Tourism confidence in Thailand plummets amid economic jitters

[proton]

So street food, temples that all look the same, double pricing, smelly tuk tuks and expensive prostitutes got old. Better keep the dope shops open and scrap the booze selling laws.????

[alien365]

I would have thought tourist confidence is also related to how tourists expect to be treated while here. It has probably plummeted partly because previous visitors did not feel welcomed enough to return. I've seen how badly some businesses here speak to tourists and its disgraceful. The unfair acts of dual pricing and overcharging also leave a bitter taste for many, including me. Thailand is also no longer that cheap. Prices have gone up, but quality continues to remain low. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

21 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Thailand has been moving backwards, from being the tiger of SE Asia, to bring a pathetic, sickly, anemic alley cat, begging for scraps

Wow... nice turn of a phrase.....  Never heard that description here before.... ????

 

[Mavideol]

not a surprise at all, the recent"bad" news headlines didn't help either....  they reap what they sow comes to mind

[Toby1947]

49 minutes ago, alexlm said:

I don't understand this article. If someone could explain?

I'm planning my 2 months trip to Thailand from December to February.

Everything is already fully booked.

My Pattaya hotel told me they are fully booked for December 10th when I arrive, until April. How to find an hotel? Will I be stranded in the street with all the hotels booked??

My car rental guy said they are booked until April too at 99% and they are not sure they can provide me with a rental car.

His partner told me there are so many Foreigners right now.

When I lived in Thailand from 2014 to 2018, I could just walk into my favorite hotels and get a room in 3 minutes.

Ask for a car some morning and get the rental car 3 hours later the afternoon.

Has it changed so much since 2018???!

It seems it's full of Foreigners.

So why this article seems to indicate the opposite?

Or I didn't understand something I'm sure.

If someone could explain...

Thanks ????

Alex LM

I'll explain your Hotel and Car Hire Company are bull sh#tters. Just want to scam you for as much as possible up front. Just arrive and see the truth, empty hotels and hire cars covered in dust. 

[Toby1947]

Easily sorted, get sensible with tourist visas. Increase length of exempt stays, get rid of the ridiculously complicated evisa application process. Job done 

Edited October 4, 2023 by Toby1947

[Phuket Pete]

Malaysia topped the list with 3.28 M - sounds like people returning from their Visa runs !

[Deez]

Get ready for a "top 10" list the announces Thailand as number one place to travel for 2023

[Mavideol]

quite surprised with the plummeting  on tourism, couple days ago fully loaded planes, with Chinese people,  were flying in.... maybe they got diverted to nearby country 555

 

Flights from China to Thailand almost full amid visa waivers, Thai Airways says

[retarius]

3 hours ago, Ben Zioner said:

Yes this isn't new, I used to outsource my IT projects to India, the Philippines and from 2010 onwards to Vietnam.  There was zero presence of Thai companies, I think they didn't exist, or couldn't even read our RFPs.

You could not be more wrong: Thailand is the IT hub of ASEAN do you not remember Thailand 4.0 by Mr Prayut? It made Thailand Thailand hub of IT. Now look up the meaning of hub and see what I mean. ????

[retarius]

I looked up tourism numbers worldwide recently, I can't remember the details but France and Spain were (no surprise the top two) and Czechia was number 3 with something like 37 million visitors. (Most don't fly in but come by road from other European counties.) 

[lordgrinz]

3 hours ago, retarius said:

Really Thailand never had any strategy for tourism. Thaksin tried with his wealthy tourist gambit, but it was extremely poor value for a visa that could be withdrawn at any time. The only strategy Thai have is numbers....let's get 20 million or 30 million....no matter where from. If I were czar of all czars of Thai tourism, I would be researching how to upgrade the length of European or US visitors' stay; researching the impact of upgrading the tourists' experience by say getting rid of the filth, sewerage etc that plagues the place; deporting drunks and lowlives; eliminating scams or a combination of these. The issue is a strategy has to be built from knowledge that comes from researching attitudes and opinions, not just some numbers dreamed up by TAT. TAT gives us wishful thinking and as the old saying goes: hope is not a strategy.

They need to make it safer, as in safer on the roads, safer on the sidewalks, and safer in crosswalks. But first they need to work on a proper police force that not only enforces laws, but doesn't actively engaged in lawlessness and corruption. Basically, the impossible.

[daveAustin]

1 hour ago, alexlm said:

I don't understand this article. If someone could explain?

I'm planning my 2 months trip to Thailand from December to February.

Everything is already fully booked.

My Pattaya hotel told me they are fully booked for December 10th when I arrive, until April. How to find an hotel? Will I be stranded in the street with all the hotels booked??

My car rental guy said they are booked until April too at 99% and they are not sure they can provide me with a rental car.

His partner told me there are so many Foreigners right now.

When I lived in Thailand from 2014 to 2018, I could just walk into my favorite hotels and get a room in 3 minutes.

Ask for a car some morning and get the rental car 3 hours later the afternoon.

Has it changed so much since 2018???!

It seems it's full of Foreigners.

So why this article seems to indicate the opposite?

Or I didn't understand something I'm sure.

If someone could explain...

Thanks ????

Alex LM

Highly unlikely. Have you been online and checked out other hotels/car hire firms with definite dates for bookings? Wouldn’t go by what people say in messages… they’re likely told to say such a thing as bosses know they can sell rooms during that period. 

[curlylekan]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

the tourism industry is yet to see a significant economic boost, largely due to global economic jitters and high household debt levels.

I'm a bit confused as to how these 2 ideas are connected. If things are done, where is the economic boost coming from?

[wazzupnow]

all that talk about 2019 level this level that level 

we all know when airplane tickets get to 2019 level

and the thaibath also all problems are solved

its just not interesting to come to thailand as in other asian countries it is cheaper to live

no visa hassle no harrasment from RTP or extra charges for not thai 

what do you expect?

[Rig Pig]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

And they should be nervous. Very, very nervous. The extreme hubris and arrogance on the part of the officials seems to result in a level of blindness that is nearly total. They literally seem incapable of learning. The fact they this administration picked department heads from the absolute bottom of the barrel, never considering merit for even a moment, did not help. Covid could have been a great opportunity for a reset. There is nothing to suggest anything like that happened. And talk to us about the sacrifices you fools are willing to make, to get tourism back. It is not magic. You will not open your doors and have millions pouring in again. Get that? When you kick an animal that is already ill enough times, it eventually dies. Your industry is dying. You have sabotaged it to no end. And this started long before Covid, so stop with the excuses. Real men take responsibility for their mistakes. Punks, juveniles, and men with undeveloped emotional natures refuse to take responsibility for anything, and it makes them look like more of a fool.

 

One must always remember, there were countless issues plaguing the industry, years before Covid, and NONE of them were ever addressed by the lathargic ones. And there were countless other countries with alot of appeal, who were and are trying much harder. There are countless issues here, which prevent wealthy people from visiting, much less living here. The most common complaints I have heard from wealthy friends who visit, is that we will never return to Thailand, because the wife cannot shop. She refuses to get taken for a ride, and will not spend $12,500 on the new handbag she has her eyes on, as it is $4,500 at home, and elsewhere. Rich people tend to be savvy and smart. The Thai authorities continue to insist, based on their policies, that these people are dumb. Go ahead. Continue with your nonsense. And there are a few wealthy ex-pats living here, in retirement. Maybe 150?, not counting the ones who work here. Likely, most of them are single. 

 

The fact is Thailand could be doing a dozen different things to make itself more attractive to both tourism and investment. But, all the things it could do, to make itself a better version of its current self, would require sacrifice and vision. Not something this army led govt. nor Sretta and the PT seem capable of. Major tax breaks, drastic lowering of luxury and wine taxes, allowing ownership of land and homes by foreigners, relaxation of inane visa laws, ridding the administration of xenophobic ministers, beginning a program of hiring based on merit, improving traffic safety, paying attention to the air and the environment. The list goes on and on and on. Will any of this happen? One can hope. But, it is unlikely as this administration is likely to be another in a continuing chain of backward thinking, non progressives.

 They love projections, prognosticactions, declarations and platitudes. But when it comes to the nuts and bolts, and practical improvements, so far, they appear to be absolutely lost in space.
 

Thailand has been moving backwards, from being the tiger of SE Asia, to bring a pathetic, sickly, anemic alley cat, begging for scraps, for the past decade. Nothing is changing, despite Sretta's $800,000,000 smile.

Well said. These fools deserve what they get. Me, after 20 years, I'm looking for the next location.

[BarraMarra]

The Golden Hen has stopped laying on Thai Tourism and it has finally sunk in. Tourist numbers are well down so what do they do about the decline?. Blame other factors such as Covid the world Economy, So how do we react to this decline, tell them it's just a small drop all predictions are on track with more Chinese arrivals because Thai Airways told us they are putting more planes on for them. Thousands are coming in from Kazakhstan as reported last week. In the west we know and understand why its declining we have given you the tools to recover your declining Tourism but like everything you ignore the help and carry on the rip offs, the dis-respect for Tourists, your stupid visa rules your lack of telling the truth and racist views.

[ChrisKC]

6 hours ago, ezzra said:

Every time i read such articles i find myself scratching my head as to who writes such rubbish, nowadays they can write anything and it will be taken as the gospel truth while we all know too well that the only people who knows the truth probably either bend it or keeping it from us...

That's the problem; the gospels are not truth!

[curlylekan]

2 hours ago, alexlm said:

I don't understand this article. If someone could explain?

I'm planning my 2 months trip to Thailand from December to February.

Everything is already fully booked.

My Pattaya hotel told me they are fully booked for December 10th when I arrive, until April. How to find an hotel? Will I be stranded in the street with all the hotels booked??

My car rental guy said they are booked until April too at 99% and they are not sure they can provide me with a rental car.

His partner told me there are so many Foreigners right now.

When I lived in Thailand from 2014 to 2018, I could just walk into my favorite hotels and get a room in 3 minutes.

Ask for a car some morning and get the rental car 3 hours later the afternoon.

Has it changed so much since 2018???!

It seems it's full of Foreigners.

So why this article seems to indicate the opposite?

Or I didn't understand something I'm sure.

If someone could explain...

Thanks ????

Alex LM

I just returned from Thailand and while I can't speak to Pattaya or going during busy season, I can share my experience. I was in Bangkok, Samet, and Sukhothai. Also, I've been to thailand 11x over the past 9 years. I do not see you having any problem booking any hotel or rental car. I was easily able to get all I needed wherever and whenever I went. I think the rental car and hotel places are just trying to scare you into buying something upfront, something that will cost you more now than later.

[Citzofwrld2]

I quite going to Thailand after four years there. Much more expensive, aggressive/violent Thais, visa headaches for long stays, etc, etc!

[heybuz]

1 hour ago, Mavideol said:

quite surprised with the plummeting  on tourism, couple days ago fully loaded planes, with Chinese people,  were flying in.... maybe they got diverted to nearby country 555

 

Flights from China to Thailand almost full amid visa waivers, Thai Airways says

The DC3s are chockas and shall be arriving soon.

[off road pat]

4 hours ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Same we usually go to another country, Vietnam is populair among my Thai friends (in their twenties) too. No wonder, we can get 10 beers for like 300 baht there, a very nice room for only 400-500 (or they just book the entire dorm with 6 people for 80 each). 

 

But how are people surprised, same to blame covid, this down trend already started before covid. And it is the result of the Thai their actions. Will only get worse for them, Vietnam will basically do everything better than Thailand. They already produce 40K IT students yearly now, that are way better than Thais are. So far our company hired 2, in Thailand we found 0 in a decade.

 

Many people just endlessly defend Thailand, because they so far were not the target, or because they are stuck here regardless, while not being objective at all. Anyone who has a bit of brains, and is realistic, knows this is all true.

 

The USA could not even beat Vietnam, let alone Thailand.

Hm,...The Thai IT people I know work for Japanese companies and are treated like royalty, and all there IT friends want the same !!! they get huge salaries and a lot of extras ! The Japanese companies even check the university's tu get th

 

5 hours ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Same we usually go to another country, Vietnam is populair among my Thai friends (in their twenties) too. No wonder, we can get 10 beers for like 300 baht there, a very nice room for only 400-500 (or they just book the entire dorm with 6 people for 80 each). 

 

But how are people surprised, same to blame covid, this down trend already started before covid. And it is the result of the Thai their actions. Will only get worse for them, Vietnam will basically do everything better than Thailand. They already produce 40K IT students yearly now, that are way better than Thais are. So far our company hired 2, in Thailand we found 0 in a decade.

 

Many people just endlessly defend Thailand, because they so far were not the target, or because they are stuck here regardless, while not being objective at all. Anyone who has a bit of brains, and is realistic, knows this is all true.

 

The USA could not even beat Vietnam, let alone Thailand.

Hm,...The Thai IT people I know work all for Japanese companies ! they get huge salaries, and a lot of extras. Like free all paid trips to Japan to follow courses and learn Japanese.

And all there IT friends just dream about the same ! Nobody of value want to work for a western company.

[kwilco]

If the economy is bad it can at first boost tourism and secondary :"big spends"

 

In a slump the first to go is property  - people won;t invest in a more expensive house. THe money they then have is oftenthen spend of "big spends - home improvements, a car, or a holiday. After Covid people found themselves cash rich and holidas had a big boost as people had missed out on 1 or probably 2 vacations during lockdown.

But no=w the poor economies of western countries -some of the mainstays of Thai toursim - are eating into the numbers of people who want to travel to Thailand - add on to that the cost of flights which are effectively double what they were in 2019, a holiday in Thaiand is looking less attractive. THe British are just about the biggest single groups of wWestern visitors to Thailand so if you factor in the effects of Brexit on top of all the world woes, Thailand is going to lose a big chunk out out of visitors from that country.

 

during the 2007 economic crisis, I was working in a factory in Thailand whose entire raison d'etre was exports - and the effect of poor economies in the West was devasting. THe effects were felt throughout the Thai economy- you can't look at Thailand in isolation, what is going on around the world has a direct effect on this Kingdom.

[StayinThailand2much]

5 hours ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Same we usually go to another country, Vietnam is populair among my Thai friends (in their twenties) too. No wonder, we can get 10 beers for like 300 baht there, a very nice room for only 400-500 (or they just book the entire dorm with 6 people for 80 each). 

I travelled to Oz and NZ late last year. Went on several tours. Despite of that I spent only twice what I usually spend in Thailand, including all flights!

Edited October 4, 2023 by StayinThailand2much

[TroubleandGrumpy]

3.28 million tourists from Malaysia my butt.   The majority of that number is people crossing the border down south for family and business reasons - and most of them do it several times. Likewise the numbers from Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia are 'fake'.  In fact all of the number are fake because they do not count those entering with a tourist Visa (or Visa exempt) - they count all the arrivals and then TAT calls them tourists and TAT claims they each spend 50K - totally fake figures.  That the tourism 'boom' has not resulted in measurable economic growth and higher employment proves that the TAT figures are fake.

Until TAT is called out and stops releasing these fake figures, nothing will change.  If they counted only those arriving at airports/docks, who also posses a tourist Visa (or Visa exempt) the numbers would be a lot lower.  But TAT gets paid for how many tourists they get to come to Thailand - what a great job it is when you can measure your own performance using whatever method you decide. 

[PETERTHEEATER]

5 hours ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Same we usually go to another country, Vietnam is populair among my Thai friends (in their twenties) too. No wonder, we can get 10 beers for like 300 baht there, a very nice room for only 400-500 (or they just book the entire dorm with 6 people for 80 each). 

 

But how are people surprised, same to blame covid, this down trend already started before covid. And it is the result of the Thai their actions. Will only get worse for them, Vietnam will basically do everything better than Thailand. They already produce 40K IT students yearly now, that are way better than Thais are. So far our company hired 2, in Thailand we found 0 in a decade.

 

Many people just endlessly defend Thailand, because they so far were not the target, or because they are stuck here regardless, while not being objective at all. Anyone who has a bit of brains, and is realistic, knows this is all true.

 

The USA could not even beat Vietnam, let alone Thailand.

Historically, many countries defeated in war have bounced back to prosperity with envious economies. Germany and Japan, for example. Perhaps what Thailand, Land of the Free, needs is a "jolly good thrashing" to show its latent potential.????

[Cake Monster]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

largely due to global economic jitters and high household debt levels.

Domestic Tourists cannot really be called Tourists

The money they spend is just the Money that is already within the system in Thailand, and is not new Money, and therefore cannot be added to any GDP

The high Household Debt is the reason that the Central Bank cannot raise Interest Rates any higher to combat ever increasing Inflation

Higher Interest Rates would push Millions over the edge into NPL territory, and  such are the amounts involved ( 16 Trillion Baht ) the result of that would be catastrophic

[ChipButty]

2 hours ago, Toby1947 said:

I'll explain your Hotel and Car Hire Company are bull sh#tters. Just want to scam you for as much as possible up front. Just arrive and see the truth, empty hotels and hire cars covered in dust. 

I can drive around my tamboon and there is many car and bike rental places full with cars standing idle same with the bikes, they are b/s merchants, same with hotels not busy, ok December/January might be showing busy I saw it last year were tourist were getting their bookings cancelled because the owners thought they could get more money, especially villas, 

[TroubleandGrumpy]

2 hours ago, Mavideol said:

quite surprised with the plummeting  on tourism, couple days ago fully loaded planes, with Chinese people,  were flying in.... maybe they got diverted to nearby country 555

 

Flights from China to Thailand almost full amid visa waivers, Thai Airways says

Come on mate - surely you know they are only saying that because they want to buy/lease some new planes and then take their share of the kickback.  

[ChipButty]

6 minutes ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

so now you go where???....in comparison.....and where did you stay in LOS..ie violence---south???

Yala