly find RT flights on my preferred airline between BKK and the West Coast US for under $1000.

 

Last month, I was lucky to find the same flight for anything under $1500.

 

I'm flying CNX-ICN-LAX and back in mid September on KAL for $950. 

[kinyara]

3 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

I've lived here for MANY years...

 

But my comments on airline ticket pricing were comparing 2019 (pre COVID) with now.... I had no intl travel during the COVID years, so no basis to compare.

 

ME TOO.

 

Not disputing your observations of airline pricing pre/post Covid having personally experienced it, not much Thailand can do about it unfortunately for them.

 

[BarraMarra]

Mmm how to attract more tourists? Well let's start with a tourist posting a trip report on a hotel or a restaurant about the poor service and how it was defended by that establishment.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

3 minutes ago, kinyara said:

ME TOO.

 

Not disputing your observations of airline pricing pre/post Covid having personally experienced it, not much Thailand can do about it unfortunately for them.

 

ACI says ‘alarming increase’ in airfares, not airport charges, a threat to recovery

By Alfred Chua12 June 2023

Trade body Airports Council International (ACI) has doubled down on warnings that “excessive” airfares – instead of airport charges, which has recently come under fire from airlines again – are threatening air travel’s recovery.

 

Director general of ACI Asia Pacific Stefano Baronci flagged the “alarming increase” in airfares in Asia-Pacific. International airfares, in particular, have seen a 50% increase in the September-December quarter of 2022, compared to the same period in pre-pandemic 2019.

...

In its latest statement, the ACI states: that airport operators – especially those in India, Thailand, Japan and Mainland China – have continued to report negative EBITDA, even while major carriers in the region, like Singapore Airlines and Qantas, have reported record profits."

 

https://www.flightglobal.com/air-transport/aci-says-alarming-increase-in-airfares-not-airport-charges-a-threat-to-recovery/153660.article

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

5 minutes ago, BarraMarra said:

Mmm how to attract more tourists? Well let's start with a tourist posting a trip report on a hotel or a restaurant about the poor service and how it was defended by that establishment.

or the operator filing a criminal police complaint against the customer/reviewer for defamation.... which certainly has occurred here... and  which the country's laws allow.

 

[Blumpie]

I hope that I don't seem arrogant but I predicted that China's comeback would fizzle to a nothing burger and it indeed has and it wasn't hard to see either.  Their government doesn't really want them travelling anymore and with the latest economic climate the headwinds are even more profound.  

 

So what is thailand?  Let's just discuss what it is, it has stinky sewers, good street food, prices have gone up dramatically, and everything is kind of a rip off.  It's a place many people want to visit.  ONCE.  And that's it.  

 

Where is the growth here?  There isn't any really.  

 

Thailand has changed, its ok I guess.

[Blumpie]

4 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

or the operator filing a criminal police complaint against the customer/reviewer for defamation.... which certainly has occurred here... and  which the country's laws allow.

 

We notice these thins but the average tourist does not.  

 

I agree though this kind of negativity third world garbage weighs on people's minds, as does the coup.  In essence, is there a better place to go?  Yes, there are several I can name off the top of my head and people do indeed go to those places.  

 

Thailand has always been a bit of a tourist dump if you think about it - people getting ripped off, police scams, etc.  The only thing that's changed is they want high end tourists.  Where's the beef?  There isn't any.  Nothings changed.  The magic wand was waved and nothing happened.  

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

2 minutes ago, Blumpie said:

Nothings changed.  The magic wand was waved and nothing happened.  

I disagree about that... I think if I were still a tourist in Thailand today, I'd think it's considerably less FUN than it was in past years. And the average local less sociable and more focused on the baht above all.

 

The years of military rule combined with the economic fall-out from the pandemic have taken their toll, IMHO, comparing now with past years.

 

 

[ThailandRyan]

Just looked at making a flight back to the US the end of September.  Holy moly a round trip cattle class ticket was just shy of $2400 USD.  I paid that in January of 2022 and flew Business class.  My how the prices have climbed.  Daughters flew here to visit us in April and the flights were only $1400 round trip.  No seeing how a tourist wanting to come here will be affording the flights unless they drop.

[dinsdale]

How about this as an attraction? 

[dinsdale]

1 hour ago, ThailandRyan said:

Just looked at making a flight back to the US the end of September.  Holy moly a round trip cattle class ticket was just shy of $2400 USD.  I paid that in January of 2022 and flew Business class.  My how the prices have climbed.  Daughters flew here to visit us in April and the flights were only $1400 round trip.  No seeing how a tourist wanting to come here will be affording the flights unless they drop.

Absolute uncontolled price gauging going on in all sectors. We are be ripped off wholesale as profits (especially in the energy sector) are through the roof. 

[BarraMarra]

Well Well Well here go again Agoda wading in asking how will Thailand attracting Tourist's. Maybe Agoda should be asking the TOT why there not attracting the millions they keep predicting will be coming. Maybe ask why do they make it difficult for a long staying tourists to leave to do a visa run, would it not be better to give them a six month visa, Will they give discounts to domestic airlines to lure more tourists, will they treat there tourists as guests with respect and curtersy and send them home happy to spread the word what a lovely holiday they had instead of them returning saying never again. Will they tell the tourism industry to stop the scamming and offer incentives to lure more Tourists. Im no hotel boss in Phuket or Koh Samui but if my hotel opened up once Covid was over id reduce prices pre Covid to fill the hotel. What did the majority of hotels do? doubled the prices Suicide. To end the TOT decided to ignore the bread n butter western tourists mainly Europeans in favour of high end Chinese, Indian , even Saudi tourists. This has not and will not happen what do they have now in Phuket and Patayya? mostly draft dodging Russians. Well done.

 

[varun]

Thailand desperately needs more hansum man two-week millionaires.

[rabang]

The likes of Turkey and Middle East are upping their tourism game with the profit from oil and gas being projected to decrease in the future. Even Saudi Arabia is planning to build tourist enclaves on their coast line. They are targeting mainly European customers who would find these destinations much closer to home than the South East Asia which would find more competition for Western tourists.

 

 

[proton]

12 hours ago, djayz said:

Some more cultural events would be a welcomed change to the endless temples, street markets, street food, beaches, elephant rides, etc. constantly advertised as the "amazing Thailand".

Cultural events are on all the time, morlam tomorrow with Jintara at Morchit, won't be any tourists there! 

[MrJ2U]

TAT needs to be replaced.

 

I believe that they've got about 14,000 employees pushing the same old garbage every year.

 

Temples, culture, and food.

 

I definitely didn't come for the first two. 

[chalawaan]

10 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

I think it's important to remember that people who actually live here see the place thru a somewhat different lens of experience and awareness than the tourist who merely pops in for maybe a couple of weeks per year.

 

Thinking back to my past tourist days here, the attributes that stand out in my mind are ones like CHEAP, EASY and FUN. Back then years ago, easy to travel visa exempt, air fares and hotels not expensive, and my encounters with the locals back in those days were more pleasant and genial.

 

Today, while it still may be easy to come, the airfares certainly are not cheap, the hotels have become less so for the quality of what's provided, and I'd argue the FUN element has declined considerably over the years.

 

My perception is, the Thais you're likely to interact with have largely lost the prevailing sense of "sanuk" that used to pervade this place. Perhaps it's partly due to years of military rule, their policies to curtail the nightlife, the economic declines and financial struggles brought about by the COVID pandemic, etc etc.

 

These days, rather than the focus on how to have happy and satisfied tourists, it seems to be on how the locals can make a quick buck thru whatever means, and attitudes toward service, safety and infrastructure upkeep that are marginal at best.

 

John, I beg to differ on your perception of the Sanuk factor.

 

We forget that generations of young westerners and Thais have followed after us, the kids are "totes" still having as much Sanuk as we did with each other, and the internet has definitely broken down barriers even more! 

 

Young Thai ladies our age in the 20th Century were clueless about everything unless they saw it in a dubbed Hollywood movie! 

We certainly would have been unlikely to mingle with the Thai overseas educated elites of the time either. 

 

The internet has changed all that, yes many remain resolutely incurious, up to them, They literally  have "the whole world in their hands" as the old spiritual song went.  

 

 

[IndomitableSpirit]

22 hours ago, bignok said:

Go to Nong Khai.

I've been there many times and beyond ????

[Fat is a type of crazy]

Agoda are a good site with much cheaper prices than the opposition. Booked a hotel in Bangkok $125 on Agoda and $200 on hotels.com same conditions. Many similar examples if you search first through tripadvisor or similar site and then pick Agoda rather than booking direct.

There is one issue. When you pay you have the choice to pay now or pay close to the date of travel. If purchased in Australian dollars they advise they convert to US dollars when booked and then charge you in Australian dollars later so the price may be a bit different if the exchange rate changes.

What they don't make clear is they add a 5 per cent fee too. So if paying may be better to pay now. If you cancel they will still transfer the funds back fairly shortly.